Wang Zhenyi

Wang Zhenyi (1768–1797) was a Qing-dynasty astronomer, mathematician and poet from Jiangning. Her grandfather taught her astronomy, while her father taught her mathematics and medicine.

After her grandfather died in 1782, she spent years in Jilin reading his library and learning riding and archery. Largely self-taught in astronomy and mathematics, she taught male students after her marriage at twenty-five.

Her poetry argued that women were men's equals. Most of her writings were burned at her death; the survivors were compiled by Qian Yiji, who called her the greatest female scholar since Ban Zhao. She died aged twenty-nine.