These are Chinese women who have forged careers as scientists, businesswomen, sportswomen, and military officers appearing alongside writers, academics, revolutionary heroines, politicians, musicians, opera stars, film stars, artists, educators, nuns, and traditional good wives, as well as women from minority nationalities. They include women from Mainland China and Taiwan as well as those of Chinese descent who were born overseas. More than eighty authors and translators from around the world have contributed to this impressive and indispensable scholarly undertaking.