The Politics of Princesses in Early Medieval China
Date Issued
2010
Date
2010
Author(s)
Huang, Chih-Yen
Abstract
This thesis aims to demonstrate and analyze the interwoven aspects in reference to the politics of Princesses. The concept of “The politics of Princesses” in this thesis refers to the power status surrounding the Princesses in various political circumstances. These recurrent interventions of Princesses in political affairs were based on the premises originated from imperial institutions as well as cultural concepts.
Chapter One represents as an introduction, covering the estimation of precedent research works and methodological concerns of the thesis. Chapter Two firstly defines the title of “Princess” (Gong-zhu 公主) from a diachronic study. Secondly, it evaluates the identity and social role of a Princess by looking into the mourning rituals and regarding disputes made by government officials at the time. Chapter Three is regarded the economical resource of Princesses from Han to Tang. It elucidates the correspondence between Princesses and their fiefs in Han Dynasty by reading bronze inscriptions and bamboo strips. Then, implying from records about hydraulic pestles (Shui-dui 水碓) and pawnshops (Di-she 邸舍) , this study constructs the history of Princesses being involved in the manorial system in Early Medieval China. The above are all crucial elements to understand the political status of Princesses in that time. The forth chapter discusses how Princesses, as a media, influenced the political situation during Early Medieval China by comparing the selection of consorts and the following development of their political careers in tables. With the concept of space, Chapter Five focuses on Princesses’ behaviors and given authorities in their residences or in imperial courts. And it examines that how they wielded their power to intercede with the authorities as imperial relatives or female officials respectively. The final chapter serves as a conclusion which contributes to fuller comprehension of the system about Princesses in Early Medieval China. It also reiterates that the Princesses who interfered in political affairs were not isolated phenomena, but a series of successive status quo in that time.
The thesis intends to illustrate a political and cultural “herstory” by combining the perspective of political, institutional and family history. It appears that the imperial system provided not only the room for political activities, but also the economic resources to the Princesses. Under the imperial political system, there was a blurring line between domestic business and state affairs. Therefore, Princesses could encroach on issues on the obscure demarcation between family and state, as well as take the responsibilities for their family and state in reality like their male imperial members did.
Resorting support to familial bonds is like a double-edged sword. It is true that the power which Princesses possessed was offered by the imperial institutions and was rather culturally recognized. However, they could only flounder in the cultural framework because it was hard to go beyond the patriarchal limitations. With the cases of Princesses, this study concludes that when Confucianism not spreading, the sophisticated factors composed of ethnicities, classes and regions in Early Medieval China formed the system of check and balance between gender and class.
Subjects
the imperial institution of Princesses
consorts
daughter-ship
power
room
the responsibilities between family and states
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