Han Qing-jao
Encyclopedia
Han Qing-jao is a major character in the science-fiction novel Xenocide
, by Orson Scott Card
. She is the sixteen-year-old daughter of Han Fei-tzu, a respected leader from the colony world of Path. Qing-jao is named for the poet Li Qingzhao
.
Qing-jao originally appeared in the short story Gloriously Bright, which was later expanded into the novel Xenocide. Despite sharing the family name Han, Card has stated that she is not related to the character Han Tzu from Ender's Game
. However, this may be contradicted by hints in Shadow Puppets
.
Qing-jao is quoted at the beginning of each chapter in the final book in the series, Children of the Mind
.
Qing-jao and her father belong to a class of people known as "godspoken"; they are highly intelligent but have a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
that forces them to carry out strange rituals. For example, Qing-jao has to trace woodgrain lines with her eyes whenever she feels that she has displeased the gods. Later in the book it is discovered that the godspoken have had their intelligence genetically enhanced by the Starways Congress, and have been given the OCD to keep them under control.
Qing-jao was raised to see everything in the world in terms of her faith in the gods and is determined to serve them perfectly. (She is shocked when she finds out from her servant Si Wang-mu
that not all the common people are content to have the godspoken rule over them.) Because of this, she is never able to accept that her compulsions are not really caused by the gods, and when all the godspoken are finally cured of their OCD, she devotes her life to performing her rituals in hopes of calling the gods back to her world.
Xenocide
Xenocide is the third novel in the Ender's Game series of books by Orson Scott Card. It was nominated for both the Hugo and Locus Awards for Best Novel in 1992...
, by Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
. She is the sixteen-year-old daughter of Han Fei-tzu, a respected leader from the colony world of Path. Qing-jao is named for the poet Li Qingzhao
Li Qingzhao
Li Qingzhao was a Chinese writer and poet of the Song Dynasty, regarded by many as the premier female poet in the Chinese language.-Biography:She was born Li Qingzhao (Traditional Chinese: 李清照; Simplified Chinese: 李清照, pinyin: Lǐ Qīngzhào; Wade-Giles: Li Ch'ing-chao, pseudonym Yi'an Jushi (易安居士...
.
Qing-jao originally appeared in the short story Gloriously Bright, which was later expanded into the novel Xenocide. Despite sharing the family name Han, Card has stated that she is not related to the character Han Tzu from Ender's Game
Ender's Game
Ender's Game is a science fiction novel by American author Orson Scott Card. The book originated as the short story "Ender's Game", published in the August 1977 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact. Elaborating on characters and plot lines depicted in the novel, Card later wrote additional...
. However, this may be contradicted by hints in Shadow Puppets
Shadow Puppets
Shadow Puppets , by Orson Scott Card is the sequel to Shadow of the Hegemon and the third book in the Ender's Shadow series . It was originally to be called Shadow of Death.-Plot summary:...
.
Qing-jao is quoted at the beginning of each chapter in the final book in the series, Children of the Mind
Children of the Mind
Children of the Mind is the fourth book of Orson Scott Card's popular Ender's Game series of science fiction novels that focus on the character Ender Wiggin...
.
Qing-jao and her father belong to a class of people known as "godspoken"; they are highly intelligent but have a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive–compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions...
that forces them to carry out strange rituals. For example, Qing-jao has to trace woodgrain lines with her eyes whenever she feels that she has displeased the gods. Later in the book it is discovered that the godspoken have had their intelligence genetically enhanced by the Starways Congress, and have been given the OCD to keep them under control.
Qing-jao was raised to see everything in the world in terms of her faith in the gods and is determined to serve them perfectly. (She is shocked when she finds out from her servant Si Wang-mu
Si Wang-mu
Si Wang-mu is a major character in the science fiction novels Xenocide and Children of the Mind by Orson Scott Card. She is named after the Chinese goddess Xi Wangmu, the Royal Mother of the West.-Childhood:...
that not all the common people are content to have the godspoken rule over them.) Because of this, she is never able to accept that her compulsions are not really caused by the gods, and when all the godspoken are finally cured of their OCD, she devotes her life to performing her rituals in hopes of calling the gods back to her world.