Li-Ying
Li-Ying
By Artist Nina Luu
The beauty and talent of Li-Ying, the daughter of Lord Kok, was well known throughout the kingdom. She was given the nickname of Princess Xin-Hua or "Heavenly Flower". Li-Ying, a descendant of a long line of Manchurians, was also skilled in weaponry and horse-riding. She creeded that the man she marries must best her in swordplay. But alas, the man who loved her dearly was a great scholar who has never touched a sword. What shall he do? :-)
Li-Ying lived during Qing Dynasty in China, which lasted from 1644-1911 A.D. The Qing empire began when the Manchurian people overthrew the Ming. Many of the Ming practices were adopted by the new regime, including the crippling practice of foot binding on woman in order to keep their feet under 4 inches long. Despite the fact that was considered the ideal beauty, Lord Kok refused to have this practice performed on his daughter when she showed amazing skill at handling a horse at an early age.