The Death of Woman Wang

by Jonathan D. Spence

Book Overview

"Spence shows himself at once historian, detective, and artist. . . . He makes history howl." ( The New Republic ) Award-winning author Jonathan D. Spence paints a vivid picture of an obscure place... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 014005121X
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.7" x 0.4" x 5.1"

Customer Reviews

Unconventional Approach that Succeeds in Bringing History to Life

Jonathan D. Spence is the Sterling Professor of History at Yale University and is an expert on modern Chinese History (~1600-present). In _The Death of Woman Wang_ Spence explores many facets of Chinese society during the later part of the 17th century. The book examines three sources that focus on what in all honesty are historically insignificant events that took place in the obscure T'an-ch'eng county (Shandong province) over a span of four years (1668-1672). Each of the three sources allow Spence to illuminate certain different aspects of Chinese society. The sources and what they each reveal are as follows: (1) A Gazetteer compiled by an elite neo-Confucian scholar-bureaucrat (Jinshi) that recieved the highest possible...think of the gazetteer as state propaganda. Spence draws from a section of the gazetteer entitled "Biographies of Virtuous Women." The biographies contain accounts of chaste women, some of whom committ suicide in order to preserve their virtue--the government praised them for doing so. (2) A diary of the county's magistrate. The gazetteer, because it is propaganda, is highly skewed. The writings of the magistrate allow us to see how the laws and expectations of elite society translate to a rural reality. (3) Third, are various works of fiction by the well known author P'u Sung-ling. The most unorthodox of Spence's sources, P'u Sung-ling's stories allow insights into Chinese society that are not found in the more traditional sources. Unlike most histories, this book focuses on people, events, and places that are unremarkable. This approach ultimately allows the author to present a relatively complete view of Chinese society, including many of its problems. Among the aspects that are present here are: Gender relations; knowledge about neo-Confucianism; the relationship between family and society; social problems such as natural disasters and banditry; and inner workings of the Chinese bureaucracy--notably tax collection. If you are interested in Chinese society then you really need to read this book. In apx 160 pages this book paints a complex and accurate picture of Chinese society in the late 17th century. Follow this link to learn more about Spence: http://www.historians.org/info/AHA_History/spencebio.cfm

You will not put this down

Although some may consider historical texts dull or dry, the ideas and situations DEATH OF WOMAN WANG confronts are timeless and universal. The thought-provoking stories of the Chinese county of T'an-Ch'eng in the 17th Century bring the reader directly into the course of history. The tales of woe, romance, and murder bring this distant setting boldly alive while secretly educating the reader about the details of Chinese governements. This is one book that will change your opinion of history and historical novels.

A powerful book

Spence has an impeccable way of juxtaposing fantasy and reality using sources from 17th century local history, personal memoirs, and fiction written by a famous 17th century novelist, Pu Song-ling. He effectively teases the readers' imagination with captivating stories from Pu's novels,just to strike them with the sharp contrast of the harsh reality faced by the nameless, forgotten people in rural China. The result is a touching book rich in humanity and thought provoking insight. The first two chapters may be slow, but they provide pertinent background information for a deeper appreciation of the rest of the book. The dream scene was a powerful literary device, although I have some reservation about its apperance in a book of history.

Good historical references

The book is a little slow and rather boring at times, yet it is quite inforamtive. As a reader, you see into T'an ch'eng county in the 1700's. The book revolves around woamn's roles. I liked it. It's not a classic but it is worth some time and effort.

very entertaining and informative reading

One of the best books I have read about Chinese culture and society.