Grandfather Tan and Grandmother Ru have very different ideas about childbirth. Who do you agree with, and why? Do you think these contradictory ideas still hold true today - not just for childbirth but for women’s medical care in general?

Grandfather Tan and Grandmother Ru have very different ideas about childbirth. Who do you agree with, and why? Although 500 years have passed since the time the novel takes place, do you think these contradictory ideas still hold true today – not just for childbirth but for women’s medical care in general?

I think that there is a place for both. As a retired physician I think that it is important to lay hands on a patient which is something a male doctor was not able to do. I think to be successful as a physician it is important to not only use the objective information of your training but the subjective to really understand what is going on with someone.

I always prefer female physicians to male. I feel like they listen more to me while men tend to be more clinical. My son is a physician and it’s one thing I have stressed to him, to nurture his bedside manner

Oh, if I must choose I am team Grandmother. If I had to pick one of them to attend me it would be grandmother. I always prefer a female physician, particularly for OB GYN and PCP, Internal med. I agree they listen better and are less dismissive. I also feel as if throughout history and still today medicine is behind in studying women and treating them. Men are the primary study subjects. All one needs to do is consider menopause and its afflictions and complications to see how women’s health has been neglected and ignored over the years.

I agree with gerrieb. Grandmother has my vote also. I just don't see how a male doctor that hides behind a screen and receives second-hand information can be at all successful in treating female patients.

I'm in the Grandmother camp and would have been happy to have Meiling and her mother with me also. Reading about these practices was fascinating--and now I want to research when male doctors came from behind the screen and if yin and yang and qi are considered in Chinese medicine today.

I agree with conniehg although I have not any negative experiences with male doctors understanding my needs. One note, I found the information in medical practices during this time period and location to be informative especially that male doctors had to treat female patients without actually seeing them and yet those few women in the medical field had to "fight" to be respected.

Oftentimes a physical examination is critical in determining both cause and treatment of medical issues so, of course, I would side with Grandmother Ru. So interesting in this culture that male doctors could not see or touch female patients - now I'm wondering how it was in other cultures over the centuries.

I am the Grandmother camp. Women are so good at taking care of women. They can relate. I have a very understanding male Dr. now but if I had to change I would look for a woman.

I side with the grandmother. I sought out a female doctor when I was having children. I wanted someone who understood what I was going to experience. I understand that the time in history of this story men were not allowed to see or touch the women. How any correct diagnosis or help could actually be offered with such limited information is beyond comprehension. In today’s time women’s health is still not where it should be especially in the area of gynecological and issues with menopause. Women really have to be their own champions which also relates to this story.

I do think that the differences between men and women’s health care is still an issue. Grandmother thinks that most women's issues are blood related. Grandfather finds midwives to be charlatans. I think that practitioners that treat the specific issues of women, which are often not just body related, are still marginalized.

Well said MissLiz! “In today’s time women’s health is still not where it should be especially in the area of gynecological and issues with menopause. Women really have to be their own champions which also relates to this story.” It is an uphill battle to be truly heard on menopausal issues. Women must continue to be their own best advocates.

I support Grandmother Ru's views based on her experience working with women. She argues well with Grandfather Tan and it appears at times she changes his opinions on a variety of subjects especially childbirth.

I know today there are women who use midwives to help with the birth of their babies. I don't think it is a wide practice since people of afraid of having complications and would be better served to be in a hospital.

I am concerned today about women who are not getting quality pre-natal care and experience death of themselves and the unborn. Yes, I do believe there are doctors going through the motions and not caring for their patients. I hate for any expectant mother to be in their hands. Hopefully, the quality of doctors can be checked online before any serious decisions made.