ONE of the most famous works about Su Xiaoxiao is a poem by Li He (790-816 AD), a highly gifted writer nicknamed the "ghost poet" for his colorful descriptions of the other world.

His poem describes Su's life in that world - there are no crowded parties only eternal melancholy. It pictures a vivid and still beautiful Su in a scarily detailed underworld and ends with a sudden line describing a rainy day at Xiling.

Many other literary figures wrote about their experiences encountering the phantom Su - her beauty preserved as she wished and her short and thrilling life extending to the underworld.

Writers of Chinese literature tell me that they remain mysteriously charmed by Su because they see the similarity between the fallen rich daughter and themselves, often talented in literature but failing in politics.

Politics, or becoming a government official, was the only way up for poor scholars in ancient China. But writing an analytical essay for the emperor is quite different to composing a romantic poem. Over the nearly 2,000 years of Chinese history, many great writers were also expelled from the center of power.

I don't know if I agree with the books and the writers - I can't go to everyone's tombs and ask them. But I can ask my dad:?"Why are you so attracted to a woman that only left four lines of 20 Chinese characters?"

"To be accurate, I'm charmed by the whole collective efforts - her poem and all those inspired by her. Freedom, if you understand," said dad and offered no further explanation. He never liked putting his own ideas onto my own thoughts.

And I got it, as I went back in the winter of 2004, when the tomb renovation had just been completed. It still looked minor, considering how influential she was to all the major figures like Su Dongpo, Bai Juyi and Li He.

Many tourists passed, taking a quick glance at or a photograph of the cemetery on their way to or from the Broken Bridge. All of a sudden, it started raining. This is quite common in Hangzhou, but it felt different that day in front of her empty tomb.

Why did she say cypress and pine trees when Hangzhou is mostly known for the softly bending willow trees? Cypress and pine trees, from all Chinese poems and essays, often indicate something tough and strong, quite opposite to the common feminine impressions of Su and Hangzhou.

And I felt the strength of her free will, when she refused to become a concubine and when she accepted death so calmly. What talented writer has never dreamed of a soul mate?

And who else could you find and talk to besides a sophisticated courtesan in a time when couples didn't get to see each other until they finished the wedding ceremony and were sent to their rooms?

There are many other famous courtesans from ancient China, known for their beauty and talent, but Su is always considered one of the most significant. Many others are remembered for the men they are associated with, either authority figures such as an emperor or a general or famous literati.

Su's story is one of only two where the names of the men are not important at all. The other is the courtesan and poet Xue Tao from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD).

In male-dominated ancient China, the names of the husband and scholar were ignored in some of her tales. I think it's because they are not important. She's not after either those men or any other men. To put it in a corny and cliched way - she was in love with love.

And I guess all the hundreds of writers and artists, commemorating her with their literature and art, also fell, probably for a different object with the same affection and persistence.

Courting the courtesans

Many highly respected and talented ancient Chinese writers and talents are associated with courtesans and some even got inspiration for their most significant works from those beautiful women.

Like the cortigiana onesta (high-level courtesans serving powerful and rich people) in Renaissance Venetian society in the 16th century, the names and legends of many ancient Chinese courtesans have been carried down through non-official history books and novels.

They were usually born to a rich family of a high-ranking government official and forced into prostitution when the family lost power, which explains the aristocratic beauty and presence, the fine education and considerable literary and artistic accomplishments.

This was rare for men at the time, as only a small percentage of people were literate, not to mention women. Most women from a rich person's or official's family were only required to study enough characters to understand a few books about how to become a perfect woman - basically be an obedient daughter before marriage, listen to your husband after getting married and to your son after he turns 16 (the age varies in different dynasties after the husband dies).

So high-level courtesans, or literary courtesans, were perhaps the only group of women that received a fine education in most dynasties as a job requirement.

It was quite difficult to become a high-level courtesan. The highest level of courtesans, over at least a 1,500-year period, were required to master seven traditional Chinese art forms - a traditional Chinese musical instrument, Chinese chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing and poetry.

Some were similar to the Japanese geishas, acting as a female entertainer but not engaging in sex. Others did both. It is impossible to confirm since most of these names and their stories don't show up in any of the official historical records. The legends were carried on in old novels and poems written by famous writers.

The following is a brief introduction to some other famous and intriguing courtesans, not ranked in any order of significance.

1. Xue Tao from Tang Dynasty - Of the 300 poems from the Tang Dynasty, Xue is the only woman poet in the official collection which was compiled at the time. Xue and Su are usually regarded as the two leading courtesans of ancient China. Although born much later than Su, Xue has fewer stories about her than Su, but one is quite enough. Despite her social status as a courtesan, many poets of the time rated her as the second person they wanted to read new poems to, right after the emperor.

2. Liang Hongyu - Liang was forced into prostitution as a punishment to her father and grandfather, both generals killed on the battlefield. They were thought not talented or skilled enough to defend the nation. Liang married Han Shizhong, a highly respected general, and assisted him in a battle when the enemy's army was 10 times as large. She also trained a women's army, led by her, and took part in many battles.

3. Li Shishi - She is remembered as the mistress of Emperor Huizong of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the artistic genius and political moron captured and imprisoned by a rival country until he died. It was said the emperor crept secretly out of the palace, just to see her.

4. Chen Yuanyuan - Like Li Shishi, Chen is remembered for a collapsing dynasty - the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). And moreover, she is remembered as the mistress of each of the significant leaders on each side in the chaotic period before the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) was established - the last Emperor of Ming, the peasant revolutionary leader, and the Han traitor who surrendered to the manchurians of the Qing Dynasty. It was said the traitor made the decision as a revenge on the peasant leader who stole Chen from him.