True to Her Word - The Faithful Maiden Cult in Late Imperial China (Hardcover)

This path-breaking book examines the broad cultural, social, and gender meanings of the "faithful maiden" cult in late imperial China (1368-1911). Across the empire, an increasing number of young women or "faithful maidens," defied their parents' wishes and chose either to live out their lives as widows upon the death of a fiance or killed themselves to join their fiance in death. The book analyzes the familial conflicts, government policies, ideological controversies, and personal emotions surrounding the cult. Concentrating on the dramatic acts of spirit wedding and suicide, the faithful maidens' unique code of conduct, and the extraordinary life journey of "virgin mothers," Lu documents the ideological, psychological, cultural, and economic aspects of these young women's mentality and behavior, and the implications of this behavior for their families and the broader society. The book's narrative of the faithful maiden cult interweaves late imperial political, cultural, social and intellectual history, thus, providing a new window onto the history of the late imperial period.

General

Imprint:	Stanford University Press
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	February 2008
First published:	2008
Authors:	Weijing Lu
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 25mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover - Cloth / Cloth
Pages:	368
ISBN-13:	978-0-8047-5808-6
Categories:	Books > Reference & Interdisciplinary > Interdisciplinary studies > Area / regional studies > General Books > Humanities > History > Asian / Middle Eastern history > General Books > History > Asian / Middle Eastern history > General Promotions
LSN:	0-8047-5808-5
Barcode:	9780804758086

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