Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS vii
3. Contents xi
4. EXPLANATORY NOTE xiii
5. SELECTED REIGN PERIODS OF THE MING AND QING DYNASTIES, 1522-1795 xv
6. Map of Jiangnan Area xvi
7. Introduction: GENDER AND THE POLITICS OF CHINESE HISTORY 1
8. Part One SOCIAL AND PRIVATE HISTORIES
9. 1 In the Floating: World WOMEN AND COMMERCIAL PUBLISHING 29
10. 2 The Enchantment of Love in 'The Peony Pavilion' 68
11. Part Two WOMANHOOD
12. 3 Margins of Domesticity: ENLARGING THE WOMAN'S SPHERE 115
13. 4 Talent, Virtue, and Beauty REWRITING WOMANHOOD 143
14. Part Three WOMEN'S CULTURE
15. 5 Domestic Communities MALE AND FEMALE DOMAINS 179
16. 6 Social and Public Communities GENEALOGIES ACROSS TIME AND SPACE 219
17. 7 Transitory Communities COURTESAN, WIFE, AND PROFESSIONAL ARTIST 251
18. Epilogue 295
19. REFERENCE MATTER
20. Notes 299
21. Works Cited 351
22. Character List 379
23. Index 391