Last Name: | 赵 |
First Name: | 灵飞 |
Web/Pen/Nick Name: | 赵彩云; 傅彩云 |
Birth Place: | 安徽徽州黟县 |
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Sai Jinhua (traditional Chinese: 賽金花; simplified Chinese: 赛金花; pinyin: Sài Jīnhuā; Wade–Giles: Sai Chin-hua; "Prettier Than Golden Flower"; circa 1872-1936) was a Chinese courtesan who became the acquaintance of Alfred von Waldersee. Her real family name was Cao. Sometimes she said her family name was Zhao. During her career as a courtesan she used the names Fu Caiyun (傅彩雲; 傅彩云; Fù Cǎiyún; Fu Ts'ai-yün), Sai Jinhua, and Cao Menglan (曹夢蘭; 曹梦兰; Cáo Mènglán; Ts'ao Meng-lan). Her art name (hao) was Weizhao Lingfei (魏趙靈飛; 魏赵灵飞; Wèizhào Língfēi; Wei-chao Ling-fei). Some people referred to her as Sai Erye (賽二爺; 赛二爷; Sài èryé; Sai erh-yeh, "Second Master Sai").
Wenxian Zhang, author of an encyclopedia article on Sai Jinhua, wrote that she "was regarded by some as a cross-cultural courtesan." Wan Xianchu, an author of an encyclopedia article on Sai Jinhua, wrote that "regardless of whether Sai Jinhua's role in China's foreign relations may have been exaggerated and despite the controversies surrounding her conduct and affairs, she lived a tough and spectacular life that has assured her a place in the modern history of China."