Chou Spring Pearl

Chou Spring Pearl was one of the first five Girls of Many Lands, representing China during the Second Opium War. Spring Pearl was released in 2002.

Basic Facts

 * Name: Chou Spring Pearl. Her name is in Eastern format, Chou being her last name.
 * Primary Book Location: Canton, China
 * Series Timeline: 1857

Personality and Facts
Spring Pearl is practical and quick to think of solutions to her problems. However, being raised in the slums instead of in high society like the Sung family, she sees no reason to act fragile like a girl was expected to in her era when she can take care of herself. This causes anxiety and awkwardness between herself and the Sung family, and she is mocked by both the children and the servants. Because Spring Pearl refuses to pretend to be helpless and stays true to herself, she inspires the Sung family, who had before been consumed by the act of keeping up appearances, to do the same.

Spring Pearl is always conscious that she is a charity case, having been taken in by Master Sung after her parents worked themselves to their death, and because they became renowned artists and she has no talent in either of their fields, she doesn't see where she fits in. She does have a strong sense of morality, though, and stands against drug smugglers and looters when the nobles are scared away. Another thing that comes naturally to her is helping people; early in the book, she relates that she did errands and favours for every one of her old neighbours simply because they needed the help. Finally, she is a dedicated gardener, and brings the Sung family's withering garden to life even though society frowns upon the daughter of a scholar digging in the dirt.

Spring Pearl speaks fluent English; she was taught by Mr Fortescue, an interned Englishman who lived near her while her parents were alive and before the foreigners were driven out of the country because of the First Opium War.

Major Characters

 * Doggy: Spring Pearl's friend, a servant.
 * Mistress Sung: Spring Pearl's guardian and mentor.
 * Master Sung: Spring Pearl's guardian and friend.
 * Sung Emerald: The Sung family's eldest daughter.
 * Sung Willow: The Sung family's middle daughter.
 * Sung Oriole: The Sung family's youngest daughter.
 * Sung Blessing: The Sung family's son.
 * Lord Chin: Master Sung's noble acquaintance.

Minor Characters

 * Auntie Wong: An old friend of the Chou family.
 * Uncle Soo: Auntie Wong's husband.
 * Hammer: Auntie Wong's son.
 * Wing: An old servant of the Sung family.
 * Snow Goose: A snobbish servant of the Sung family.
 * Mister Ma: A man who protests the government with Master Sung and Lord Chin.
 * Viceroy Yeh: A politician in Canton.
 * General Po: A politician who is friendly with the British and French.
 * Mr Fortescue: A British man who knew the Chou family.

Book
''Spring Pearl: The Last Flower

Doll
Main Article: Chou Spring Pearl (doll)