Peach Blossom Pavillion

Peach Blossom Pavilion is the story about the last Chinesepoet-musician courtesan, or Geisha. Chinese geisha culture existed2500 years ago and reached its fullest development about fourhundred years ago. (While the geisha tradition continues in Japan,the remarkable Chinese courtesan culture has passed into history.)Peach Blossom Pavilion is about these elegant, artistic courtesansand the fascinating culture that they represented. The protagonist,Precious Orchid, had many adventures both inside and outside theprostitution house, Peach Blossom pavilion. After her father wasexecuted for a crime he did not commit, Precious Orchid's mother istricked into leaving her in a high-class house of prostitutionwhere she has a traumatic initiation in the ways of her malecustomers. Yet Precious Orchid is able to find ways to mitigate hermisery through art and music, taught by her "sister" Pearl.

Through all this she plots her escape, only to find herself inthe "bitter sea." Her adventures include practing sex magic with aDaoist monk on a remote mountain, and a perilous journey to findher long lost mother, a prominent Buddhist nun. Just when she hasan offer of marriage from an American merchant, the Japaneseinvade...

Mingmei Yip has written an enchanting debut novel "Peach BlossomPavilion" which tells the story of the last surviving Chinesecourtesan (prostitute), Precious Orchid, the most sought-afterwoman in all of China. Just as Arthur Golden's novel "Memoirs of aGeisha" introduced readers to the Japanese geisha tradition nearlya decade ago, Peach Blossom Pavilion provides a vivid account of aforgotten history, immersed in Chinese culture of the early 1990's,by transporting us to another place and time where prostitutes wereglamorous, elegant and cultured women that were well-versed in thearts. --Asiance Magazine, June 1, 2008


Novelist MINGMEI YIP tells a familiar story with some surprisingtwists throughout.

MINGMEI YIP, who has published five previous books in Chinese,shows an impressive depth of knowledge in a range of subjects fromthe inner workings of a brothel to Buddhist practice to music. Sheinfuses her characters, especially Precious Orchid with a realnessthat readers would certainly recognize as signs of an assuredauthor capable of fleshing out what may be stereotypes...


Ratings: 5 stars Fans of Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden andSnow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See are sure to be drawn toand find great enjoyment in Peach Blossom Pavilion ...Scatteredthroughout the book are numerous passages of poems, song lyrics andChinese sayings that are just as enjoyable to read as the storyitself. Not only do they add a sense of authenticity to the story,making the characters and time period feel more true, but alsotouch it with an artistic flair... The poignant Peach BlossomPavilion continues to linger in the reader's mind, with many scenesand Precious Orchid's words resounding. It's a novel of heartache,but also one of hope as the strong heroine never gives in. With itslovely prose and memorable characters, Peach Blossom Pavilion issure to touch all who read it.