The Adventurous Women: Female Images in Xu Fenpeng's Commentary Editions of Xixiang Ji

Abstract

This thesis will examine two commentary editions of Xixiang Ji attributed to a late Ming literatus, Xu Fenpeng. The first one is The Augmented and Revised Edition of Xixiang Ji by Panke Shuoren. This is an augmented and revised edition as the title suggested. Under the construction of the added text, female images of this edition display themselves bolder than other editions. This change is closely connected with the social trend of the late Ming. Under the influence of the rise of merchant culture, a considerable number of women were able to get access to education and thus formed a special culture for themselves at the time. Education also gave those women chances to show their abilities in the literary field. The cult of qing refers to a group of literati during the mid-to-late Ming period who valorize desire and emotion as essential to humans. Furthermore, some literati of this group believe that women are more talent in expressing their emotions. Correspond with this trend, the Cui Yingying in this commentary edition expresses her feelings towards Zhang Sheng in a more direct way. Also, added text to Hongniang and Madam Cui enables audiences to learn their motives behind their actions instead of seeing them only as tools that push forward the plot. However, the thesis argues that these bolder female images shaped by Xu were not meant to challenge the established gender system but to solidify it. The second commentary that attributed to Xu’s name is Xinke Xu Bitong xiansheng Pidian Xixiang Ji. Though possibly a false contribution, the edition was a product of the print culture of the late Ming. This edition still contributed to the spread of the philosophy of Xu and thus served to reinforce the established gender system.