Liǔ Rúshì 柳如是
Late-Míng / early-Qīng poet and courtesan, best known as the concubine and intellectual partner of 錢謙益 Qián Qiānyì (1582–1664). Originally surnamed Yáng 楊 (given names Ài 愛, Yǐnglián 影憐); took the sobriquet Rúshì 如是 (“Thus”) from the Diamond Sūtra opening 「如是我聞」 and the hào Hédōngjūn 河東君 (“Lady of Hédōng”). One of the most celebrated of the “Eight Beauties of Qínhuái” 秦淮八艷. Committed suicide in 1664 shortly after Qián Qiānyì’s death. The fundamental modern biographical study is 陳寅恪 Chén Yínkè’s posthumous three-volume Liǔ Rúshì biézhuàn 柳如是別傳 (1980, completed 1953–1964).