Explores historical and philosophical shifts in the depiction of women and virtue in the early years of the Chinese state. Includes an examination of the history of yin-yang theories.

Table of Contents:
List of Illustrations List of Tables Acknowledgments Note on Transcription Abbreviations Introduction: Gender and Virtue Women As Intellectual and Moral Agents The Differentiation of Men and Women Contents 1. Women As Agents of Virtue and Destruction Women and Ministers: Ties That Bind Female Virtue and the Dynastic Cycle The Lienu zhuan The Intellectual Virtue Stories Heroization 2. Women As Prescient Counselors Instruction Sage Intelligence Benevolent Wisdom and Prescience Skill in Argument and Admonition Intellectual Virtue Stories in Other Warring States and Han Works Biographical Formulae Two Modes of Thinking? Conclusions 3. Demonic Beauties and Usurpatious Regents Warring States Legends of Destructive Women Empress Lu Virtuous and Vicious Consorts of Han Cheng Di Conclusions 4. The Textual Matrix of the Lienu zhuan Lienu zhuan Stories in Warring States Sources The Lienu zhuan Text and Its Attribution to Liu Xiang Conclusions 5. Talents Transformed in Ming Editions Ming Publishing Shifting Virtues Illustrated Editions Conclusions 6. Yin and Yang Yin-Yang As Two of Six Qi Yin-Yang As (Ultimate) Polarity Correlative Cosmology Conclusions 7. Yin-Yang in Medical Texts The Fifty-two Ailments and Mawangdui Medical Literature The Twenty-five Cases of Chunyu Yi The Huang Di neijing Conclusions 8. Nei-wai : Distinctions between Men and Women Zhou Norms in the Changes and Odes Correct Distinction between Men and Women Defines Civilization Conclusions 9. Nei-wai in Ritual Texts and Social Practice Subordination of Women Monogamy and Marriage Choice Physical Separation of Men and Women Names, Ranks, Titles, and Social Identity Intellectual Distinction between Men and Women Conclusions 10. Instruction Texts Ban Zhao's Admonitions for Women The Decline of the "Learned Instructress" Motif The Rise of Instruction Texts Conclusions Afterword Appendix 1: The Lienu zhuan Chapter Titles Dateable Incidents in the Life Stories Appendix 2: The Intellectual Virtue Stories Synopsis of the Intellectual Virtue Stories The Learned Instructress Motif Appendix 3: Vicious and Depraved Women The Destructive Women of Lienu zhuan 7 Biographies of Empress Lu Biographical Formulae in the Lienu zhuan , Shi ji , and Han shu Appendix 4: The Textual Matrix for the Lienu zhuan Chronology of Lienu zhuan Editions Provenance of the Lienu zhuan Intellectual Virtue Stories Appendix 5: Ming Transformations The Intellectual Virtue Stories in Ming Editions The Gui fan Reclassification of the Lienu zhuan Intellectual Virtue Stories Appendix 6: Yin-Yang in Warring States Texts Appendix 7: The Medical Cases of Shi ji 105 Summary of the Twenty-five Cases Treatment Methods and Outcomes of the Twenty-five Cases Appendix 8: Occupations and Activities Appendix 9: Traditional Reign Dates Bibliography Primary Sources and Collectanea Secondary Sources Index