Readings in Chinese Women’s Philosophical and Feminist Thought gathers 40 original writings on women by 32 authors (many of whom are women) from the Yuan dynasty to the Republics, an important 700-year historical period during which women’s learning in China blossomed as a result of economic prosperity, the development of commercial printing, and the interaction between East and West.
Selections are made not only from canonical texts on women’s virtues, but also from less orthodox literary works such as plays, poetry, novels, essays, and revolutionary writings that illuminate the lived experience of women and the perception of gender. With many texts translated into English for the first time, this reader provides the context needed to understand them. It features:
- Chronologically organized readings in the sequence of the Yuan, Ming, Qing dynasties, and the Republics to demonstrate historical progression of thought (or the lack of)
- Introductions to each section and chapter covering essential information about the authors and the cultural, historical, and philosophical background to their work
- A chronology of dynasties, Republics, key events, and a map
Recovering discourse so often neglected in discussion of Chinese thought, this is the first collection to pay special attention to women-authored works from the late 13th to the early 21st century. By bringing these readings together in a single volume, it juxtaposes and compares female and male perspectives from the same time and creates a new narrative of Chinese philosophical thought.
Acknowledgments Chronology of Chinese Dynasties, Republics, and Key Events Map of China Introduction Part I The Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) Introduction 1 Guan Hanqing, The Injustice Done to Dou E 2 Zheng Guangzu, The Soul of Qian-Nü Leaves Her Body 3 Guan Daosheng, Selected Poems 4 Guo Jujing, Two Anecdotes from The Complete Selection of Twenty-Four Exemplars of Filial Piety with Matching Poems 5 Xue Lanying and Xue Huiying, “Bamboo Branches Songs from Sutai” 6 Chen Menglei, Selected Biographies of Yuan Women Part II The Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) Introduction 7 Empress Renxiaowen, Teachings for the Inner Court 8 Madame Liu, Short Records of Models for Women 9 Wang Daokun, Selected Biographies of Ming Women 10 Zhao Nanxing, The Classic for Teaching Young Girls 11 Li Zhi, “A Letter in Response to the Claim that Women are Too Shortsighted to Understand the Dao” 12 Tang Xianzu, The Peony Pavilion 13 Ma Shouzhen, “A Letter to Sir Wang Baigu” and Selected Poems 14 Liu Rushi, “A Letter to Sir Qian Muzhai” and “The Daoist Hermit in a Straw Coat, Wang Wei” Part III The Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) Introduction 15 Pu Songling, “The Painted Skin” from Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio 16 Chen Menglei, Selected Biographies of Qing Women 17 Chen Hongmou, Norms for Teaching Women to be Passed Down to Future Generations 18 Yuan Mei, “The Accustomed View that it is Unbefitting for Women to Compose Poetry,”“A Poem Regarding Two Talented and Virtuous Ladies,” and “My Female Student Xi Peilan” 19 Xi Peilan, Selected Poems 20 Sun Yunfeng, Selected Poems 21 Li Ruzhen, Flowers in the Mirror 22 Qiu Jin, “Women’s Newspaper of China Inaugural Issue Statement” and “To My Fellow Sisters” 23 He Zhen, “The Declaration of Women,” “On Women's Revenge,” and “What Women Should Know About Communism” 24 Madame Shen-Zhang, “Preface to Illustrated Four Books for Women with Explanation in Vernacular Chinese” Part IV The Republics (1912–present) Introduction 25 Lu Xun, The New-Year Sacrifice 26 Hu Shih, “The Problem of Chastity” and “A Chinese Declaration of the Rights of Women” 27 Ding Ling, “Thoughts on March 8” 28 Eileen Chang, Shame, Amah! 29 Lü Hsiu-lien, “The Connotation of New Feminism” 30 Li Ang, The Butcher’s Wife 31 Li Xiaojiang, “Economic Reform and the Awakening of Chinese Women’s Collective Consciousness” 32 Bhiksuni Shih Chao-hwei, “Theory and Practice of Buddhist Feminist Movement in Taiwan: From Advocating Animal Rights to Female Rights” Notes Bibliography Index
Ann A. Pang-White is Professor of Philosophy and Director of Asian Studies at The University of Scranton, USA. She is the editor of the Bloomsbury Research Handbook of Chinese Philosophy and Gender (2016), editor and translator of The Confucian Four Books for Women (2018), and the author of many articles on Chinese and comparative philosophy as well as ancient and medieval philosophy.
Reviews for Readings in Chinese Women’s Philosophical and Feminist Thought: From the Late 13th to Early 21st Century
This captivating and enticing collection of plays, poetry, novels, essays, and revolutionary writings presents a unique platform for a more informed transnational, transcultural and decolonial feminist and philosophical discourse and beyond. A fascinating, delightful and illuminating expedition! * Robin R. Wang, Professor of Philosophy, Loyola Marymount University, USA * Ann Pang-White has already established an impressive reputation as one of the leading figures in the translation and interpretation of traditional Chinese writing by and about women. Editing and translating Readings in Chinese Women's Philosophical and Feminist Thought establishes Pang-White as the preeminent figure in this area! This translation anthology compliments other works that cover earlier Chinese writings by and about women, and gives students and scholars a window into this fascinating aspect of traditional culture. Pang-White allows us to see that Chinese writings by and about women are much more complex and insightful than the simplistic caricatures that are still too often accepted today. * Bryan W. Van Norden, James Monroe Taylor Chair, Vassar College, USA *
