Ban Zhao

Ban Zhao
Imaginary image of Ban Zhao by Shangguan Zhou (上官周, b. 1665).
Born	45
Died	116 (aged 70–71)
Spouse(s)	Cao Shishu
Parent(s)	Ban Biao
Relatives	Ban Chao, Ban Gu

Bān Zhāo (45 – c. 116 CE) (Chinese: 班昭; Wade–Giles: Pan Chao), courtesy name Huiban (惠班), was the first known female Chinese historian. She completed her brother Ban Gu's work on the history of the Western Han, the Book of Han. She also wrote Lessons for Women, an influential work on women's conduct. She also had great interest in astronomy and mathematics and wrote poems, commemorative writings, argumentations, commentaries, essays and several longer works, not all of which survive. She became China's most famous female scholar.

Ban Zhao was born in Anling, near modern Xianyang, Shaanxi province. At age fourteen, she married a local resident named Cao Shishu, and was called in the court by the name as Venerable Madame Cao (曹大家). Her husband died when she was still young. She never remarried, instead devoting her life to scholarship. She was the daughter of the famous historian Ban Biao and younger of 2 sisters of the general Ban Chao and of historian Ban Gu. She was also the grandniece of the notable scholar and poet Consort Ban.

Ban Zhao was a co-author of the history of the Western Han, a book known as the Book of Han. After Ban Gu was imprisoned and executed in 92 because of his association with the family of Empress Dowager Dou, Ban Zhao finished the work. She added the genealogy of the mother of the emperor, providing much information which was not usually kept. She also added a treatise on astronomy.