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Tales of Ming Courtesans
From the author of The Green Phoenix comes a riveting tale of female friendship, honor, and sacrifice for love, set in 17th Century China and featuring the intertwined stories of three of the era's most renowned courtesans, escorts skilled in music, poetry and painting who could decide themselves whether or not to offer patrons bed favors.
Inspired by literary works and folklore, Tales of Ming Courtesans traces the destinies of the three girls from the seamy world of human trafficking and slavery to the cultured scene of the famously decadent pleasure district of the city of Nanjing, evoking episodes in Memoirs of a Geisha.
The girls all existed - Rushi was a famous poet, Yuanyuan became the concubine of a general who changed the course of Chinese history by supporting the Manchu invasion in 1644 and Xiangjun challenged the corruption of court officials to try to save her lover. Rushi's daughter, Jingjing, gradually pieces together the stories of the three from a memoir left to her by her mother.
Betrayal, tenacity and hope all come together in a novel that brings to life an important era in China's history, and particularly highlights the challenges faced by independent-minded women.
Inspired by literary works and folklore, Tales of Ming Courtesans traces the destinies of the three girls from the seamy world of human trafficking and slavery to the cultured scene of the famously decadent pleasure district of the city of Nanjing, evoking episodes in Memoirs of a Geisha.
The girls all existed - Rushi was a famous poet, Yuanyuan became the concubine of a general who changed the course of Chinese history by supporting the Manchu invasion in 1644 and Xiangjun challenged the corruption of court officials to try to save her lover. Rushi's daughter, Jingjing, gradually pieces together the stories of the three from a memoir left to her by her mother.
Betrayal, tenacity and hope all come together in a novel that brings to life an important era in China's history, and particularly highlights the challenges faced by independent-minded women.
354 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2020
11 people are currently reading
1181 people want to read
About the author
Alice Poon
6 books322 followersBorn and raised in Hong Kong, Alice Poon received a fully bilingual (English and Chinese) education and also learned French in her youth.
Since the release of her two historical Chinese novels: The Green Phoenix and Tales of Ming Courtesans, nostalgia for the magical world of wuxia fiction, which she grew up with, has spurred her desire to write in the Chinese fantasy genre. With the passing of the wuxia fiction icon Jin Yong in 2018, she has felt an urge to help to preserve his legacy and to promote this unique genre of Chinese folk literature to a wider global audience.
Overall, inspiration for her fiction writing comes from Jin Yong’s wuxia novels, the wuxia/xianxia media, and French and Russian realist classics.
She lives in Greater Vancouver, Canada and wishes to indulge herself in putting her imagination on the page.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 2, 2020
“You can strive all you can to change a condition, but people can choose to ignore the facts and cling to their bigoted views.”
My knowledge of the Ming dynasty of China and its demise is minimal at best. In my ignorance, I prefer to turn to well-researched and engaging historical fiction to learn more. I suppose I could pick up my daughter’s world history text book, but likely I would find only a page or two allotted to this fascinating period of history. It certainly would give me a brief overview, but unfortunately would be likely forgotten in a matter of a few hours. Or, alternatively, the subject could be brought to life by a cast of characters, many of them portraits of real people, in a story that has been painstakingly and lovingly researched by someone that has spent the time poring over the historical texts for the reader’s benefit. Such is the case with this second work I have read by the talented Alice Poon. When reading a piece like this, the facts manage to stick as a result of becoming immersed almost personally in the compelling narrative.
“… in our culture, girls are born with a curse, and girls born into poverty are cursed ten times over. Most men want us to feel inferior and shameful, just to make us vulnerable and easy to overpower and enslave.”
Tales of Ming Courtesans is a novel primarily about the lives of three fascinating women – Rushi, Yuanyuan and Xiangjun. There is quite a large list of other players, some of them strong women that were instrumental in raising these young girls out of the depths of what could have been more sordid existences. As it was, their lives were challenging and often grim indeed. Ultimately, it is their strength, determination, and bond between one another that allows them to endure their many hardships and conquer innumerable obstacles. Their pledge of sisterhood is a lifesaver which imbues them with fortitude and dignity. In a culture of concubines, courtesans, jiaji, house maids and slaves, these women were often subjugated by the desires and whims of men, but at the same time were rescued by the decency of a select few of the opposite sex as well. Rushi, Yuanyuan and Xiangjun were classified as courtesans and were trained in the arts of poetry, calligraphy, music and painting in order to serve as cultured escorts for their male patrons. In fact, Li Rushi was an acclaimed poet of China, with many connections to the Revival Society, the renowned literary movement of the Ming period. Most women know that we can either be our greatest champions while at the same time serving as our worst enemies. In a world like the one these courtesans grew up in, you had to grasp quickly which women belonged to which camp – your allies or your adversaries. Grandmothers and mothers of men were often the ones you found to be your greatest foes in your pursuit of happiness. Wives and concubines also exhibited unmatched craftiness that even men could not dream of achieving!
“Jealousy is a woman’s worst enemy.”
Besides being a historical piece, this is also a tragic love story. Women were not free to pursue their dreams as they wished, and they were certainly not able to make their own choices when it came to the affairs of the heart. Love might have been found, but it could not necessarily be held onto and nurtured as it should. It was fleeting at best, and heartache was a matter of course for many of these characters. Often they had to choose between true love that could ultimately destroy their hard-earned freedoms, or partnerships that would ensure their security and offer them a semblance of independence. Love was not a part of the equation.
“Passion and happiness was ephemeral like a bird’s footmark on snow.”
This novel will greatly appeal to those that like to become absorbed by an intriguing period of history and a culture very different from the one we know. Tales of Ming Courtesans is clearly faithfully researched and written with finesse and admiration for the women depicted within these pages.
I would like to extend a warm thank you to Alice Poon and Earnshaw books for kindly providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
“Time rushes forward and never back, oblivious of human joy or pain. We cannot but be driven by the tide of life.”
My knowledge of the Ming dynasty of China and its demise is minimal at best. In my ignorance, I prefer to turn to well-researched and engaging historical fiction to learn more. I suppose I could pick up my daughter’s world history text book, but likely I would find only a page or two allotted to this fascinating period of history. It certainly would give me a brief overview, but unfortunately would be likely forgotten in a matter of a few hours. Or, alternatively, the subject could be brought to life by a cast of characters, many of them portraits of real people, in a story that has been painstakingly and lovingly researched by someone that has spent the time poring over the historical texts for the reader’s benefit. Such is the case with this second work I have read by the talented Alice Poon. When reading a piece like this, the facts manage to stick as a result of becoming immersed almost personally in the compelling narrative.
“… in our culture, girls are born with a curse, and girls born into poverty are cursed ten times over. Most men want us to feel inferior and shameful, just to make us vulnerable and easy to overpower and enslave.”
Tales of Ming Courtesans is a novel primarily about the lives of three fascinating women – Rushi, Yuanyuan and Xiangjun. There is quite a large list of other players, some of them strong women that were instrumental in raising these young girls out of the depths of what could have been more sordid existences. As it was, their lives were challenging and often grim indeed. Ultimately, it is their strength, determination, and bond between one another that allows them to endure their many hardships and conquer innumerable obstacles. Their pledge of sisterhood is a lifesaver which imbues them with fortitude and dignity. In a culture of concubines, courtesans, jiaji, house maids and slaves, these women were often subjugated by the desires and whims of men, but at the same time were rescued by the decency of a select few of the opposite sex as well. Rushi, Yuanyuan and Xiangjun were classified as courtesans and were trained in the arts of poetry, calligraphy, music and painting in order to serve as cultured escorts for their male patrons. In fact, Li Rushi was an acclaimed poet of China, with many connections to the Revival Society, the renowned literary movement of the Ming period. Most women know that we can either be our greatest champions while at the same time serving as our worst enemies. In a world like the one these courtesans grew up in, you had to grasp quickly which women belonged to which camp – your allies or your adversaries. Grandmothers and mothers of men were often the ones you found to be your greatest foes in your pursuit of happiness. Wives and concubines also exhibited unmatched craftiness that even men could not dream of achieving!
“Jealousy is a woman’s worst enemy.”
Besides being a historical piece, this is also a tragic love story. Women were not free to pursue their dreams as they wished, and they were certainly not able to make their own choices when it came to the affairs of the heart. Love might have been found, but it could not necessarily be held onto and nurtured as it should. It was fleeting at best, and heartache was a matter of course for many of these characters. Often they had to choose between true love that could ultimately destroy their hard-earned freedoms, or partnerships that would ensure their security and offer them a semblance of independence. Love was not a part of the equation.
“Passion and happiness was ephemeral like a bird’s footmark on snow.”
This novel will greatly appeal to those that like to become absorbed by an intriguing period of history and a culture very different from the one we know. Tales of Ming Courtesans is clearly faithfully researched and written with finesse and admiration for the women depicted within these pages.
I would like to extend a warm thank you to Alice Poon and Earnshaw books for kindly providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
“Time rushes forward and never back, oblivious of human joy or pain. We cannot but be driven by the tide of life.”
April 26, 2020
Beauty....mystery....history.....
....tragedy....survival....strength...courage....
female friendship, (real historical characters), ....honor....sacrifice....death....and love....
.....music....poetry....painting.... embroidery....
.....laughter.....tears....intrigue....ambition....risks.... romance....infused with rituals...
A VERY ENJOYABLE, SATISFYING, INTERESTING book!!!
Alice Poon, author of “The Green Phoenix” ....(another fabulous Chinese historical novel —a kindle download special -at the moment- for $2.99), gives us another gripping story during The Ming Dynasty in the turbulent years during the 17th Century China—and of extraordinary women who fought for ultimate freedom and triumph. Alice’s book captures the darkness and lightness during China’s fascinating period.
This story allowed me to see how a few brave and courageous women had the power to radically change and revolutionize the world.
It’s an enthralling, smart and briskly paced tale.
A little background history - for those who are interested:
....The difference between concubine and courtesan.....is that the concubine he is a woman who lives with a man, but who is not a wife while courtesan is a Woman of a Royal or Noble Court.
.....”The Chinese Ming Dynasty lasted for 276 years (1368 - 1644 AD), and has been described as one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history. This dynasty became a global superpower, undertaking major sea expeditions before Christopher Columbus, and producing books before the invention of the printing press in Britain. While this dynasty was praised for its stability and innovation there was a darker more gruesome underbelly.
The cruelty of the Ming emperors had upwards of 9,000 concubines, many of whom had been kidnapped from their homes and were
forbidden to leave their gilded prison except when they were called to the emperor’s bed. Sense the barbaric practice of foot-binding was prominent at this time, the hobbled women could not run away or even walk into the emperors bed chambers, but instead had to be carried naked to the expected man”.
In this deeply readable, (storytelling driven, inspired by literary works and folklore), novel, we meet three of China’s most renowned courtesans: [“The sworn sisterhood has been inspired by a customary practice that prevailed in the brothels’ sphere in Ming and earlier dynasties”]....
“Among courtesans, exchanging kerchiefs was a rite to cement a sisterly friendship”]....
We meet:
1.Liu Rushi,
2.Chen Yuanyuan,
and
3.Li Xiangjun
In real life Liu Rushi gave birth to a daughter in 1648, seven years after her marriage to Quan Qianyi.....
For storytelling purposes, we meet Rushi’s daughter, Jingjing, who finds her mother’s diary .....reads it.... which piques her curiosity.....and ours too.......which leads to the stories of Yuanyuan and Xiangjuin. ( who became life long friends with Rushi. They were bound by tradition and their powerful sisterhood changed all of their lives forever.
“My precious Jingjing: I wrote this memoir when you were 13 and meant for you to read it when you are old enough. The time has now come for me to lay down my worldly burden to join my beloved in the other world. I have only this personal tale, my poetry and paintings to bequeath you. I would urge you to go and find Aunt Yuanyuan and Jingli Po Po in Kunming. They will take care of you”.
Jingjing’s mother chose death to shame the people who scorned and bullied women that they regarded as inferior and worthless.
Her mother wanted her daughter to spread her mother’s message of protest.
Jingjing learns of a painful story that Rushi had kept from her daughter:
“Jingjing -ever since she came into her parents lives, their obsession, as with all parents, was to give her a happy home life. But she never told her about her past-wanting to protect her young mind from any gloomy misery. There was a truth her parents kept from her.
Her mother tells her a painful story-
Young girls who were born in orphaned or born to a poor family who could not feed themselves, we are bought and sold like fillies by the breeders.
The girls are trained and prepared for sale as
concubines, house maids, and brothel sing-song girls”.
Early in the story....we learn about Rushi’s mother’s death. There was a devastating-sad scene surrounding the death which will never leave me.
Rushi was an orphan - thrown out of the only home she had ever known forced to beg for food; pangs of hunger can drive a person to think anything would be better than starve to death: even being bought to be a slave girl.
“Some women are condemned for life just because ill fate afflicts their childhood.
My woeful journey began when, having lost both parents, I fell into the hands of a thin horse breeder from Yangzhou”.
“Thin Horse breeders are procurers, beautiful slave girls, commonly called, ‘thin horses’”.
The promise of freedom felt like catching a rainbow in my hands after a deluge”.
An incredible story begins.....of Rushi, Yuanyuan, and Xiangjun....
In real life...they were famous courtesans of Qinhuai Nanjing in the Ming Dynasty and Qing..
Rushi was a liberal thinker - did gorgeous embroidery, was trained in calligraphy with beautiful handwriting, and was a poetry prodigy.
Yuanyuan was a dainty beauty.
Xiangjun had an earthly sweetness about her.
EACH OF THESE WOMEN faced trials and tribulations.
THE MEN in this story are LESS inspiring than the women....but their stories are important- fractured by charismatic incorrigible control, betrayal, and terrible consequences.
As I learned about these three protagonist, their sisterhood, ....(and a few other equally fascinating supporting characters), I couldn’t help but pause to think, digest, and image....”what might I have done in any one of their situations?”.
Trapped in the illusion of freedom...( freedom from discrimination, condescending attitudes and gross injustices)....there was hope.
But....there were also very dark and tantalizing days ahead for the sisters....
“If you were to choose between sacrificing yourself for our country and saving yourself, what would your choice be?”
“Confucian scholars must sacrifice their lives for the Emperor if need arises”.
“That’s the traditional dogma. Not all traditions are worth
preserving”.
A few treats ( the lightness in this story), will be reading about the ‘pipa’.....a four string Chinese instrument - sometimes called the Chinese lute 🎻.
A few gut wrenching scenes ( the darkness in this story)....was living in horrific hell in the eunuchs’ lecherous clutches.
“They played all sorts of rude, indecent, and racy games”
At Night they would take turns coming into Yuanyuan’s chamber.
“If she resisted, they would slap her into submission, starve her and make her clean her chamber pot as punishment”.
I was sick reading of what was done to Yuanyuan — but what followed— a clever quick thinking plan to trick one of the eunuchs- so that he would never touch her again - was brilliant.
The courage it took to fight for justice ( and safety), was a moment in the story when I want to stand up and cheer.
Highly recommended....This energetic, highly entertaining historical story conveys the harrowing ugliness of how women were treated - yet it also conveys the bravery & beauty of these magnificent women —
Both... in equal measure!
Unforgettable history! Soooo much more - than anything I wrote in this review....it’s an ‘awe’ experience!
Vibrantly imagined!
An achievement of extraordinary depth and beauty > thank you, Alice.
This book will be released in June.
....tragedy....survival....strength...courage....
female friendship, (real historical characters), ....honor....sacrifice....death....and love....
.....music....poetry....painting.... embroidery....
.....laughter.....tears....intrigue....ambition....risks.... romance....infused with rituals...
A VERY ENJOYABLE, SATISFYING, INTERESTING book!!!
Alice Poon, author of “The Green Phoenix” ....(another fabulous Chinese historical novel —a kindle download special -at the moment- for $2.99), gives us another gripping story during The Ming Dynasty in the turbulent years during the 17th Century China—and of extraordinary women who fought for ultimate freedom and triumph. Alice’s book captures the darkness and lightness during China’s fascinating period.
This story allowed me to see how a few brave and courageous women had the power to radically change and revolutionize the world.
It’s an enthralling, smart and briskly paced tale.
A little background history - for those who are interested:
....The difference between concubine and courtesan.....is that the concubine he is a woman who lives with a man, but who is not a wife while courtesan is a Woman of a Royal or Noble Court.
.....”The Chinese Ming Dynasty lasted for 276 years (1368 - 1644 AD), and has been described as one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history. This dynasty became a global superpower, undertaking major sea expeditions before Christopher Columbus, and producing books before the invention of the printing press in Britain. While this dynasty was praised for its stability and innovation there was a darker more gruesome underbelly.
The cruelty of the Ming emperors had upwards of 9,000 concubines, many of whom had been kidnapped from their homes and were
forbidden to leave their gilded prison except when they were called to the emperor’s bed. Sense the barbaric practice of foot-binding was prominent at this time, the hobbled women could not run away or even walk into the emperors bed chambers, but instead had to be carried naked to the expected man”.
In this deeply readable, (storytelling driven, inspired by literary works and folklore), novel, we meet three of China’s most renowned courtesans: [“The sworn sisterhood has been inspired by a customary practice that prevailed in the brothels’ sphere in Ming and earlier dynasties”]....
“Among courtesans, exchanging kerchiefs was a rite to cement a sisterly friendship”]....
We meet:
1.Liu Rushi,
2.Chen Yuanyuan,
and
3.Li Xiangjun
In real life Liu Rushi gave birth to a daughter in 1648, seven years after her marriage to Quan Qianyi.....
For storytelling purposes, we meet Rushi’s daughter, Jingjing, who finds her mother’s diary .....reads it.... which piques her curiosity.....and ours too.......which leads to the stories of Yuanyuan and Xiangjuin. ( who became life long friends with Rushi. They were bound by tradition and their powerful sisterhood changed all of their lives forever.
“My precious Jingjing: I wrote this memoir when you were 13 and meant for you to read it when you are old enough. The time has now come for me to lay down my worldly burden to join my beloved in the other world. I have only this personal tale, my poetry and paintings to bequeath you. I would urge you to go and find Aunt Yuanyuan and Jingli Po Po in Kunming. They will take care of you”.
Jingjing’s mother chose death to shame the people who scorned and bullied women that they regarded as inferior and worthless.
Her mother wanted her daughter to spread her mother’s message of protest.
Jingjing learns of a painful story that Rushi had kept from her daughter:
“Jingjing -ever since she came into her parents lives, their obsession, as with all parents, was to give her a happy home life. But she never told her about her past-wanting to protect her young mind from any gloomy misery. There was a truth her parents kept from her.
Her mother tells her a painful story-
Young girls who were born in orphaned or born to a poor family who could not feed themselves, we are bought and sold like fillies by the breeders.
The girls are trained and prepared for sale as
concubines, house maids, and brothel sing-song girls”.
Early in the story....we learn about Rushi’s mother’s death. There was a devastating-sad scene surrounding the death which will never leave me.
Rushi was an orphan - thrown out of the only home she had ever known forced to beg for food; pangs of hunger can drive a person to think anything would be better than starve to death: even being bought to be a slave girl.
“Some women are condemned for life just because ill fate afflicts their childhood.
My woeful journey began when, having lost both parents, I fell into the hands of a thin horse breeder from Yangzhou”.
“Thin Horse breeders are procurers, beautiful slave girls, commonly called, ‘thin horses’”.
The promise of freedom felt like catching a rainbow in my hands after a deluge”.
An incredible story begins.....of Rushi, Yuanyuan, and Xiangjun....
In real life...they were famous courtesans of Qinhuai Nanjing in the Ming Dynasty and Qing..
Rushi was a liberal thinker - did gorgeous embroidery, was trained in calligraphy with beautiful handwriting, and was a poetry prodigy.
Yuanyuan was a dainty beauty.
Xiangjun had an earthly sweetness about her.
EACH OF THESE WOMEN faced trials and tribulations.
THE MEN in this story are LESS inspiring than the women....but their stories are important- fractured by charismatic incorrigible control, betrayal, and terrible consequences.
As I learned about these three protagonist, their sisterhood, ....(and a few other equally fascinating supporting characters), I couldn’t help but pause to think, digest, and image....”what might I have done in any one of their situations?”.
Trapped in the illusion of freedom...( freedom from discrimination, condescending attitudes and gross injustices)....there was hope.
But....there were also very dark and tantalizing days ahead for the sisters....
“If you were to choose between sacrificing yourself for our country and saving yourself, what would your choice be?”
“Confucian scholars must sacrifice their lives for the Emperor if need arises”.
“That’s the traditional dogma. Not all traditions are worth
preserving”.
A few treats ( the lightness in this story), will be reading about the ‘pipa’.....a four string Chinese instrument - sometimes called the Chinese lute 🎻.
A few gut wrenching scenes ( the darkness in this story)....was living in horrific hell in the eunuchs’ lecherous clutches.
“They played all sorts of rude, indecent, and racy games”
At Night they would take turns coming into Yuanyuan’s chamber.
“If she resisted, they would slap her into submission, starve her and make her clean her chamber pot as punishment”.
I was sick reading of what was done to Yuanyuan — but what followed— a clever quick thinking plan to trick one of the eunuchs- so that he would never touch her again - was brilliant.
The courage it took to fight for justice ( and safety), was a moment in the story when I want to stand up and cheer.
Highly recommended....This energetic, highly entertaining historical story conveys the harrowing ugliness of how women were treated - yet it also conveys the bravery & beauty of these magnificent women —
Both... in equal measure!
Unforgettable history! Soooo much more - than anything I wrote in this review....it’s an ‘awe’ experience!
Vibrantly imagined!
An achievement of extraordinary depth and beauty > thank you, Alice.
This book will be released in June.
April 11, 2025
3.5 stars.
I appreciate that the book introduced me to three historical figures I might not have learned about otherwise. The narrative centers on three of the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai, and while their stories are filled with tragedy, they also highlight their resilience in pursuing happiness and staying true to themselves.
However, I found the writing style occasionally tedious, which made me consider putting the book down. Despite this, I was often pulled back into the plot. One aspect that I didn’t particularly enjoy was the author’s choice to alter several details about these women’s real-life experiences. There isn't much information available about them, and these changes did not contribute anything useful, only serving to annoy me.
Liu Rushi stood out to me as my favorite character and was a significant reason for my continued interest in the book. Her inspiring story, characterized by surprising twists, was almost unbelievable. I appreciated her bold decision to dress as a man and pursue Qian Qianyi, her husband, and I liked that the author preserved the unique beginnings of their marriage. Liu’s intelligence and determination to improve her life were truly admirable.
On the other hand, I found Chen Yuanyuan to be a more challenging protagonist to connect with. The author portrayed her love for one of her partners as rather dramatic, but despite this, I still found value in her story. Her journey was filled with hardships; however, I was glad to see her ultimately find peace away from Wu Sangui.
Li Xiangjun’s story is perhaps the most well-known and undeniably the saddest. I wish the author had allowed her to narrate her experiences rather than relying on her adoptive mother’s perspective. Although her life began with a hopeful romance, it quickly spiraled into tragedy.
One area where I felt the book fell short was in the heavy focus on the characters’ love lives. At times, it seemed that the narrative leaned more toward romantic relationships rather than the broader context of their lives. While I understand that their connections with influential men were significant, emphasizing these relationships at the expense of their individual stories felt like an injustice to their legacies. The characters were much more than just their romantic entanglements.
In conclusion, despite my criticisms about certain aspects of the book, I still enjoyed it and appreciated that it brought awareness to these remarkable women and their stories.
I appreciate that the book introduced me to three historical figures I might not have learned about otherwise. The narrative centers on three of the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai, and while their stories are filled with tragedy, they also highlight their resilience in pursuing happiness and staying true to themselves.
However, I found the writing style occasionally tedious, which made me consider putting the book down. Despite this, I was often pulled back into the plot. One aspect that I didn’t particularly enjoy was the author’s choice to alter several details about these women’s real-life experiences. There isn't much information available about them, and these changes did not contribute anything useful, only serving to annoy me.
Liu Rushi stood out to me as my favorite character and was a significant reason for my continued interest in the book. Her inspiring story, characterized by surprising twists, was almost unbelievable. I appreciated her bold decision to dress as a man and pursue Qian Qianyi, her husband, and I liked that the author preserved the unique beginnings of their marriage. Liu’s intelligence and determination to improve her life were truly admirable.
On the other hand, I found Chen Yuanyuan to be a more challenging protagonist to connect with. The author portrayed her love for one of her partners as rather dramatic, but despite this, I still found value in her story. Her journey was filled with hardships; however, I was glad to see her ultimately find peace away from Wu Sangui.
Li Xiangjun’s story is perhaps the most well-known and undeniably the saddest. I wish the author had allowed her to narrate her experiences rather than relying on her adoptive mother’s perspective. Although her life began with a hopeful romance, it quickly spiraled into tragedy.
One area where I felt the book fell short was in the heavy focus on the characters’ love lives. At times, it seemed that the narrative leaned more toward romantic relationships rather than the broader context of their lives. While I understand that their connections with influential men were significant, emphasizing these relationships at the expense of their individual stories felt like an injustice to their legacies. The characters were much more than just their romantic entanglements.
In conclusion, despite my criticisms about certain aspects of the book, I still enjoyed it and appreciated that it brought awareness to these remarkable women and their stories.
April 9, 2020
"From her sleeve pocket she pulled out three exquisitely embroidered white silk kerchiefs...These silk kerchiefs will be the tokens...we went out to the garden, knelt down and bowed three times to the open sky, swearing solemnly that we would love and care for each other like blood sisters until death". "...inspired by customary practice that prevailed in the brothel's sphere in Ming and earlier dynasties...courtesans exchanging kerchiefs was a rite to cement a sisterly friendship."
In the 17th Century, late Ming Dynasty, Rushi, an orphan, was convinced by a thin horse breeder that she could have a new life that included food, lodging and training in the arts. Thin horse breeders were "procurers of beautiful slave girls commonly called 'thin horses'." "These procurers run establishments that train and prepare young girls for sale as concubines, housemaids and brothel sing-song girls." Training sessions included singing, dancing, calligraphy, ink painting and pipa (a four string lute).
Qinhuai, Nanjing was renowned for quaint boats called "flower boats". "These were floating venues of entertainment where courtesans performed music and songs for their customers". Based upon "bond contracts" courtesans were "...chattel that could be resold to another household or a brothel". "Don't be fooled into thinking that tearing up your bond contract will give you back your dignity...".
Rushi felt that "Releasing my sorrow into poetry seemed a good way to give cathartic purge in these moments...[of] the deep sense of loss always lurk[ing] around every bend...". "This art would eventually become my obsession and escape. Through contriving the music and dance of words, I seemed able to drip fear and sorrow into verses. After writing a verse, my heart would feel as if a knot was loosened".
Beneath Yuanyuan's "...tense frailty lay a spirit as unyielding as it was pliant...my only hope...would be to come under a household with powerful court ties."
"...wealth and privilege meant nothing to [Xiangjun]. And she never let her low social status define her". "Happiness is like a slippery eel. It is hard enough to catch and even harder to hold onto".
In "Tales of Ming Courtesans" by Alice Poon, three main protagonists were "...daring to love and stand up to the tyranny of social codes." As written in Rushi's memoir, bequeathed to her daughter Jingjing, Rushi wrote a plea for change. "Please try to spread my message of protest...to shame the people who scorn and bully women they call 'jianmin' and regard as inferior and worthless". Author Poon has penned a work of historical fiction describing love, sacrifice, strength of will and purpose, betrayal, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. Through her masterful writing, the fortitude of three remarkable courtesans and other independent minded women, including Jingli and Fo, come to life. This is a five star read I highly recommend.
Thank you Alice Poon and Earnshaw Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In the 17th Century, late Ming Dynasty, Rushi, an orphan, was convinced by a thin horse breeder that she could have a new life that included food, lodging and training in the arts. Thin horse breeders were "procurers of beautiful slave girls commonly called 'thin horses'." "These procurers run establishments that train and prepare young girls for sale as concubines, housemaids and brothel sing-song girls." Training sessions included singing, dancing, calligraphy, ink painting and pipa (a four string lute).
Qinhuai, Nanjing was renowned for quaint boats called "flower boats". "These were floating venues of entertainment where courtesans performed music and songs for their customers". Based upon "bond contracts" courtesans were "...chattel that could be resold to another household or a brothel". "Don't be fooled into thinking that tearing up your bond contract will give you back your dignity...".
Rushi felt that "Releasing my sorrow into poetry seemed a good way to give cathartic purge in these moments...[of] the deep sense of loss always lurk[ing] around every bend...". "This art would eventually become my obsession and escape. Through contriving the music and dance of words, I seemed able to drip fear and sorrow into verses. After writing a verse, my heart would feel as if a knot was loosened".
Beneath Yuanyuan's "...tense frailty lay a spirit as unyielding as it was pliant...my only hope...would be to come under a household with powerful court ties."
"...wealth and privilege meant nothing to [Xiangjun]. And she never let her low social status define her". "Happiness is like a slippery eel. It is hard enough to catch and even harder to hold onto".
In "Tales of Ming Courtesans" by Alice Poon, three main protagonists were "...daring to love and stand up to the tyranny of social codes." As written in Rushi's memoir, bequeathed to her daughter Jingjing, Rushi wrote a plea for change. "Please try to spread my message of protest...to shame the people who scorn and bully women they call 'jianmin' and regard as inferior and worthless". Author Poon has penned a work of historical fiction describing love, sacrifice, strength of will and purpose, betrayal, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. Through her masterful writing, the fortitude of three remarkable courtesans and other independent minded women, including Jingli and Fo, come to life. This is a five star read I highly recommend.
Thank you Alice Poon and Earnshaw Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2020
From the pen of Alice Poon, author of The Green Phoenix: A Novel of Empress Xiaozhuang, the Woman Who Re-Made Asia, comes another marvelously written glimpse into a world most of us, Westerners at least, do not know ever existed. Visiting there has felt like a dangerous thrill, for being a woman in this world is not easy. Rushi, Fo, Xiangjun, YuanYuan and Jingli are at the mercy of class divisions, the control of lecherous and powerful men, and the vulnerable world of the courtesan, where a woman’s status can change in a heartbeat and on a whim.
There are brutal moments in each of their lives, tragic losses and moments of despair, but there are also bonds of family between them, a bond which softens the blows and makes life survivable. It is a world in which men rule, and often without feeling, but one in which even the men are tied to the social order.
He was as much shackled by Confucian duties as I was pilloried by social scorn, which sadly arose from the same mountain of milliennia-old class and gender biases.
But, it is also a world where women navigate, contribute and have undeniable influence.
Each of the main characters in this history came alive for me almost immediately. I followed their trials with trepidation and felt the sting of their thwarted loves and their need to submit to the pressures of a life over which they exercised so little control. They begin so young and fragile and learn so much along the journey.
In my naivete I had thought that Zilong’s love would be enough to set me free. I could not be more wrong. My cage was a cage of social scorn. There was no breaking it.
One might think that such a life would engender weakness, but quite the opposite was true. These women display bravery and endurance that only arises from great strength and moral character. They are loyal to one another and to those to whom they owe any kindness; and they show kindness to others, strangers and sometimes people who deserve just the opposite from them.
Jingli’s philosophy, as expressed below, is one that each of us could embrace and be better for having done so.
My child, we are all fellow travelers in this world, and from birth each one is tethered to death, no matter the class or race or gender. So why fetter ourselves with spite toward others?
I found myself in tears toward the end of this book and wondering what these women would think of our easy lives and our often self-imposed lack of connection to one another. I have read many books that profess to depict the lives of women living as Geisha, which is somewhat the equivalent of a Chinese Courtesan. I have never read any depiction as heartwarming as this one, and I was thrilled to find no horrid old woman selling the younger women’s souls, but a sisterhood that was genuine and nourishing instead.
I loved The Green Phoenix: A Novel of Empress Xiaozhuang, the Woman Who Re-Made Asia, but I dare say Alice Poon has stepped up her game with this novel. She has ripped women from the pages of history, brought them from the past, and breathed life into them. They are unforgettable.
My thanks to Alice Poon and Earnshaw Books for an ARC of this remarkable historical fiction.
There are brutal moments in each of their lives, tragic losses and moments of despair, but there are also bonds of family between them, a bond which softens the blows and makes life survivable. It is a world in which men rule, and often without feeling, but one in which even the men are tied to the social order.
He was as much shackled by Confucian duties as I was pilloried by social scorn, which sadly arose from the same mountain of milliennia-old class and gender biases.
But, it is also a world where women navigate, contribute and have undeniable influence.
Each of the main characters in this history came alive for me almost immediately. I followed their trials with trepidation and felt the sting of their thwarted loves and their need to submit to the pressures of a life over which they exercised so little control. They begin so young and fragile and learn so much along the journey.
In my naivete I had thought that Zilong’s love would be enough to set me free. I could not be more wrong. My cage was a cage of social scorn. There was no breaking it.
One might think that such a life would engender weakness, but quite the opposite was true. These women display bravery and endurance that only arises from great strength and moral character. They are loyal to one another and to those to whom they owe any kindness; and they show kindness to others, strangers and sometimes people who deserve just the opposite from them.
Jingli’s philosophy, as expressed below, is one that each of us could embrace and be better for having done so.
My child, we are all fellow travelers in this world, and from birth each one is tethered to death, no matter the class or race or gender. So why fetter ourselves with spite toward others?
I found myself in tears toward the end of this book and wondering what these women would think of our easy lives and our often self-imposed lack of connection to one another. I have read many books that profess to depict the lives of women living as Geisha, which is somewhat the equivalent of a Chinese Courtesan. I have never read any depiction as heartwarming as this one, and I was thrilled to find no horrid old woman selling the younger women’s souls, but a sisterhood that was genuine and nourishing instead.
I loved The Green Phoenix: A Novel of Empress Xiaozhuang, the Woman Who Re-Made Asia, but I dare say Alice Poon has stepped up her game with this novel. She has ripped women from the pages of history, brought them from the past, and breathed life into them. They are unforgettable.
My thanks to Alice Poon and Earnshaw Books for an ARC of this remarkable historical fiction.
May 21, 2022
Tales of Ming Courtesans is a wondrously rich and riveting novel that depicted the beleaguered lives of three orphaned girls in ancient China. For three days, I kept company with Ruishi, Yuanyuan, and Xiangjun and followed the twists and turns of their fortunes with an aching heart.
For girls born into poverty, a beautiful face is a curse. All three fell into the clutches of a pimp, became bond slaves, and were sold to a courtesan training school. The curriculum? Singing, dancing, and playing the pipa (4-stringed lute), and poetry writing. The illustrated version of Jin Ping Mei (‘The Golden Lotus’) that displayed carnal acts was required reading. During the Ming dynasty era, courtesans were regarded as the lowliest caste or ‘jianmin’, which literally meant worthless citizens. Their best possible future was to become a concubine of a member of the gentry. Even then, a girl in training could not rise above the aspersions cast on her as a courtesan even if she had never been one, as in the case of Ruishi. Folks considered her a morally lax woman, a whore. In her words, “My cage was a cage of social scorn.”
In the story, Jingjing, a 16-year-old girl sent to live with Aunt Yuanyuan, was reading a memoir left by her mother (Ruishi). A secret of Jingjing’s life was bound up with her mother’s painful past. The story was told from several first-person perspectives, that of the three courtesans and Jingli Po Po (the adoptive mother of Yuanyuan and Xiangjun). Their backstories were bitter and horrific tales of humiliation, failed romance, sexual violence, marriage to men old enough to be their fathers, and their desperate bid to survive personal tragedies. I pitied their tattered lives and rejoiced at every small break that came their way. Lest we think the courtesans, barely in their early teens, were empty airheads, they were each accomplished musicians and literary artists. Ruishi, who had some early tutoring in poetry, was a published poet.
What sustained them during their darkest days? Ruishi, Yuanyuan, and Xiangjun found refuge in their sisterly love for each other. They became sworn kerchief sisters. Exchanging kerchiefs was a customary practice of cementing friendship between very close friends. In the most dire of circumstances, the embroidered kerchiefs served as reminders that they were not alone in their suffering and could count on mutual empathic support and understanding. They had an admirable and beautiful relationship. Only one thing nagged at me while I was reading. The three courtesans struck me as much older than the young adolescents they were in the stories. Perhaps, people grew up much faster when they had no choice but to fend for themselves.
Tales of Ming Courtesans is a social commentary on life in 17th century China. It is a historical account of the evils of the patriarchal system, class, and gender bias. These weightier issues aside, I loved reading about the food Jingli Po Po prepared, some of which were familiar to me. Pears and apricots stewed in cane sugar and pastries made with honey and rosewater sounded wonderful. They would taste lovely with Snow Orchid tea. There was also a smart talking parrot that could identify a thug and chide him, “Farewell! Farewell! Don’t come back, you craven rotten eggs! Rotten eggs!”
Read Tales of Ming Courtesans. It is a mesmerizing tale that was inspired by the lives of real historical characters. Highly recommended. Thank you, Alice Poon.
For girls born into poverty, a beautiful face is a curse. All three fell into the clutches of a pimp, became bond slaves, and were sold to a courtesan training school. The curriculum? Singing, dancing, and playing the pipa (4-stringed lute), and poetry writing. The illustrated version of Jin Ping Mei (‘The Golden Lotus’) that displayed carnal acts was required reading. During the Ming dynasty era, courtesans were regarded as the lowliest caste or ‘jianmin’, which literally meant worthless citizens. Their best possible future was to become a concubine of a member of the gentry. Even then, a girl in training could not rise above the aspersions cast on her as a courtesan even if she had never been one, as in the case of Ruishi. Folks considered her a morally lax woman, a whore. In her words, “My cage was a cage of social scorn.”
In the story, Jingjing, a 16-year-old girl sent to live with Aunt Yuanyuan, was reading a memoir left by her mother (Ruishi). A secret of Jingjing’s life was bound up with her mother’s painful past. The story was told from several first-person perspectives, that of the three courtesans and Jingli Po Po (the adoptive mother of Yuanyuan and Xiangjun). Their backstories were bitter and horrific tales of humiliation, failed romance, sexual violence, marriage to men old enough to be their fathers, and their desperate bid to survive personal tragedies. I pitied their tattered lives and rejoiced at every small break that came their way. Lest we think the courtesans, barely in their early teens, were empty airheads, they were each accomplished musicians and literary artists. Ruishi, who had some early tutoring in poetry, was a published poet.
What sustained them during their darkest days? Ruishi, Yuanyuan, and Xiangjun found refuge in their sisterly love for each other. They became sworn kerchief sisters. Exchanging kerchiefs was a customary practice of cementing friendship between very close friends. In the most dire of circumstances, the embroidered kerchiefs served as reminders that they were not alone in their suffering and could count on mutual empathic support and understanding. They had an admirable and beautiful relationship. Only one thing nagged at me while I was reading. The three courtesans struck me as much older than the young adolescents they were in the stories. Perhaps, people grew up much faster when they had no choice but to fend for themselves.
Tales of Ming Courtesans is a social commentary on life in 17th century China. It is a historical account of the evils of the patriarchal system, class, and gender bias. These weightier issues aside, I loved reading about the food Jingli Po Po prepared, some of which were familiar to me. Pears and apricots stewed in cane sugar and pastries made with honey and rosewater sounded wonderful. They would taste lovely with Snow Orchid tea. There was also a smart talking parrot that could identify a thug and chide him, “Farewell! Farewell! Don’t come back, you craven rotten eggs! Rotten eggs!”
Read Tales of Ming Courtesans. It is a mesmerizing tale that was inspired by the lives of real historical characters. Highly recommended. Thank you, Alice Poon.
January 27, 2023
I hope that my novel will send this message, which cannot be repeated often enough: that the world needs to make greater efforts to celebrate women’s contributions and to heed their voices.
I wrote Tales of Ming Courtesans not only to tell the poignant stories of three ill-fated courtesans who showed incredible moral grit and integrity in their struggle against abuse, but, more importantly, to highlight the fact that each of these three women left a lasting legacy on Chinese literature and operatic music respectively.
Liu Rushi was a poetry prodigy and was published by the age of 17. She left behind a significant body of poetic works and epistolary writings, which, since the publication of her biography in 1980, have drawn the serious attention of academicians. Some of her paintings can be found today at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
Both Chen Yuanyuan and Li Xiangjun were virtuoso kunqu opera singers and their skills impacted on the development of China’s operatic art. Kunqu opera was the most popular form of entertainment in those times. It had originated in Kunshan in the Suzhou Prefecture and later spread to the whole of Jiangnan. It was in fact the precursor to the more well-known Peking opera. In 2001, UNESCO named kunqu opera as a masterpiece of intangible cultural heritage.
I wrote Tales of Ming Courtesans not only to tell the poignant stories of three ill-fated courtesans who showed incredible moral grit and integrity in their struggle against abuse, but, more importantly, to highlight the fact that each of these three women left a lasting legacy on Chinese literature and operatic music respectively.
Liu Rushi was a poetry prodigy and was published by the age of 17. She left behind a significant body of poetic works and epistolary writings, which, since the publication of her biography in 1980, have drawn the serious attention of academicians. Some of her paintings can be found today at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
Both Chen Yuanyuan and Li Xiangjun were virtuoso kunqu opera singers and their skills impacted on the development of China’s operatic art. Kunqu opera was the most popular form of entertainment in those times. It had originated in Kunshan in the Suzhou Prefecture and later spread to the whole of Jiangnan. It was in fact the precursor to the more well-known Peking opera. In 2001, UNESCO named kunqu opera as a masterpiece of intangible cultural heritage.
September 26, 2020
First of all, I would like to say that author Alice Poon is a GR friend of mine, but I paid full price for my copy of Tales Of Ming Courtesans, and the opinions in this review are entirely my own.
When I learned about Ms. Poon's third novel, I was quite excited and hurried to order a copy. I had purchased her previous two fiction titles and was hopeful that with this one she would further fulfill the promise shown in those books.
The idea here is ambitious and compelling: tell the stories of three real women from 17th-century China: how they became who they were, how they developed a sisterhood that sustained them through the highs and lows of their lives, how they affected history.
However, I don't know if it was my current mood or bad timing on my part in choosing this book to read immediately after finishing a Pulitzer Prize-winner, but I simply never could connect with any of the characters or lose myself in their world. I got confused with all the names of people being tossed around, and I also could not seem to adapt to the switches in the narration.
Part One was fairly straight forward, but from the outset Part Two kept slamming me back to the present to spend time tracking down who was talking, when and why. Quite frankly, I began to lose interest not long after that and skimmed here and there, setting the book aside for a time to think about what to do with it. I had so hoped to be swept away, but I simply never was, even though there was a ton of interesting information and plenty of historical detail to absorb.
I'm afraid the nail in the coffin for me was the use of words and phrases that I very greatly doubt any 17th century Chinese courtesan would have used. When preparing to write this review I looked for where I had seen the word glitzy spoken, but I could not find the page. I know it was in Part One, though. My point is that I didn't see how a Chinese woman in the 1600's would have known a word that thefreedictionary.com states is originally from the ...USA, probably via Yiddish from German glitzern 'to glitter'/.
That was the first time I was flung out of China to wonder where the heck I really was. But the worst for me was on page 96 in Part Two when Jingli, a salon owner, tells her girls she would never expect them to sell bed favors. She goes on to explain that she believes in free love, and that many scholars come to the villa for relaxation and inspiration. Then she says
"Of course, there's nothing to prevent you from hooking up with the man of your fancy."
Naturally we all know what hooking up means, but the term itself was not around at the time of the story (according to thefreedictionary.com, it began to be used in America in 1900) and I have a hard time picturing a cultured woman of the book's day saying such a thing in such a crass way. If I am wrong, my apologies to Ms. Poon for being too critical. As I said at the beginning, the opinions here are strictly my own, and I am simply trying to explain why I could not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped to do.
I have rated it three stars. Two for the book itself, but the third for Alice Poon, who has the talent and the drive to create, and will surely have many more novels in her future.
When I learned about Ms. Poon's third novel, I was quite excited and hurried to order a copy. I had purchased her previous two fiction titles and was hopeful that with this one she would further fulfill the promise shown in those books.
The idea here is ambitious and compelling: tell the stories of three real women from 17th-century China: how they became who they were, how they developed a sisterhood that sustained them through the highs and lows of their lives, how they affected history.
However, I don't know if it was my current mood or bad timing on my part in choosing this book to read immediately after finishing a Pulitzer Prize-winner, but I simply never could connect with any of the characters or lose myself in their world. I got confused with all the names of people being tossed around, and I also could not seem to adapt to the switches in the narration.
Part One was fairly straight forward, but from the outset Part Two kept slamming me back to the present to spend time tracking down who was talking, when and why. Quite frankly, I began to lose interest not long after that and skimmed here and there, setting the book aside for a time to think about what to do with it. I had so hoped to be swept away, but I simply never was, even though there was a ton of interesting information and plenty of historical detail to absorb.
I'm afraid the nail in the coffin for me was the use of words and phrases that I very greatly doubt any 17th century Chinese courtesan would have used. When preparing to write this review I looked for where I had seen the word glitzy spoken, but I could not find the page. I know it was in Part One, though. My point is that I didn't see how a Chinese woman in the 1600's would have known a word that thefreedictionary.com states is originally from the ...USA, probably via Yiddish from German glitzern 'to glitter'/.
That was the first time I was flung out of China to wonder where the heck I really was. But the worst for me was on page 96 in Part Two when Jingli, a salon owner, tells her girls she would never expect them to sell bed favors. She goes on to explain that she believes in free love, and that many scholars come to the villa for relaxation and inspiration. Then she says
"Of course, there's nothing to prevent you from hooking up with the man of your fancy."
Naturally we all know what hooking up means, but the term itself was not around at the time of the story (according to thefreedictionary.com, it began to be used in America in 1900) and I have a hard time picturing a cultured woman of the book's day saying such a thing in such a crass way. If I am wrong, my apologies to Ms. Poon for being too critical. As I said at the beginning, the opinions here are strictly my own, and I am simply trying to explain why I could not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped to do.
I have rated it three stars. Two for the book itself, but the third for Alice Poon, who has the talent and the drive to create, and will surely have many more novels in her future.
June 12, 2020
Have you ever sat down to read a few pages of the book and you become so engrossed in it that by the time you look up its hours later and you're already half-way through it? That's what happened to me with Tales of Ming Courtesans! I was instantly hooked!
Tales of Ming Courtesans tells the story of Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan, and Li Xiangjun, who were famous courtesans in China between the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The three women were all sold as children to slave traders and eventually became concubines. Despite the fact that their lives were controlled by the whims of powerful men, these amazing women persevered and fought their way to respect and freedom. I absolutely cannot fathom going through what they did and still have the strength that they did. They are truly inspiring. Each woman had a talent all her own and together they created their own family.
I have never read a book set during this time in China so that aspect was especially fascinating to me, as were the details of Chinese culture and traditions.
I don't think I will ever forget these incredible women - the beauty, the artist, and the rebel will remain in my thoughts for a very long time. I only wish I had their fortitude and grace. A truly remarkable story and I am grateful to Alice for writing this book and telling their story. I highly recommend you pick this one up.
Tales of Ming Courtesans tells the story of Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan, and Li Xiangjun, who were famous courtesans in China between the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The three women were all sold as children to slave traders and eventually became concubines. Despite the fact that their lives were controlled by the whims of powerful men, these amazing women persevered and fought their way to respect and freedom. I absolutely cannot fathom going through what they did and still have the strength that they did. They are truly inspiring. Each woman had a talent all her own and together they created their own family.
I have never read a book set during this time in China so that aspect was especially fascinating to me, as were the details of Chinese culture and traditions.
I don't think I will ever forget these incredible women - the beauty, the artist, and the rebel will remain in my thoughts for a very long time. I only wish I had their fortitude and grace. A truly remarkable story and I am grateful to Alice for writing this book and telling their story. I highly recommend you pick this one up.
May 30, 2020
I learned a lot about the Ming Dynasty here. Like all regimes, women are treated poorly, rape is used as weapons, any opportunity to oppress women are taken. However the beauty of this book is the relationships developed between the women. I also really enjoyed the descriptions of the gorgeous scenery. Many thanks to the author for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
August 23, 2020
Now comes the time in the pandemic where I am just looking for an escape. I'm dreaming of books that thrust me into the center of a fascinating story with supreme world building and "Tales of Ming Courtesans" certainly fit the bill. This book tells the stories of Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan, and Li Xiangjun, three famous courtesans in China during the Ming Dynasty. Their stories are fascinating and I loved following each one of them!
Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan, and Li Xiangjun are all very different from each other, they just happen to have the same job. Court life is difficult for all of them to adjust to - there are so many rules to follow and so many social norms to tow the line on. There is also a lot to just get used to: everything must follow certain unspoken rules and seeing how each woman navigates this in their own way really made the story for me. I love that through these three characters, you get three very different viewpoints of what life would have been like for a courtesan within the palace walls!
The detail of the book was really good! I really liked how the author brought the Ming Dynasty to life. You can picture what life was like there: the glitz, the glamour, and the hardship when things didn't fall according to the rules. You see the dazzling palaces and the grand events. While sometimes the descriptions do verge into telling rather than showing, the balance is generally pretty good. This isn't an era that I know a lot about and I loved seeing it through the eyes of these characters.
This book is perfect for those looking for tons of palace intrigue and strong female characters!
Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan, and Li Xiangjun are all very different from each other, they just happen to have the same job. Court life is difficult for all of them to adjust to - there are so many rules to follow and so many social norms to tow the line on. There is also a lot to just get used to: everything must follow certain unspoken rules and seeing how each woman navigates this in their own way really made the story for me. I love that through these three characters, you get three very different viewpoints of what life would have been like for a courtesan within the palace walls!
The detail of the book was really good! I really liked how the author brought the Ming Dynasty to life. You can picture what life was like there: the glitz, the glamour, and the hardship when things didn't fall according to the rules. You see the dazzling palaces and the grand events. While sometimes the descriptions do verge into telling rather than showing, the balance is generally pretty good. This isn't an era that I know a lot about and I loved seeing it through the eyes of these characters.
This book is perfect for those looking for tons of palace intrigue and strong female characters!
May 26, 2020
When Jingjing finds a memoir written by her mother, she discovers that the world her mother, Rushi and Aunts Yuanyuan and Xiangjun grew up in was cruel and traumatizing. All three women were sold as children to thin horse breeders, or slave traders. They were taught music, art, dance and poetry in order to entertain men who would pay for their company. The women were now objects to be bought and traded as men saw fit. Their lives take many twists and turns, but the sisterhood that they forged with matching kerchiefs helps them through.
Tales of Ming Courtesans is a heartfelt and uplifting memoir style account of the role and treatment of women in 17th Century China. Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan and Li Xiangjun were all real women who were concubines at this time. I was moved by their stories of constant struggle yet determination. Each woman was considered as property and were used by men in different ways, to settle debt, for pleasure or even to hold hostage in exchange for political favor. I was constantly amazed by their perseverance and constant struggle to raise their station. I enjoyed learning about the accomplishments of these women, despite abuse and slavery Rushi excelled at painting and poetry, Yuanyuan played a role in Ming General Wu Sangui's decision to defect to the Qing, Xianjun excelled at the pipa gaining the attentions of Hou Fangyu beginning one of the greatest romances in Chinese History. Tales of Ming Courtesans presents an almost overwhelming amount of information of the lives of these three women. The memoir style of writing was a little rambling for me, often losing my interest for short periods of time before picking up again. There were also large jumps in time. Overall, an insightful and honest look at Ming Dynasty Courtesans.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Tales of Ming Courtesans is a heartfelt and uplifting memoir style account of the role and treatment of women in 17th Century China. Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan and Li Xiangjun were all real women who were concubines at this time. I was moved by their stories of constant struggle yet determination. Each woman was considered as property and were used by men in different ways, to settle debt, for pleasure or even to hold hostage in exchange for political favor. I was constantly amazed by their perseverance and constant struggle to raise their station. I enjoyed learning about the accomplishments of these women, despite abuse and slavery Rushi excelled at painting and poetry, Yuanyuan played a role in Ming General Wu Sangui's decision to defect to the Qing, Xianjun excelled at the pipa gaining the attentions of Hou Fangyu beginning one of the greatest romances in Chinese History. Tales of Ming Courtesans presents an almost overwhelming amount of information of the lives of these three women. The memoir style of writing was a little rambling for me, often losing my interest for short periods of time before picking up again. There were also large jumps in time. Overall, an insightful and honest look at Ming Dynasty Courtesans.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
July 30, 2020
An engrossing historical fiction novel featuring three Ming Dynasty women bonded in sistership: Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan and Li Xiangjun. In the form of a memoir and recollections to Jing Jing, Rushi's daughter, the lives of these three women are chronicled :- sold to thin horse breeders as young slave girls, trained in poetry, dancing, musical instruments, calligraphy, painting, singing for the purposes of pleasing men, shunned as jian min, falling in love but thwarted by strict societal mores, raped and abused.
Ms Poon brings to life the atmosphere of that era; the scholars and the Revival Society, pleasure boats, Lantern festival, banquets, performances, political discussions at tea houses, tang yuan dessert. Framing historical events like Chongzhen Emperor's execution of Yuan Chonghuan, the invasion of the Manchus, the hanging suicide of the last Ming Emperor help to situate us in the timeline. The recitation and/or performance of Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming poetry and opera were convincingly protrayed; I wished for more poetry competitions or parties where the poets are challenged to spar with matching quartrains or couplets. The inclusion of minute details such as the wedding rituals for a primary wife (yes, men in that time could have concubines galore) show the painstaking research invested in writing this book.
I like how Tales of Ming Courtesan depicts common folk living everyday life. Often tales and media concentrate on the power makers; the Emperor, government officials, generals, jiang hu people. The Emperor always talks expansively about 平民百姓 - the common folk, the peasantry, citizenry, his subjects. Yet stories rarely concentrate on telling their life stories, their triumphs and sadness. They're the ones helpless against the changing winds of power, suffer under the yoke of corrupt officials and heavy taxes, buffeted by natural disasters like drought and flooding, crop failure, famines, diseases, war. It's heartening to read about these three women battered by life circumstances forging a path for themselves, albeit a difficult one. At the same time, it was disturbing that these talented women had to seek the protection of men to even have the smallest foothold in this traditional conservative Confucian society. Cultural details like 'lotus feet,' referring to the practice of binding females feet when they are young so their feet become painfully deformed resulting in a swaying lotus gait thought to be alluring remind us that men's pleasure was built upon women's suffering. In addition, for Chen Yuan Yuan to be blamed in history for the defection of General Wu Sangui hastening the downfall of the Ming Dynasty is plainly unfair and ridiculous.
A little aside: eunuchs are viewed by most of the characters in the book as evil conniving 'unnatural creatures' manipulating the Emperor while it's also acknowledged they themselves are victims of circumstance, being poor village boys and brought to the palace to be castrated. This isn't a central part of the story at all but it piqued my interest. Especially since I happen to be watching a Chinese drama set in the Ming Dynasty where a powerful head eunuch (Wang Zhi) is depicted as loyal and dedicated.
I had recommended the library to acquire this book and to my delight, they did. Hopefully more people can enjoy reading this. The library also acquired The Green Phoenix at the same time so it's on my to be read list.
Ms Poon brings to life the atmosphere of that era; the scholars and the Revival Society, pleasure boats, Lantern festival, banquets, performances, political discussions at tea houses, tang yuan dessert. Framing historical events like Chongzhen Emperor's execution of Yuan Chonghuan, the invasion of the Manchus, the hanging suicide of the last Ming Emperor help to situate us in the timeline. The recitation and/or performance of Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming poetry and opera were convincingly protrayed; I wished for more poetry competitions or parties where the poets are challenged to spar with matching quartrains or couplets. The inclusion of minute details such as the wedding rituals for a primary wife (yes, men in that time could have concubines galore) show the painstaking research invested in writing this book.
I like how Tales of Ming Courtesan depicts common folk living everyday life. Often tales and media concentrate on the power makers; the Emperor, government officials, generals, jiang hu people. The Emperor always talks expansively about 平民百姓 - the common folk, the peasantry, citizenry, his subjects. Yet stories rarely concentrate on telling their life stories, their triumphs and sadness. They're the ones helpless against the changing winds of power, suffer under the yoke of corrupt officials and heavy taxes, buffeted by natural disasters like drought and flooding, crop failure, famines, diseases, war. It's heartening to read about these three women battered by life circumstances forging a path for themselves, albeit a difficult one. At the same time, it was disturbing that these talented women had to seek the protection of men to even have the smallest foothold in this traditional conservative Confucian society. Cultural details like 'lotus feet,' referring to the practice of binding females feet when they are young so their feet become painfully deformed resulting in a swaying lotus gait thought to be alluring remind us that men's pleasure was built upon women's suffering. In addition, for Chen Yuan Yuan to be blamed in history for the defection of General Wu Sangui hastening the downfall of the Ming Dynasty is plainly unfair and ridiculous.
A little aside: eunuchs are viewed by most of the characters in the book as evil conniving 'unnatural creatures' manipulating the Emperor while it's also acknowledged they themselves are victims of circumstance, being poor village boys and brought to the palace to be castrated. This isn't a central part of the story at all but it piqued my interest. Especially since I happen to be watching a Chinese drama set in the Ming Dynasty where a powerful head eunuch (Wang Zhi) is depicted as loyal and dedicated.
I had recommended the library to acquire this book and to my delight, they did. Hopefully more people can enjoy reading this. The library also acquired The Green Phoenix at the same time so it's on my to be read list.
May 26, 2020
⊱❀✿ Tales Of Ming Courtesans ⊱❀✿ ⊱
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
⊱❀✿
From the author of The Green Phoenix comes a riveting tale of female friendship, honor, and sacrifice for love. An inspirational tale of strength and fortitude
Alice Poon sets her latest novel in 17th century China and featuring the intertwined stories of three of the era’s most renowned courtesans, Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan,
Li Xiangjun.
⊱❀✿
Poon brings forth three iconic legendary women in Chinese history.
Their incredible lives are seen through the exquisitely written pages of, Tales of Ming Courtesans. Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan, Li Xiangjun, all had a lasting impact on China’s culture and it’s noble history.
This eloquent saga is steeped in real life historical people, living in the turbulent times in between the Ming, and the Qing dynasties. Where social classes were defined and woman had little or no voice of their own.
⊱❀✿
Tales of Ming Courtesans, is a richly textured, mesmerising and captivating story that is full of rich history and the most compelling and intriguing characters. The storyline is a thought provoking, fascinating story. A book that is written in such a way that these memorable three women’s history comes to stunning to life.
I can see why this talented author is loved by so many. Poon’s appealing way of weaving fact and fiction, along with her absorbing seamless narration. This is a book that you will find yourself contemplating the lives and struggles of these memorable women, long after you close the book.
⊱❀✿
A meticulously researched book that captures the historical elements and traditions of the Chinese people. This is a masterpiece of a tale, that depicts the economics and the cultural mind set that was placed on woman during this era. The resilience and the quiet but powerful strength, that these ladies show within the book is nothing short motivational.
The plot twist with betrayals and longing and much heartache. Poon knows how to transport the reader, with her richly descriptive atmospheric imagery. The lush and vibrant, historical world building is stunning. An emotional book that it’s quick paced from start to finish.
⊱❀✿
Inspired by literary works and folklore, Tales of Ming Courtesan, traces the destinies of the three girls from their young humble beginnings to their awe-inspiring accomplishments.
#TalesofMingCourtesans #AlicePoon @alicepoonauthor #historicalfiction
This book was received from the Author, and Publisher, in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
⊱❀✿
From the author of The Green Phoenix comes a riveting tale of female friendship, honor, and sacrifice for love. An inspirational tale of strength and fortitude
Alice Poon sets her latest novel in 17th century China and featuring the intertwined stories of three of the era’s most renowned courtesans, Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan,
Li Xiangjun.
⊱❀✿
Poon brings forth three iconic legendary women in Chinese history.
Their incredible lives are seen through the exquisitely written pages of, Tales of Ming Courtesans. Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan, Li Xiangjun, all had a lasting impact on China’s culture and it’s noble history.
This eloquent saga is steeped in real life historical people, living in the turbulent times in between the Ming, and the Qing dynasties. Where social classes were defined and woman had little or no voice of their own.
⊱❀✿
Tales of Ming Courtesans, is a richly textured, mesmerising and captivating story that is full of rich history and the most compelling and intriguing characters. The storyline is a thought provoking, fascinating story. A book that is written in such a way that these memorable three women’s history comes to stunning to life.
I can see why this talented author is loved by so many. Poon’s appealing way of weaving fact and fiction, along with her absorbing seamless narration. This is a book that you will find yourself contemplating the lives and struggles of these memorable women, long after you close the book.
⊱❀✿
A meticulously researched book that captures the historical elements and traditions of the Chinese people. This is a masterpiece of a tale, that depicts the economics and the cultural mind set that was placed on woman during this era. The resilience and the quiet but powerful strength, that these ladies show within the book is nothing short motivational.
The plot twist with betrayals and longing and much heartache. Poon knows how to transport the reader, with her richly descriptive atmospheric imagery. The lush and vibrant, historical world building is stunning. An emotional book that it’s quick paced from start to finish.
⊱❀✿
Inspired by literary works and folklore, Tales of Ming Courtesan, traces the destinies of the three girls from their young humble beginnings to their awe-inspiring accomplishments.
#TalesofMingCourtesans #AlicePoon @alicepoonauthor #historicalfiction
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June 5, 2020Gah, I am so in love with stories set in this dynasty. There’s just so much glam, drama, and art. It is also a time that women were able to use their social caste against the men who tried to deem them as lesser citizens. And while this may be a time period I most definitely wouldn’t want to have lived through, it makes for some excellent stories and a history worth learning from.
I love that this book is based off of real people in history. It makes the story that much more incredulous. These women used what many would consider hopeless situations to literally change the world and make history. It’s really quite inspiring when you think about it. They went through so much, yet they persevered. They had courage that many people could only hope to have.
This book really hooked me into the story. It was so interesting and I loved knowing that the characters in this book actually lived at one point in time. I always like stories that make me think and want to learn more about the actual history and set of characters.
You can view my full review & giveaway on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
I love that this book is based off of real people in history. It makes the story that much more incredulous. These women used what many would consider hopeless situations to literally change the world and make history. It’s really quite inspiring when you think about it. They went through so much, yet they persevered. They had courage that many people could only hope to have.
This book really hooked me into the story. It was so interesting and I loved knowing that the characters in this book actually lived at one point in time. I always like stories that make me think and want to learn more about the actual history and set of characters.
You can view my full review & giveaway on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
June 5, 2020
Years ago I read Snow Flower and the Secret Fan with a friend who was reading it for her book club. I loved it.
Tales of the Ming Courtesans ranks right up there was that book for me. Like that book, I was instantly pulled into the story and the trials and triumphs of the characters and they do have both and like Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, the lives of the characters are filled with much heartache. In fact, I'd say most of these women spent more time down than up. Such was the case of women in China during that time period.
The things that happened to Rushi, Yuanyuan and Xiangjun will hurt your heart. Yet their friendship is what helps them rise up.
The ending was not as I thought when it came to Liu Rushi's daughter and her paternity.
Its a story to be read at a leisurely pace. Each word should be savored though you will want to devour them.
This was a perfect change of pace read for me as I had been reading more than my share of new adult fiction lately. It was great to go back in time for a "meatier" story, one that made me think.
Tales of the Ming Courtesans ranks right up there was that book for me. Like that book, I was instantly pulled into the story and the trials and triumphs of the characters and they do have both and like Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, the lives of the characters are filled with much heartache. In fact, I'd say most of these women spent more time down than up. Such was the case of women in China during that time period.
The things that happened to Rushi, Yuanyuan and Xiangjun will hurt your heart. Yet their friendship is what helps them rise up.
The ending was not as I thought when it came to Liu Rushi's daughter and her paternity.
Its a story to be read at a leisurely pace. Each word should be savored though you will want to devour them.
This was a perfect change of pace read for me as I had been reading more than my share of new adult fiction lately. It was great to go back in time for a "meatier" story, one that made me think.
March 30, 2021
Tales of Ming Courtesans by Alice Poon is Basically a chick lit book along the lines of the sisterhood of the traveling pants with emphasis on strong, supportive girl friendships and using embroidered handkerchiefs as the Spiritual linking element. While the writing style is most often first person narrative simplified almost to a YA format it covers some serious historical research. The study of History or His story is nearly universally blind to women’s viewpoints and struggles, not this story which makes it stand out and for that reason I read it hoping to learn something about China (A low bar since I know practically nothing) and something about women’s roles in this society which I learned quite a bit.
The main characters are based on real life personages from a important timeframe in the history of China the change from Ming to Qing dynasties. In a European timeframe this happens around the time of Elizabeth the first but the elements described within makes it feel like 1848 with artists and a rising middle class clashing with authoritarian empirical elements (news flash artists and other revolutionary forces always seem to lose these struggles but often will begin changes that far outlast them in this case the elimination of the jianmin classification which is something akin to the untouchable class in India, a legalistic ruling that determines a person status in society as being useless). This is more an implied sub-plot a inevitable result of the seed our heroines planted but never saw to its fruition. The four courtesans were Rushi, yuanyuan Xiangjun and jingjing so given my stated ignorance the first hurdle for me were names then connecting those to the various male’s who often had two or three wife’s, complexes abound, along with petty jealousies and deadly social in-fighting. It was a good book for gaining a feel for this timeframe from a woman’s viewpoint and from that perspective it was very successful. For me personally it read like a Mexican novella melodrama and rooted in status, sex and shame, most of the book being a detailed description of season one then season two three and four gets a Wikipedia sort of summation in the last part of the book which caused a bit of confusion in me like a stigmatism in the storyline it went from slow paced to blazing fast in just a page. Otherwise it’s a good book a Romantic story set in troubled times from a women’s perspective but somewhat dry in emotional content which was a surprise to me half-expecting given the subject matter that this would turn out to be a real tear jerker in the hands of a romantic manipulator like Somerset Maughan I’m sure I would be balling my eyes out. Not sure what to make of the authors approach but I prefer to think this was considered then decided that rather than to cannibalize what remained of the rich ancient history of China a more distant academic writing style kept the emotional plunder to a minimum while keeping true to the author’s deep research of this period. Might have from a western POV been a more successful read if it was more a pot-boiler bodice-ripper of a story but that would have perhaps cheapen the selfless and spiritual nature of the sisterhood so less haunted less sorrowful less passionately charged than what I had expected but more compassionate and historically accurate overall good effort four stars for a book that it normally lies outside my typical book selection
The main characters are based on real life personages from a important timeframe in the history of China the change from Ming to Qing dynasties. In a European timeframe this happens around the time of Elizabeth the first but the elements described within makes it feel like 1848 with artists and a rising middle class clashing with authoritarian empirical elements (news flash artists and other revolutionary forces always seem to lose these struggles but often will begin changes that far outlast them in this case the elimination of the jianmin classification which is something akin to the untouchable class in India, a legalistic ruling that determines a person status in society as being useless). This is more an implied sub-plot a inevitable result of the seed our heroines planted but never saw to its fruition. The four courtesans were Rushi, yuanyuan Xiangjun and jingjing so given my stated ignorance the first hurdle for me were names then connecting those to the various male’s who often had two or three wife’s, complexes abound, along with petty jealousies and deadly social in-fighting. It was a good book for gaining a feel for this timeframe from a woman’s viewpoint and from that perspective it was very successful. For me personally it read like a Mexican novella melodrama and rooted in status, sex and shame, most of the book being a detailed description of season one then season two three and four gets a Wikipedia sort of summation in the last part of the book which caused a bit of confusion in me like a stigmatism in the storyline it went from slow paced to blazing fast in just a page. Otherwise it’s a good book a Romantic story set in troubled times from a women’s perspective but somewhat dry in emotional content which was a surprise to me half-expecting given the subject matter that this would turn out to be a real tear jerker in the hands of a romantic manipulator like Somerset Maughan I’m sure I would be balling my eyes out. Not sure what to make of the authors approach but I prefer to think this was considered then decided that rather than to cannibalize what remained of the rich ancient history of China a more distant academic writing style kept the emotional plunder to a minimum while keeping true to the author’s deep research of this period. Might have from a western POV been a more successful read if it was more a pot-boiler bodice-ripper of a story but that would have perhaps cheapen the selfless and spiritual nature of the sisterhood so less haunted less sorrowful less passionately charged than what I had expected but more compassionate and historically accurate overall good effort four stars for a book that it normally lies outside my typical book selection
April 26, 2020
This is such a fascinating story based on real characters from the end of the Ming dynasty. Alice Poon shows how women had so few rights back then and if, like the lead protagonist Liu Rushi, they became orphaned or were from a poor family with few resources, there was little more for them but a life of slavery, including prostitution. Rushi finds female friends and mentors who help her achieve her potential in writing and music. From this story, English readers will learn that the courtesan class from that time was a center of arts and culture. Chinese books have told these stories over the centuries, so it’s a treat for English readers to become privy to them, too.
July 10, 2022
Tales of Ming Courtesans is a freedom book. Utilizing an approach that is very different from Lisa See’s in her Peony in Love, Alice Poon has created characters that do more than make the most of miserable situations. Rather, they rail at the injustice of them and seek liberation. In one passage, Poon credits very liberal expressions to the Hangzhou merchant Wang Wei and includes a ringing endorsement from Liu Rushi, perhaps the most intrepid of the three Ming courtesans portrayed in this book:
Nonetheless, they fight the good fight. Tales of Ming Courtesans is compelling, very exciting, and hard to put down. Readers will be sorry when it’s over, and if they are like me, they will be eager to learn more about Liu Rushi and her extraordinarily forward-thinking times.
‘Confucius was dead wrong to have classed women as inferior humans. Just think of all the female talent that has gone to waste over the past several millennia because of that stupid gender discrimination! Aiya, too tragic! And our society is so depraved to exploit girls from poor families and allow the thin horse [human trafficking and procurement] trade to thrive! Why aren’t learned men ashamed at just ignoring it and do nothing about it! Let me tell you this: [Qian] Qianyi and I have always shared the same view on this issue. We have even planned to jointly petition the Emperor to ban the slave trade. That’s why we are great friends!’Such discourse was indeed atypical of old China, but it was not unimaginable in the late Ming dynasty, when traditional dogma came under bold scrutiny and received norms of gender relations were challenged. Of course, Liu Rushi and her sisters are not merely interested in “freedom from the burdens of officialdom” but are desperately seeking to escape from brutal chains of control and chronic abasement. As their desperation increases, idealistic talk of freedom fades, and only the struggle for survival remains.
‘Ah, now I understand why you call your boat the “Untethered Villa”! You are a freedom lover, true? Wasn’t it the Song poet Su Shi who had used the term “untethered boat” to portray his freedom from the burdens of officialdom?’ (p. 183)
Nonetheless, they fight the good fight. Tales of Ming Courtesans is compelling, very exciting, and hard to put down. Readers will be sorry when it’s over, and if they are like me, they will be eager to learn more about Liu Rushi and her extraordinarily forward-thinking times.
October 25, 2023
DNF. I’m sorry! I really wanted to like this book but it’s just not for me. The writing is the epitome of “tell, not show” and even if that was a conscious choice because it’s supposed to be like a memoir, it’s rather dull to read. Especially because it feels like each event has no depth. The characters tell you they were kept locked up and abused but with no real emotion. Then, a paragraph later, some kind soul frees them.
Also, it started to feel like this was perhaps some propaganda. For girls who were sold into prostitution, surprisingly nobody wanted to have sex with them. Despite them all being gorgeous and talented. I’m slightly exaggerating, but it started to seem weird how many people in the 1600’s China wanted to spend money to free these women bought in prostitution, but expected nothing in return.
And also, maybe this was a translation problem, but some of the language was jarring. This is China, 1600’s, but some of the characters are talking about “hooking up” and “free love”. And despite a note at the beginning telling readers that in China, the surname comes 1st, the characters keep telling each other “my name is ____, surname _____.”
Maybe these problems were not problems, but intentional, to give the different narrators different voices; maybe it was just cultural differences that I’m unaware of. All I can say is this book didn’t jive with me.
Also, it started to feel like this was perhaps some propaganda. For girls who were sold into prostitution, surprisingly nobody wanted to have sex with them. Despite them all being gorgeous and talented. I’m slightly exaggerating, but it started to seem weird how many people in the 1600’s China wanted to spend money to free these women bought in prostitution, but expected nothing in return.
And also, maybe this was a translation problem, but some of the language was jarring. This is China, 1600’s, but some of the characters are talking about “hooking up” and “free love”. And despite a note at the beginning telling readers that in China, the surname comes 1st, the characters keep telling each other “my name is ____, surname _____.”
Maybe these problems were not problems, but intentional, to give the different narrators different voices; maybe it was just cultural differences that I’m unaware of. All I can say is this book didn’t jive with me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2021
Absolutely brilliant book. If you like historical fiction and strong resilient women, read this book. This very talented author is an incredible word weaver and storyteller. Highly recommend.
August 20, 2021
⋆⋆⋆½ (rounded down to three, as I feel that's closer than four for me personally)
Content Warning: violence, death (including that of a child), prostitution, murder, suicide, rape, sexual assault, abuse (physical, sexual, verbal and emotional).
Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan, and Li Xiangjun were three of the renowned Eight Beauties of Qinhuai. Each coming from a background of hardship, all three sold to "thin horse breeders," a colloquial name for people who ran the slave and concubine market, these three women ended up having extraordinary lives -- sometimes at the cost of their own happiness and love. Known for their artistic talents, intelligence, and striking beauty, as well as their political knowledge and their challenging of societal norms, this novel follows their lives through friendship, love, tragedy, death and the end of the Ming Empire.
I previously read another of Alice Poon's novels, The Green Phoenix. I gave that one four stars, and although the writing style wasn't my favorite, I enjoyed it wholeheartedly. This one, unfortunately, didn't quite meet the mark for me. While I admire Poon's dedication to history and accurate details, and all three main characters were sympathetic and likable, it ultimately left me feeling as if I were being told everything rather than experiencing it. There is some context to this type of storytelling, as it is Rushi's daughter who is reading her memoir and also being told their stories by relatives, but the downside to this is that it becomes difficult to be immersed.
To be fair, I have been in a bit of a reading slump, and I've struggled to read anything that truly captures my imagination these last couple of weeks. There were many things I enjoyed and liked about this book, like the previously mentioned dedication to accurate historical details, but the writing once again left me a bit cold -- as well as the fact that much of the language used feels too modern, and sometimes forces you out of the story. It felt especially strange in conjunction with the otherwise wonderfully rendered historical settings and details.
That being said, I wouldn't not recommend this book, and I think if you are interested in the lives of these three very fascinating women, it's worth a read. As someone who has a deep interest in Chinese history, culture, and literature, it was still an enjoyable read and I'm glad I learned some new things!
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
Content Warning: violence, death (including that of a child), prostitution, murder, suicide, rape, sexual assault, abuse (physical, sexual, verbal and emotional).
Liu Rushi, Chen Yuanyuan, and Li Xiangjun were three of the renowned Eight Beauties of Qinhuai. Each coming from a background of hardship, all three sold to "thin horse breeders," a colloquial name for people who ran the slave and concubine market, these three women ended up having extraordinary lives -- sometimes at the cost of their own happiness and love. Known for their artistic talents, intelligence, and striking beauty, as well as their political knowledge and their challenging of societal norms, this novel follows their lives through friendship, love, tragedy, death and the end of the Ming Empire.
I previously read another of Alice Poon's novels, The Green Phoenix. I gave that one four stars, and although the writing style wasn't my favorite, I enjoyed it wholeheartedly. This one, unfortunately, didn't quite meet the mark for me. While I admire Poon's dedication to history and accurate details, and all three main characters were sympathetic and likable, it ultimately left me feeling as if I were being told everything rather than experiencing it. There is some context to this type of storytelling, as it is Rushi's daughter who is reading her memoir and also being told their stories by relatives, but the downside to this is that it becomes difficult to be immersed.
To be fair, I have been in a bit of a reading slump, and I've struggled to read anything that truly captures my imagination these last couple of weeks. There were many things I enjoyed and liked about this book, like the previously mentioned dedication to accurate historical details, but the writing once again left me a bit cold -- as well as the fact that much of the language used feels too modern, and sometimes forces you out of the story. It felt especially strange in conjunction with the otherwise wonderfully rendered historical settings and details.
That being said, I wouldn't not recommend this book, and I think if you are interested in the lives of these three very fascinating women, it's worth a read. As someone who has a deep interest in Chinese history, culture, and literature, it was still an enjoyable read and I'm glad I learned some new things!
For more of my reviews, check out my blog!
August 28, 2020
For those looking for a deeply researched novel of China and the role of the concubine class- the jianmin- this is an impressive work. While it moves slowly (at least for this Western male), it should be read for a detailed, beautiful recounting of a time and place so unfamiliar to Westerners. The author based the story on historical texts and cobbles them together into tale of women fighting an oppressive system yet clinging to their sisterhood.
July 6, 2021
”Rushi, in our culture, girls are born with a curse, and girls born into poverty are cursed ten times over.”
August 23, 2020
TALES OF MING COURTESANS by Alice Poon is an immersive historical fiction novel chronicling the lives of three courtesans during the 17th century in China. It was really interesting to read about the Chinese culture back then. There were so many things I wanted to Google and learn more about.
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The women during that time had to endure many hardships if they were a courtesan. It was heartbreaking how these women had to deal with societal shame, inequalities based on class and gender and trying to find love and happiness when they are bound by contracts and traditions.
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I liked the detailed writing describing the clothing, food and setting but at times it could get confusing keeping all the characters straight since there are so many of them and some of them have similar names. There’s a lot going on in this book with three different plot lines, many characters and four different points of view.
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Thank you to the author for sending me this copy for review!
.
The women during that time had to endure many hardships if they were a courtesan. It was heartbreaking how these women had to deal with societal shame, inequalities based on class and gender and trying to find love and happiness when they are bound by contracts and traditions.
.
I liked the detailed writing describing the clothing, food and setting but at times it could get confusing keeping all the characters straight since there are so many of them and some of them have similar names. There’s a lot going on in this book with three different plot lines, many characters and four different points of view.
.
Thank you to the author for sending me this copy for review!
July 10, 2021
Let me start by saying Alice Poon is a friend, and second I am a very hard grader and I write short reviews..giving nothing away! So that being said this book probably should have 3.5*'s. It is a deep and fascinating study of three women with all their faults and all their virtues plainly on display and a wonderful study of the world they lived in.....not unlike our world, a place not very welcoming to women, especially strong women......
October 13, 2020
Alice Poon weaves together the remarkable stories of three incredible women from 17th century China in a beautiful way, giving us memorable characters, vivid descriptions of scenery, and superb historical detail.
I highly recommend this book as it's a wonderful window into a time and place when women were challenged beyond our imagination and rose together in the unshakeable bond of sisterhood.
I highly recommend this book as it's a wonderful window into a time and place when women were challenged beyond our imagination and rose together in the unshakeable bond of sisterhood.
July 25, 2021
A complex tale with great research
Alice chronicles the lives, loves, and misfortunes of Rushi and her Ming kerchief sisters, giving a window into a complex society of the Ming. Though a little slow paced at times, it is interesting to see the resourcefulness of the women as they navigate the underbelly of their society.
Alice chronicles the lives, loves, and misfortunes of Rushi and her Ming kerchief sisters, giving a window into a complex society of the Ming. Though a little slow paced at times, it is interesting to see the resourcefulness of the women as they navigate the underbelly of their society.
February 26, 2021
Poon transports you to 17th Century China in this gripping and superbly-researched saga which brings to life real courtesans and their love interests.
September 13, 2021
What a fun and interesting read. Really liked the narrative structure and character development.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews