Description
Book SynopsisPresents a glimpse into Chinese folk literature through translated verses secretly written by the oppressed village women of Hunan, who bravely scribed their stories, in their own words.
Trade Review"A valuable addition to contemporary scholarship of Chinese literature, especially regarding studies of Chinese peasant women and changben. . . . Heroines of Jiangyong serves as an excellent point of departure for exploring rural women's complex lifeworlds . . ."
-- Fei-wen * Nan Nu *
"The book represents a significant contribution to Chinese history, language, and culture, as well as to global literature and women's studies."
-- Jeana DelRosso * Feminist Formations *
"The book provides a wealth of comparative thematic, topical, and motif material for folklorists, ethnographers, and anthropologists, and is highly recommended."
-- James H. Grayson * Folklore *
"Heroines of Jiangyong provides a paradigm for Chinese feminists to better understand and recognize the hidden tensions of traditionally imposed gender roles in China in order to move toward gender equality."
* On the Issues *
"Idema brings a sensitive literary perspective to nushu texts. The result is a set of translations through which, it is easy to believe, the Jiangyong women's voices may be heard . . . . The Heroines of Jiangyong is a valuable contribution to English language studies of nushu."
* Journal of Folklore Research *
"… provide fascinating glimpses into the trials and tribulations, as well as the ideals and aspirations, of rural women… the protagonists of these ballads, while they may weep, lament and wail, also shout and curse and scold and, for the most part, do indeed emerge as 'heroines'… translations such as these… should be especially welcomed by those who teach China in the classroom. For the language of these ballads, deftly conveyed by Idema's translations, is lively, earthy and often… refreshingly vivid."
* The China Quarterly *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
Introduction: Women's Script
Part One | Moral Tracts
1. Admonitions for My Daughter
2. The Ten Months of Pregnancy
3. The Family Heirloom
4. The Lazy Wife
Part Two | Narrative Ballads
5. The Tale of Third Sister
6. The Daughter of the Xiao Family
7. Lady Luo
8. The Maiden Meng Jiang
9. The Flower Seller
10. The Demonic Carp
11. The Karmic Affinity of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai
12. Fifth Daughter Wang
Notes
Chinese Character Glossary
Bibliography
