Birth in ancient China : a study of metaphor and cultural identity in pre-imperial China

Resource Information

The work Birth in ancient China : a study of metaphor and cultural identity in pre-imperial China represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in University of Missouri-St. Louis Libraries. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Birth in ancient China : a study of metaphor and cultural identity in pre-imperial China

Title remainder

a study of metaphor and cultural identity in pre-imperial China

Statement of responsibility

Constance A. Cook and Xinhui Luo

Creator

• Cook, Constance A

Contributor

• Luo, Xinhui

Author

• Luo, Xinhui
• Cook, Constance A

Subject

• Childbirth -- Social aspects -- China -- History -- To 1500
• China
• China -- History -- Zhou dynasty, 1122-221 B.C
• China -- Social life and customs -- To 221 B.C
• Group identity
• Group identity -- China -- History -- To 1500
• History
• Human reproduction -- Social aspects
• Human reproduction -- Social aspects -- China -- History -- To 1500
• Manners and customs
• Metaphor -- Social aspects
• Metaphor -- Social aspects -- China -- History -- To 1500
• SOCIAL SCIENCE -- Customs & Traditions
• To 1500
• Zhou Dynasty (China)
• Birth customs
• Birth customs -- China -- History -- To 1500
• Childbirth -- Social aspects

Genre

• History

Language

eng

Summary

Using newly discovered and excavated texts, Constance A. Cook and Xinhui Luo systematically explore material culture, inscriptions, transmitted texts, and genealogies from BCE China to reconstruct the role of women in social reproduction in the ancient Chinese world. Applying paleographical, linguistic, and historical analyses, Cook and Luo discuss fertility rituals, birthing experiences, divine conceptions, divine births, and the overall influence of gendered supernatural agencies on the experience and outcome of birth. They unpack a cultural paradigm in which birth is not only a philosophical symbol of eternal return and renewal but also an abiding religious and social focus for lineage continuity. They also suggest that some of the mythical founder heroes traditionally assumed to be male may in fact have had female identities. Students of ancient history, particularly Chinese history, will find this book an essential complement to traditional historical narratives, while the exploration of ancient religious texts, many unknown in the West, provides a unique perspective into the study of the formation of mythology and the role of birthing in early religion

Member of

• SUNY series in Chinese philosophy and culture

Cataloging source

DLC

Dewey number

392.1/2

Government publication

government publication of a state province territory dependency etc

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

LC call number

GN482.1

LC item number

.C66 2017eb

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

• dictionaries
• bibliography

Series statement

SUNY series in Chinese philosophy and culture