The Tang Dynasty's First Female Daoist Priest

Xun Chen was doing just fine at her Taoist temple. She sat in meditation, and when she woke up, she had somehow returned to the prosperous Tang dynasty, during the reign of the empress.

Unfortunately, history tells us that this era of female rule was like a fleeting flower, lasting only sixteen short years.

Many policies aimed at securing women's rights were stillborn before they could be implemented. Beneath the glittering facade of a prosperous age, the ills of the times had been piling up for years.

Sitting in a ruined temple, Xun Chen pondered: A cultivator follows the seasons, makes use of the land, and defies fate to change destiny. Could I do it?

So she shouldered her pack and entered the world to cultivate herself.

Several months later, a half-foot-high stack of documents about a legendary Taoist priestess was presented to the Sage Empress Wu.

From the imperial court to the countryside, there was no one who hadn't heard the name Xun Chen.

Even three-year-old children sang about her:

Xun Chen, Xun Chen, the southeast wind rises, brushing the stars;

Xun Chen, Xun Chen, she honors the Mother of the Year and subdues the wicked;

Xun Chen, Xun Chen, she banishes plagues and frees wronged souls;

Xun Chen, Xun Chen, the southeast wind sweeps away the mortal world.

With a little bundle in hand, Xun Chen swayed on the back of an ox as she passed through a laughing crowd of children.

Hey, everywhere in the jianghu, there's a story about me.

Xun: the southeast wind rises, and the eldest daughter stands out from the woods

Reader's Guide

1. Written on a whim, entirely made up. Don't overanalyze it.

2. The female lead has no supernatural powers. Science matters; she practices Taoism, not immortality.

3. Hope you enjoy reading!

Theme: Women supporting one another, standing strong and independent