Overview
Zhao Feiyan (45-1 BCE), the second empress appointed by Emperor Cheng of the Han dynasty (207 BCE-220 CE), was born in slavery and trained in the performing arts, a background that made her appointment as empress highly controversial. Subsequent persecution by her political enemies eventually led to her being forced to commit suicide. After her death, her reputation was marred by accusations of vicious scheming, murder of other consorts and their offspring, and relentless promiscuity, punctuated by bouts of extravagant shopping. This first book-length study of Zhao Feiyan and her literary legacy includes a complete translation of The Scandalous Tale of Zhao Feiyan (Zhao Feiyan waizhuan), a Tang dynasty (618-907 CE) erotic novella that describes in great detail the decadent lifestyle enjoyed by imperial favorites in the harem of Emperor Cheng. This landmark text was crucial for establishing writings about palace women as the accepted forum for discussing sexual matters, including fetishism, obsession, jealousy, incompatibility in marriage, and so on. Using historical documentation, Olivia Milburn reconstructs the evolution of Zhao Feiyan's story and illuminates the broader context of palace life for women and the novella's social influence.
Full Product Details
Author: Olivia Milburn
Publisher: University of Washington Press
Imprint: University of Washington Press
Weight: 0.340kg
ISBN: 9780295748757
ISBN 10: 0295748753
Pages: 277
Publication Date: 13 May 2021
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
""Close reading and interpretation of the language of the tale is one of The Empress in the Pepper Chamber's greatest accomplishments, which allow Milburn to carry out the most definitive proof yet of the dating of Zhao Feiyan waizhuan...The fine distinctions Milburn makes in her examination of language and objects of material culture are examples of topnotch scholarship."" * Nan Nu: Men, Women and Gender in China * ""In this slim volume, Olivia Milburn introduces an important ""alternative history"" of one of the most fascinating women in Chinese history...The Empress in the Pepper Chamber is a tremendous contribution to the field."" * Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews (CLEAR) *
"Close reading and interpretation of the language of the tale is one of The Empress in the Pepper Chamber's greatest accomplishments, which allow Milburn to carry out the most definitive proof yet of the dating of Zhao Feiyan waizhuan...The fine distinctions Milburn makes in her examination of language and objects of material culture are examples of topnotch scholarship. * Nan Nu: Men, Women and Gender in China * In this slim volume, Olivia Milburn introduces an important ""alternative history"" of one of the most fascinating women in Chinese history...The Empress in the Pepper Chamber is a tremendous contribution to the field. * Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews (CLEAR) *"
Author Information
Olivia Milburn is professor of Chinese literature at the Seoul National University. Her books include Urbanization in Early and Medieval China: Gazetteers for the City of Suzhou.
