Alice Poon's Blog - Posts Tagged "tales-of-ming-courtesans"
Bookish Chat on the esteemed Asian Books Blog
This is probably one of the most memorable bookish chats I've ever had in my writing life! The talented Elaine Chiew, an established author herself, had keen observations about my new book Tales of Ming Courtesans and asked the most discerning questions at the interview!
Here's the full interview:
http://www.asianbooksblog.com/2020/06...
The Asian Books Blog is an authoritative voice on Asian literature.
Here's the full interview:
http://www.asianbooksblog.com/2020/06...
The Asian Books Blog is an authoritative voice on Asian literature.
A Reader from Sacramento Reviews My Book
A reader named Barbara Sotcan from Sacramento, California was kind to send me via friends this lovely review of Tales of Ming Courtesans:-
"Only a woman could have written this book. Only a Chinese woman could have written this book. Only a Chinese woman scholar could have written this book. I'm more than impressed with the amount of research that went into the creation of this historical novel. And I'm sure there are other scholars who might have done this amount of research. But to have that ability and also the ability to write engagingly is truly marvelous.
I have to confess that I had to work very hard to keep all the names straight, but I don't think I lost any threads of the story due to occasional confusion. I remain so outraged at the injustices suffered by women throughout history, and I applaud the resilience of the women in this book. I won't hesitate to recommend it to any of my more literary friends. It really would make a fantastic movie. The next best thing would be to add pen and ink illustrations, as it really is a visual feast."
Thank you so much, Barbara!
"Only a woman could have written this book. Only a Chinese woman could have written this book. Only a Chinese woman scholar could have written this book. I'm more than impressed with the amount of research that went into the creation of this historical novel. And I'm sure there are other scholars who might have done this amount of research. But to have that ability and also the ability to write engagingly is truly marvelous.
I have to confess that I had to work very hard to keep all the names straight, but I don't think I lost any threads of the story due to occasional confusion. I remain so outraged at the injustices suffered by women throughout history, and I applaud the resilience of the women in this book. I won't hesitate to recommend it to any of my more literary friends. It really would make a fantastic movie. The next best thing would be to add pen and ink illustrations, as it really is a visual feast."
Thank you so much, Barbara!
Backdrop to the Late-Ming Courtesan Culture
During my research for the novel Tales of Ming Courtesans, I discovered that a unique courtesan culture was evident in the late-Ming era, one where an unprecedented number of cultured courtesans engaged in the high art of poetry writing. It could be said that courtesans from this era enjoyed much more respect than their counterparts who lived in earlier times and after. This phenomenon had in fact been rooted in the nonconformist literati’s threefold discontent in those unsettling times.
Politically the liberal-minded scholars were dismayed with incompetent rulers and a corrupt court dominated by self-serving eunuchs. On a personal level, they felt stifled by the orthodox Neo-Confucianism teachings that advocated suppression of personal desires as well as adherence to rigid moral codes. In regards to officialdom pursuits, they were fed up with civil exams that prohibited any form of creative writing, forcing candidates to write only prosaic and dull eight-legged essays that focused on the Four Books and Four Classics.
As a form of protest and outlet for pent-up emotions, they set up private poetry societies, where they could engage freely in political discourse, poetry writing and appreciation, and overt promotion of poetry written by cultured courtesans. It was against this backdrop that high-minded courtesans’ literary talents found a nurturing harbor.
Because of the appearance of these quasi-political poetry societies, there was an explosion of poetry anthologies that included works by both the literati and the famous courtesans. In fact, anthologizing of courtesans' poetry became a popular activity at the poetry societies. Liu Rushi, a protagonist in Tales of Ming Courtesans, was a renowned poet-courtesan who churned out a significant body of poetic works at a very young age, and was known for her cross-dressing as a scholar and mingling with the literati.
Unfortunately, this unique phenomenon only lasted until early Qing. During the High Qing reign of Qianlong, while ordering the compilation of the Library of Four Treasures 四庫全書, the Emperor used the opportunity to deliberately cull all literary works by Ming poets/scholars whom he deemed as anti-Qing.
Caught in the literary inquisition were the works by the talented poetry prodigy Liu Rushi 柳如是 and works by her husband Qian Qianyi 錢謙益 and her lover Chen Zilong 陳子龍, both of whom were famous Ming poets. Obviously, works by other Ming loyalist poets met the same fate. It’s only in recent times that such once-lost literary works began drawing a little more attention from Chinese literature academicians.
This could also explain why Ming poetry has been so underrated relative to Tang and Song poetry.
For reference, please go to this link:-
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/41887...
The following is a quatrain written by Liu Rushi (one of her famous "Eight Quatrains on the West Lake" 西湖八絕句之一):-
垂楊小苑繡簾東，
鶯閣殘枝蝶趁風。
大抵西陵寒食路，
桃花得氣美人中。
My translation:-
East of the curtained window,
Lithe willows grace the court;
Birds nestle on nude branches,
Butterflies in the breeze cavort.
On the spring-scented path by West Lake,
Peach blossoms and beauties share a friendly taunt.
This poem attracted the attention of her future husband Qian Qianyi, who responded with another quatrain:-
草衣家住斷橋東,
好句清如湖上風。
近日西陵誇柳隱,
桃花得氣美人中。
My translation:-
The Straw Cloak Taoist lives east of Broken Bridge,
A good verse refreshes like a breeze from the pond.
I’ve lately commended Liu’s talent by West Lake,
Peach blossoms and beauties share a friendly taunt.
Both the above poems, plus others, can be found in the novel.
Politically the liberal-minded scholars were dismayed with incompetent rulers and a corrupt court dominated by self-serving eunuchs. On a personal level, they felt stifled by the orthodox Neo-Confucianism teachings that advocated suppression of personal desires as well as adherence to rigid moral codes. In regards to officialdom pursuits, they were fed up with civil exams that prohibited any form of creative writing, forcing candidates to write only prosaic and dull eight-legged essays that focused on the Four Books and Four Classics.
As a form of protest and outlet for pent-up emotions, they set up private poetry societies, where they could engage freely in political discourse, poetry writing and appreciation, and overt promotion of poetry written by cultured courtesans. It was against this backdrop that high-minded courtesans’ literary talents found a nurturing harbor.
Because of the appearance of these quasi-political poetry societies, there was an explosion of poetry anthologies that included works by both the literati and the famous courtesans. In fact, anthologizing of courtesans' poetry became a popular activity at the poetry societies. Liu Rushi, a protagonist in Tales of Ming Courtesans, was a renowned poet-courtesan who churned out a significant body of poetic works at a very young age, and was known for her cross-dressing as a scholar and mingling with the literati.
Unfortunately, this unique phenomenon only lasted until early Qing. During the High Qing reign of Qianlong, while ordering the compilation of the Library of Four Treasures 四庫全書, the Emperor used the opportunity to deliberately cull all literary works by Ming poets/scholars whom he deemed as anti-Qing.
Caught in the literary inquisition were the works by the talented poetry prodigy Liu Rushi 柳如是 and works by her husband Qian Qianyi 錢謙益 and her lover Chen Zilong 陳子龍, both of whom were famous Ming poets. Obviously, works by other Ming loyalist poets met the same fate. It’s only in recent times that such once-lost literary works began drawing a little more attention from Chinese literature academicians.
This could also explain why Ming poetry has been so underrated relative to Tang and Song poetry.
For reference, please go to this link:-
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/41887...
The following is a quatrain written by Liu Rushi (one of her famous "Eight Quatrains on the West Lake" 西湖八絕句之一):-
垂楊小苑繡簾東，
鶯閣殘枝蝶趁風。
大抵西陵寒食路，
桃花得氣美人中。
My translation:-
East of the curtained window,
Lithe willows grace the court;
Birds nestle on nude branches,
Butterflies in the breeze cavort.
On the spring-scented path by West Lake,
Peach blossoms and beauties share a friendly taunt.
This poem attracted the attention of her future husband Qian Qianyi, who responded with another quatrain:-
草衣家住斷橋東,
好句清如湖上風。
近日西陵誇柳隱,
桃花得氣美人中。
My translation:-
The Straw Cloak Taoist lives east of Broken Bridge,
A good verse refreshes like a breeze from the pond.
I’ve lately commended Liu’s talent by West Lake,
Peach blossoms and beauties share a friendly taunt.
Both the above poems, plus others, can be found in the novel.
French Review of Tales of Ming Courtesans
I've always had a soft spot for the French language and literature. Discovering a French blogger's genuine appreciation of the three heroines of my new novel Tales of Ming Courtesans is nothing less than sheer ecstasy, because this represents a mutual love of each other's literary culture!
This is my translation of the last paragraph of the blogger's (Une Occidentale en Chine) review:
"I heartily recommend this book to you, which, despite all the harshness it describes, also shows us the beauty and the power of these women who kindled and inspired the greatest literary icons of the period."
"Je vous conseille réellement ce livre qui malgré toute la dureté qu’il comporte nous montre aussi la beauté et la force de ces femmes qui ont enflammées et inspirées les plus grands littérati de cette période."
Here's the link to the full review in French (you can click on the language of your choice on the right-hand side of the website):
https://uneoccidentaleenchine.org/202...
This is my translation of the last paragraph of the blogger's (Une Occidentale en Chine) review:
"I heartily recommend this book to you, which, despite all the harshness it describes, also shows us the beauty and the power of these women who kindled and inspired the greatest literary icons of the period."
"Je vous conseille réellement ce livre qui malgré toute la dureté qu’il comporte nous montre aussi la beauté et la force de ces femmes qui ont enflammées et inspirées les plus grands littérati de cette période."
Here's the link to the full review in French (you can click on the language of your choice on the right-hand side of the website):
https://uneoccidentaleenchine.org/202...
Bookish Asia's Review of Tales of Ming Courtesans
It's an honour to be reviewed by Bookish Asia, the distinguished book review site that specializes in China- and Taiwan-related books.
Bookish Asia Review Link
Bookish Asia Review Link
A Historian's Review of Tales of Ming Courtesans
Jeremiah Jenne is a well-known American scholar of Chinese history based in Beijing. He has written a thoughtful review of Tales of Ming Courtesans for the popular cultural magazine "The World of Chinese".
Here's a quote from the review:
Though the super courtesan team-up probably never existed, it’s still fun to imagine the historical possibilities if it had—such is the liberating fun of reading a novelist who is also a historian. With characters as rich as these and a writer as expressive as Poon, who needs CGI, anyway?
Link to the Full Review
Here's a quote from the review:
Though the super courtesan team-up probably never existed, it’s still fun to imagine the historical possibilities if it had—such is the liberating fun of reading a novelist who is also a historian. With characters as rich as these and a writer as expressive as Poon, who needs CGI, anyway?
Link to the Full Review
SCMP's Review of Tales of Ming Courtesans
I was privileged to be interviewed by the lovely Annemarie Evans in November, and am most thankful for her write-up on Tales of Ming Courtesans for Hong Kong's leading English newspaper South China Morning Post!
Excerpts from the Write-Up:
Although it is fictional, Poon meticulously researched the era, and her work is rich in its descriptions of the food, architecture, clothing, music, poetry, cultural references and calligraphy of the period. For those new to Ming dynasty courtesan culture, the poetry and constrained Confucian lives of both men and women of the era, hers is a gentle and descriptive introduction.
Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan and Li Xiangjun were central to China's cultural and literary life, and Poon was keen to give these women a voice so they would not be forever remembered as minor characters in historical narratives written by men.
She writes about the perilous nature of the women’s existence: dependent on the whims of the households they were sold into, while trying to make sure their lovers did not come under too much pressure from their own families and wives.
Paintings exist of all three courtesans, and their stories have featured in televised and literary accounts. Now, Poon has offered an alternative, and perhaps more authentic, picture of their lives.
Link to the Full SCMP Article
Excerpts from the Write-Up:
Although it is fictional, Poon meticulously researched the era, and her work is rich in its descriptions of the food, architecture, clothing, music, poetry, cultural references and calligraphy of the period. For those new to Ming dynasty courtesan culture, the poetry and constrained Confucian lives of both men and women of the era, hers is a gentle and descriptive introduction.
Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan and Li Xiangjun were central to China's cultural and literary life, and Poon was keen to give these women a voice so they would not be forever remembered as minor characters in historical narratives written by men.
She writes about the perilous nature of the women’s existence: dependent on the whims of the households they were sold into, while trying to make sure their lovers did not come under too much pressure from their own families and wives.
Paintings exist of all three courtesans, and their stories have featured in televised and literary accounts. Now, Poon has offered an alternative, and perhaps more authentic, picture of their lives.
Link to the Full SCMP Article
Asian Review of Books - Review of Tales of Ming Courtesans
Asian Review of Books is the premier book review site in Asia, probably the Asia equivalent of Publishers Weekly in terms of authoritative book reviews.
David Chaffetz has just written an in-depth review of Tales of Ming Courtesans for Asian Review of Books.
Alice Poon offers us a modern retelling of their intertwined lives. Tales of Ming Courtesans has two objectives: to bring these three women to life in a way that seems credible and relevant to this generation, and to describe enough of the culture of mid-17th-century China to help us appreciate what has been lost. It is a tightrope act, which, aside from a few stumbles, Poon negotiates from end to end without falling off while providing an entertaining and thought-provoking read.
Link to the Full Review
David Chaffetz has just written an in-depth review of Tales of Ming Courtesans for Asian Review of Books.
Alice Poon offers us a modern retelling of their intertwined lives. Tales of Ming Courtesans has two objectives: to bring these three women to life in a way that seems credible and relevant to this generation, and to describe enough of the culture of mid-17th-century China to help us appreciate what has been lost. It is a tightrope act, which, aside from a few stumbles, Poon negotiates from end to end without falling off while providing an entertaining and thought-provoking read.
Link to the Full Review
