Women in Ancient China - Paperback

by Bret Hinsch (Author)

This pioneering book provides a comprehensive survey of ancient Chinese women's history, covering thousands of years from the Neolithic era to China's unification in 221 BCE. For each period--Neolithic, Shang, Western Zhou, and Eastern Zhou--Bret Hinsch explores central aspects of female life: marriage, family life, politics, ritual, and religious roles. Deeply researched, the book draws on a wide range of Chinese scholarship and primary sources, including transmitted texts, inscriptions, and archaeological evidence. The result is a comprehensive view of women's history from the beginnings of Chinese civilization up to the beginnings of the imperial era. Clear and readable, the book will be
invaluable for both students and specialists in gender studies.

Author Biography

Bret Hinsch is professor of history at Fo Guang University, Yilan, Taiwan. He is the author of Women in Early Medieval China, Women in Early Imperial China, Women in Imperial China, Masculinities in Chinese History, and The Rise of Tea Culture in China.