pThis biography of Candida Xu 1607-1680, granddaughter of the prominent Chinese Christian convert and statesman Xu Guangqi 1562-1633 and foremost Chinese Christian woman of the seventeenth century, is based on the biography of Candida Xu titled emHistoire d'une dame chrtienne de la Chineem Paris, 1688 written by her confessor Philippe Couplet, S.J. 1623-1693, an obituary of his mother and other writings by her eldest son, and the Xu family history. Using these as well as other relevant European missionary and Chinese language sources, Candida Xu's life as daughter, wife, mother, and generous contributor to the Christian Church is recounted. Events in her life are set in the context of historical and religious circumstances in China at the time. Consideration of the situation of women, particularly Christian women, draws out how Candida Xu's faith helped her and other believing Christian women to gain greater freedom of choice and action.p