Heroines of Jiangyong : Chinese narrative ballads in women's script / translation & introduction by Wilt L. Idema.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Idema, W. L. (Wilt L.)

Language:

Chinese

English

Subjects (All):

Chinese poetry--Women authors--Translations into English.

Chinese poetry.

Chinese poetry--China--Jiangyong Xian.

Chinese poetry--20th century.

Chinese poetry--Women authors.

China--Jiangyong Xian.

Physical Description:

viii, 181 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Other Title:

Chinese narrative ballads in women's script

Place of Publication:

Seattle : University of Washington Press, [2009]

Summary:

Heroines of Jiangyong is the first English translation of a set of verse narratives recorded in the unique women's script (nushu) of rural Jiangyong Country, Hunan, in southern China. This folk literature provides a rare window into the everyday life of rural daughters, wives, and mothers, as they transmit valuable lessons about surviving in a protagonists society that is often harsh and unforgiving. Featuring strong female protagonists, the ballads deal with moral issues, dangers women face outside the family home, and the difficulties of childbirth.

The women's script, which represents units of sound in the local Chinese dialect, was discovered by scholars in the late twentieth century, creating quite a stir in China and abroad. This volume offers a full translation of all the longer ballads narratives appealed to rural women in traditional China. The translations are preceded by a brief introduction to women's script and its scholarship, and a discussion of each of the twelve selections.

Contents:

Part I Moral Tracts

1 Admonitions for My Daughter 25

2 The Ten Months of Pregnancy 27

3 The Family Heirloom 32

4 The Lazy Wife 38

Part II Narrative Ballads

5 The Tale of Third Sister 43

6 The Daughter of the Xiao Famil 67

7 Lady Luo 79

8 The Maiden Meng Jiang 84

9 The Flower Seller 98

10 The Demonic Carp 119

11 The Karmic Affinity of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingta 123

12 Fifth Daughter Wang 135.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-181).

Translated from the Chinese.

ISBN:

9780295988412

029598841X

9780295988429

0295988428

OCLC:

225872662