In early China; was it correct for a woman to disobey her father; contradict her husband; or shape the public policy of a son who ruled over a dynasty or state? According to the Lienü zhuan; or Categorized Biographies of Women; it was not only appropriate but necessary for women to step in with wise counsel when fathers; husbands; or rulers strayed from the path of virtue. Compiled toward the end of the Former Han dynasty (202 BCE-9 CE) by Liu Xiang (79-8 BCE); the Lienü zhuan is the earliest extant book in the Chinese tradition solely devoted to the education of women. Far from providing a unified vision of women's roles; the text promotes a diverse and sometimes contradictory range of practices. At one extreme are exemplars resorting to suicide and self-mutilation as a means to preserve chastity and ritual orthodoxy. At the other are bold and outspoken women whose rhetorical mastery helps correct erring rulers; sons; and husbands. The text provides a fascinating overview of the representation of women's roles in early legends; formal speeches on statecraft; and highly fictionalized historical accounts during this foundational period of Chinese history.Over time; the biographies of women became a regular feature of dynastic and local histories and a vehicle for expressing and transmitting concerns about women's social; political; and domestic roles. The Lienü zhuan is also rich in information about the daily life; rituals; and domestic concerns of early China. Inspired by its accounts; artists across the millennia have depicted its stories on screens; paintings; lacquer ware; murals; and stone relief sculpture; extending its reach to literate and illiterate audiences alike.
#1481131 in Books 2013-10-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.90 x .50 x 5.90l; .65 #File Name: 0231149832216 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. THE NEW LEFT-WING PSYCHOLOGY EMERGESBy barrybFirst: you need to realize that the Insurrections series by Columbia press is a neo-left-wing critique of Hegel through the filters of deconstruction and existentialism. As such; they fit primarily within a psychological framework. Therefore; the more you know of Hegel's psychology; the better you will appreciate this series. I think they offer a valuable resource and this current volume is no exception. Crockett's approach is to re-construct the concepts of "sovereignty" and "democracy". And to react against a growing problematic of global capitalism. The message is URGENT for Crockett. He builds an eschatological model of promise and hope which sounds a lot like Moltmann without Christianity present. And as a de-constructionist; he requires the falling-back into the elastic and less-stable self of the "abyss of darkness". But he describes the "Mine" or explored unconscious; rather than the unexplored Abyss in his text. Subjective positing of the "potentia" of eschatological possibilities emerging in history drives the process in actuality and in new internalizations. I thought the book was rewarding; balanced; and systematically presented. I am not leftist but do strongly recommend this manuscript for all interested in this evolving field of interest. Easily 5 stars.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. an advocate's survey of post-modern covert idealismBy PubliusA breathless review of Continental philosophy's turn to immanent idealism; presented as the inevitable future not yet arrived because still forming in its unique dissolving-while-shaping manifestations; written for the academic far-left crowd. God; capitalism; liberalism and sovereignty are pronounced dead; to be replaced by social forms constantly dogged and often overturned by an anarchist elite. Marxism re-presented as political theology; as religion without religion. Will the new clothes help?0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Building a new environmentBy CustomerClayton does a good job at crafting an alternative view of the cosmos through his explorations into contemporary continental philosophers. Neoliberalism has failed earth and only a radical political theology can think ahead to open our vistas for a new world.
