@misc{Lan2022,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Lan, Kai-Yi},
  title     = {Gender and Medicine in the Ming Dynasty: Tan Yunxian's (1461-1556) Medical Case Book},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-28886},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-288862},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {This project explores Tan Yunxian's journey of becoming a female doctor in the Ming dynasty. Among all the surviving Ming medical books, Tan Yunxian's medical case book is the only one that was written by a woman. It seems natural, considering she had both scholar-official and medical family backgrounds. Yet, social expectations consider it more suitable for a lady to remain in the household, and not treat patients outside. To legitimize Tan Yunxian's pursuit of a medical career, she applied several strategies to resolve potential criticism toward her and her family. These strategies are analyzed through her autobiographical preface in her medical case book. The project also explores Ming male literatis' perspectives toward Tan Yunxian, the factors that contributed to the preservation and publication of her medical case book, and examined her medical cases under the social-historical and micro-history contexts.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Zhang2023,
  author    = {Zhang, Yanxiang},
  title     = {The Making of a Place: Topographical Literature on West Lake by Tian Rucheng (b. 1501) and Zhang Dai (b. 1597)},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-32759},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-327590},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {This dissertation explores the local gazetteers of West Lake that were compiled by literati of the Ming dynasty. In 1547, the first West Lake gazetteer was published by the local literatus of Hangzhou, Tian Rucheng 田汝成. In the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, accompanying the huge enthusiasm for West Lake and the flourishing of its tourism, the production of West Lake gazetteers reached its peak. This trend, however, was reduced by the turmoils in the last years of the Ming and the dynastic transition, a period when West Lake had also experienced destruction. Nevertheless, the practice was resumed in the first decades of the Qing dynasty by some literati who had survived the disasters. One prominent work of this period was compiled by the Ming loyalist and "remnant subject" Zhang Dai 張岱, who wrote an author's preface in 1671. This dissertation can be divided into two parts. The first part focuses on the editorial principles of compilers, e.g., which materials are included, how they are organized and presented. It explores various possible intentions of the compilers, such as scholarly and documentary, practical and oriented toward tour-guiding, didactic and educational, and personal and nostalgic ones. The second part focuses on some of the perceptions, attitudes, and values of literati focusing on West Lake. The discourses analyzed in this part include West Lake as a hybrid between metropolitan city and sheer wilderness, as a national symbol and object of nostalgia of the lost dynasty, and as a place of pleasure-seeking and indulgence. While a discourse often had a long tradition and historical development, the emphasis of the study is on the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, i.e., the late Ming.},
  language  = {en}
}
@phdthesis{Lan2023,
  author    = {Lan, Yangyang},
  title     = {Bamboo-branch Songs (\({zhuzhici}\)) of Shandong Province: Lyrical Records of Local Life, Traveling and Local History},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-32868},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-328687},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {This dissertation presents a comprehensive exploration of the bamboo branch song (zhuzhici 竹枝詞), a classical Chinese poetry genre. One of the defining features of the bamboo branch song genre is its emphasis on all aspects of local culture. As a result, these poems typically have a specific focus on a particular place. This dissertation takes the bamboo branch songs of Shandong Province as its primary subject. The dissertation is divided into two parts. The first section focuses on a cultural study of the bamboo branch song genre. By examining the genre, this dissertation concludes that the bamboo branch song is a genre of vernacular poetry in imperial China. The language has a vernacular style, and the content has a clear focus on local affairs. The subsequent section delves into the Bamboo Branch Songs of Shandong Province, with almost 2,000 poems collected from different sources. From everyday routines to customs, travel culture, and historical episodes, the poems cover a wide range of topics, offering a detailed glimpse into the various facets of the region's society. Women play a significant role in the poems about social life in Bamboo Branch Songs of Shandong Province. They were often the central figures in the ceremonies of festivals, and their behaviour was given special attention. The bamboo branch song genre has an internal character as a form of travel writing. The poems were usually written by authors who had made observations on their journeys. This dissertation delves into the travel culture of the capital Ji'nan, through the lens of bamboo branch songs, providing valuable insights into the region. Another common motif of bamboo branch songs is history. Some nostalgic poems deal with local historical sites, events, legends and personalities. This dissertation finds that these poems contain unique historical information with a microcosmic and individual perspective.},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Zhang2023,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Zhang, Shenxishuai},
  title     = {Conflicts and Anxieties over Money in Late Ming Vernacular Stories},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-31673},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-316733},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2023},
  abstract  = {The present study discusses money and conflicts and anxiety over money in late Ming vernacular stories and contextualizes these stories in the contemporary society of economic prosperity and rapid changes. The high monetization and extensive use of silver and copper cash as currency brought both wealth and conflicts in various aspects of society. Eleven vernacular stories from several collections are adopted as source materials for the close examination, including Jingshi tongyan (Stories to Caution the World, 1624) and Xingshi hengyan (Stories to Awaken the World, 1627) by Feng Menglong (1574-1646) and the two Pai'an jingqi (Slapping the Table in Amazement, 1628 and 1632) collections by Ling Mengchu (1580-1644), etc. The analysis then focuses on the relationship between money and four topics, the late Ming context, social relations, gender ideals, and religion. Multiple voices and various viewpoints in these narratives show human beings' struggles in taming and dominating money, the increasingly familiar and essential object in everyday life. Generally, when people cannot control money properly, there is a fear of its detrimental power to humans and social relations within and beyond families. On the contrary, characters, who are able to control money, are praised.},
  subject      = {Geld},
  language  = {en}
}
@misc{Wu2021,
  type      = {Master Thesis},
  author    = {Wu, Dong},
  title     = {Aspects of Gender in The Unofficial History of the Scholars},
  doi       = {10.25972/OPUS-21920},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-219202},
  school      = {Universit{\"a}t W{\"u}rzburg},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {The present study focuses on Rulin waishi 儒林外史 (The Unofficial History of the Scholars), a well-known Qing novel, from the perspective of gender. It attempts to contribute to the discussion about Chinese masculinity by identifying the representation of the scholars' masculinity in Rulin waishi and offer a better understanding of the novel's position regarding femininity and women. This project shows that the novel nevertheless reflects rather than challenges gender ideologies of its time. The ideal manhood showed in the novel comprises real virtues and authentic learning. It goes against the traditional, orthodox Confucian masculinity which advocates that officialdom is the glorious path to fulfill a learned man's masculinity. It is mainly due to Wu Jingzi's own failure in the civil service examinations and official careers. Regarding the relation of masculinity and sexuality, the novel reveals that a masculine man is not tempted by female charm but can enjoy a harmonious and companionate marriage. Besides, scholars show great anxiety about their masculinity since they are in a marginal position in society. Their manliness is challenged by officials, merchants, and even commoners, as well as their colleagues. Through a careful examination of stories of Pinniang, Miss Lu, and Mrs. Wang, it reveals that the novel holds a conventional opinion on women although it criticizes widow suicide and shows an egalitarian husband-wife relationship. It praises Confucian womanly virtues, such as following and serving the husband, managing the household, and keeping chastity. Female sexuality is blamed as an evil temptation to lead men to go astray. Women's learning gains legitimacy when serving to fulfill domestic responsibilities. It carries the Confucian message that men should take the lead and maintain order in the household and reinforces the rightful patriarchy. In a word, rather than go ahead of its time, Rulin waishi holds a conservative attitude towards gender issues.},
  language  = {en}
}