Alice Poon
asked
Alice Poon:
On April 30, 2020 I was interviewed by Matteo Damiani, founder of the China Underground media website (a news and culture website related to China's past and present). One of his questions was: "Why did you choose this particular historical period?"
Alice Poon
The period in question is one that straddles two ruling regimes: the Ming and the Qing dynasties. I have a particular interest in this turbulent period because growing up I had come across intriguing and poignant human stories of love, sacrifice, divided loyalties and patriarchal cruelty from the period through books, operas, movies and TV dramas. As a grown-up, I’ve found these stories highly relatable, as they seem to reflect in some way our present-day human condition.
Also, this period in Ming history saw the culmination of literary (in particular poetry) and music development. In particular, it witnessed a dynamic interaction between cultured courtesans and the literati, both in the romantic and literary sense.
In short, in Tales of Ming Courtesans I wanted to highlight three courtesans’ love stories and their gritty struggle against a misogynistic society, as well as capture the era’s unique and vibrant artistic tapestry.
[For other interview questions and my answers, please go to this link:
https://china-underground.com/2020/04...]
Also, this period in Ming history saw the culmination of literary (in particular poetry) and music development. In particular, it witnessed a dynamic interaction between cultured courtesans and the literati, both in the romantic and literary sense.
In short, in Tales of Ming Courtesans I wanted to highlight three courtesans’ love stories and their gritty struggle against a misogynistic society, as well as capture the era’s unique and vibrant artistic tapestry.
[For other interview questions and my answers, please go to this link:
https://china-underground.com/2020/04...]
More Answered Questions
Jason Pym
asked
Alice Poon:
Hi Alice, in Green Phoenix I was wondering about the relationship between Dorgon and Bumbutai. How much historical evidence is there for it? Do the letters between them exist? Did Bumbutai really go to the retreat in the Kharahotun Mountains when she was 70, the site of Dorgon’s death? I know you said in the afterword there was no evidence for the marriage, I just wondered about the other parts of their relationship.
Jason Pym
asked
Alice Poon:
Hi... Another question :) You said that Chen Yuanyuan took the Taoist name Yu An, but all I could find was “寂静”, I was just curious because I wanted to track down the Anfu Garden as I live not far from Kunming. Could you tell me the Chinese for the garden too, if it really exists? The only place I could find here associated with Chen Yuanyuan was 宏覺寺/三聖庵. Thanks!
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