Chen Tian (1900–1986), also known as Chen Jingwen, was a Taiwanese

courtesan A courtesan is a prostitute with a courtly, wealthy, or upper-class clientele. Historically, the term referred to a courtier, a person who attended the court of a monarch or other powerful person. History In European feudal society, the co ...

or and supporter of

social movement A social movement is either a loosely or carefully organized effort by a large group of people to achieve a particular goal, typically a Social issue, social or Political movement, political one. This may be to carry out a social change, or to re ...

s in the Taiwanese resistance to Japanese rule. She was

Chiang Wei-shui Chiang Wei-shui (; 6 August 1890 – 5 August 1931) was a Taiwanese physician and activist. He was a founding member of the Taiwanese Cultural Association and the Taiwanese People's Party. He is seen as one of the most important figures in Ta ...

concubine Concubinage is an interpersonal relationship, interpersonal and Intimate relationship, sexual relationship between two people in which the couple does not want to, or cannot, enter into a full marriage. Concubinage and marriage are often regarde ...

Life

Around 1919, Chen Tian was a in a high-end restaurant in Taihoku. While working there she met Chiang Wei-shui, one of the founders of the Taiwanese Cultural Association (1921) and, later, the

Taiwanese People's Party The Taiwanese People's Party, founded in 1927, was nominally Taiwan under Japanese rule, Taiwan's first political party, preceding the founding of the Taiwanese Communist Party by nine months. Initially a party with members holding moderate ...

(1927). Chen married Chiang as a concubine. Chiang taught Chen how to read and write, and Chen began reading Chinese and Japanese books. Chen Tian joined the Taiwanese Cultural Association's Taipei Youth Reading Club. She was the club's only female member. Thereafter, Chen helped Chiang with his activism and, when Chiang was imprisoned (in 1924 and 1925), she supported him through correspondence, sending him clothes, books and articles by other activists, and also replaced him in lectures, giving speeches to promote his ideas. After Chiang died on August 5, 1931, of

typhoid fever Typhoid fever, also known simply as typhoid, is a disease caused by '' Salmonella enterica'' serotype Typhi bacteria, also called ''Salmonella'' Typhi. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and usually begin six to 30 days after exposure. Often th ...

, Chen became a nun in the . She resided there until her death in 1986.

Popular culture

Chen Tian features in the musical ''The Impossible Times'', based on Chiang Wei-shui's life.

References

{{Reflist 1900 births 1986 deaths Taiwanese activists Taiwanese women activists Taiwanese nuns Chinese Gējìs