Introduction

1. The Women of the Nalan Family: Miss Nalan, Sibo, and Madam Zhaojia

2. A Prisoner's Mother and Wife: The Mistress of the Study for Nurturing Simplicity and the Mistress of the Orchid Pavilion

3. Chastity and Suicide: Xiguang

4. Mourning Royalty: Lady Zhoujia, Lady Tongjia, and Lady Fucha

5. Sacrifice and Friendship: Bingyue

6. A Tomboy in a Silly Dress: Mengyue

7. Unbridled Energy: Yingchuan

8. Releasing Butterflies: Wanyan Jinchi

9. Seeking Refuge in Truth: Guizhen Daoren

10. Traveling throughout the Empire: Baibao Youlan

11. A Proud Descendant of Chinggis Khan: Naxun Lanbao

12. From Hengyang to Beijing: Lingwen Zhuyou

13. The Modest Pursuit of a Minor Way: Duomin Huiru

14. A Poet from the Homeland: Lady Husihali

Abbreviations

Notes

Glossary of Chinese Characters

Bibliography

Index

This anthology presents substantial selections from the work of twenty Manchu women poets of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The poems, inspired by their daily life and reflections, provide fascinating insights into the experiences and emotions of these women, most of whom belonged to the elite families of Manchu society. Each selection is accompanied by biographical material that illuminates the life stories of the poets. The volume's introduction describes the printing history of the collections from which these poems are drawn, the authors' practice of poetry writing, ethnic and gender issues, and comparisons with the poetry of women in South China and of male authors of the Qing dynasty (1644?1911).

Wilt L. Idema is professor emeritus of Chinese literature at Harvard University. He is the translator of Heroines of Jiangyong: Chinese Narrative Ballads in Women's Script and Meng Jiangnu Brings Down the Great Wall: Ten Versions of a Chinese Legend, and coauthor of The Red Brush: Writing Women of Imperial China.