I think it is always interesting to consider how women are portrayed in history and media, and the perspectives that influence and are influenced by those representations. I remember when I took the course on China’s Magical Creatures, I did my final project on the story of the White Snake, a fictional tale about a snake disguising herself as a beautiful woman and enticing a man to fall in love with her. Unlike the stories that we read for Friday, this one is fictional, however, it does still act as a representation of women in Chinese society and their role at the time of the story’s recording. Over time, various versions of the White Snake story were written, allowing for characters and values to develop in reflection to society at each time the story was recorded. Similarly, the stories we read on Friday and how the authors chose to portray their own role as women or the values of a woman in court reflect the values of society at the time they were written.
Writing and other content
I like how you focus on women and portrayal throughout Chinese history. It is so fascinating in that we see women rise to a new level of freedom and responsibility during the Tang, a time where they could ride on horseback alone. I think the idea that you bring up about stories being rewritten in order to reflect the values and ideals of the societies at the time is so compelling when delving into the successes and failures of specific dynasties.