Wang Zhenyi

Qing Dynasty polymath who defied gender norms to advance astronomy, mathematics, and poetry.

Wang Zhenyi (1768–1797) was a Chinese scholar whose contributions to astronomy, mathematics, and literature challenged the rigid gender roles of the Qing Dynasty. She authored Simple Principles of Calculation and The Explanation of the Pythagorean Theorem and Trigonometry, making complex mathematical concepts accessible. In astronomy, she accurately explained lunar eclipses using models of celestial spheres, debunking superstitions. Read more about her work here.

Wang also wrote poetry advocating for women’s education and social equality. Her essay On the Equality of Men and Women argued that 'talent is not limited by gender,' a radical view in 18th-century China. Explore her poetry here.

Despite her short life, Wang Zhenyi’s interdisciplinary achievements and advocacy for gender equality make her a trailblazer. Her legacy is celebrated in modern China, with craters on Venus named in her honor.