2 notable women in ancient China broke barriers, made major contributions to medicine, science

Breakthrough by woman pioneer led to jail, execution for son who agreed with her decision to dissect her dead husband

In ancient China, women were largely denied formal education and confined to the roles of dutiful wives and mothers.

Against this restrictive social order, two women pushed beyond the limits and left notable marks on medicine, astronomy and mathematics.

About 1,500 years ago, during the Southern dynasties, Zhang Xiugu is believed to have made an early contribution to pathological anatomy in China.

According to The History of the Southern Dynasties, Zhang lived in what is now Anhui province in central China. She and her husband, Tang Ci, were known locally for their medical skills.

The daughter of a folk doctor, Zhang grew up reading medical texts and learning the principles of healing.

Living amid war, disease and poverty, she developed a strong interest in medicine and later married Tang, a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) doctor who had gained attention for saving a dying village boy with acupuncture and herbal remedies.