Acknowledgments
Writing this book has been a long and enriching journey, one that began over a decade ago with my exploration of Chinese women’s and gender studies when designing a new course at Kenyon College. Delving into this subject revealed to me the vibrant tapestry of women’s culture in late imperial China. I was fascinated by the richness of their cultural production and their remarkable achievements within rigid gender confines. Immersing myself in their works was an absolute joy. However, navigating through a large body of understudied, newly accessible texts and staying updated on developments in the field was no easy feat. Without the continued support of my mentors, friends, and family, completing this book would have been impossible.
Foremost, I owe an immense debt of gratitude to Professor Stephen Owen. His teaching and scholarship exemplify the pinnacle of critical and imaginative engagement with literary texts. His work has been a continual wellspring of inspiration for my research. Additionally, Professor Wai-yee Li’s seminars and publications introduced me to the writings by and about women in the Ming and Qing, guiding me in comprehending them as integral components of the cultural fabric and intellectual ferment of their eras. Her teachings ignited my interest in Yuan Mei and his lady disciples, a major theme within this book. The guidance and support of Professor Nanxiu Qian have been invaluable throughout my graduate study and career. Her insights on my early writing sample for graduate school applications, and later on my book proposal, remain deeply cherished. Her passing was a profound loss to academia and a personal bereavement for me.
Professor Grace Fong deserves my heartfelt thanks for her encouragement and assistance in sourcing an article by mailing me a copy of Hsiang Lectures on Chinese Poetry 7 (2015). Many years ago, I worked briefly as a student helper at Harvard-Yenching Library, scanning pages and digitalizing materials for a database under construction. Who would have known that this collaboration between McGill and Yenching, led by Professor Fong, would evolve into the Online Digital Archive of Ming-Qing Women’s Writings, an indispensable resource for my book?
Kenyon College has generously funded my research endeavors and granted me sabbatical leave for writing. My colleagues’ encouragement and camaraderie, along with their thoughtful reviews of portions of my manuscript, have been deeply appreciated.
Throughout my research, numerous trips to libraries and museums in China were made possible by the unfailing support and assistance of my teachers and friends at Nanjing University. Professors Hong Cao, Hongsheng Zhang, Bowei Zhang, Shilin Yu, Dongbo Bian, Dan Li, and many others facilitated my access to research materials, invited me to workshops and colloquiums, and extended their hospitality. Their productivity, erudition, and research scope and rigor continue to inspire me.
I am deeply grateful for the insightful feedback provided by the two readers, whose probing questions and thoughtful suggestions significantly enriched my manuscript. Additionally, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the series editors for guiding me in addressing those aspects during revision. Special recognition goes to the editor-in-chief, Professor Grace Fong, who read my revised version from cover to cover and proposed a much stronger book title and better organization to structure my chapters. Her astute suggestions and stylistic guidance were tremendously instrumental in shaping the final revisions of my work. I am also indebted to editor Patricia Radder for her assistance in preparing the manuscript for publication, as well as to the meticulous editing and proofreading efforts of my copy editor, Jill Lally. Special thanks to Qiaomei Tang for her thorough review and numerous valuable suggestions, and to Leihua Weng for our enjoyable online reading and writing group, which greatly facilitated the revision process. To all of them, I owe an immense debt of gratitude. Any remaining errors are solely my responsibility.
A shorter version of Chapter 4 was previously published as a journal article in Chinese Literature: Essays, Articles, Reviews 36 (2014). I am grateful to the anonymous readers and CLEAR editor, whose suggestions helped me reshape my argument, and to CLEAR for granting me permission to incorporate it in this book.
When I embarked on the research project, I was undergoing a challenging phase in my personal life. It was the unwavering love and support of my parents that provided me with the strength and sanity to persevere. To them, I dedicate this book.