Zhou Qi

Zhou Qi 周綺，(1814–1861) courtesy name Lujun 绿君, childhood name Qinniang 琴娘 was a Chinese woman writer, poet and painter during the Qing dynasty. She was a painter who wrote both poetry and prose in response to the novel Hong lou meng (Dream of the Red Chamber), making her one of the earliest women writers who commented on the novel. She was married to Wang Xilian 王希廉, probably as a concubine rather than a principal wife. Zhou was born in Changshu adopted by her uncle, her mother's elder brother, from whom she took her family name (Zhou). She had some knowledge of medicine, and her filial piety led her to cut flesh from her own body to make medicine for her mother. Literary studies and Dream of the Red Chamber Zhou Qi was associated with the circle of poets which surrounded the scholar Yuan Mei. and was a disciple of Chen Wenshu, a prominent woman writer of the early 19th century. She is also known for the colophon on a painting by Wang Qiao, "A Woman at Her Dressing Table."