Women and Poetry in the Tang Dynasty - Writing women from the inner quarters to the halls of power: Shangguan Wan’er

This episode introduces the problem of writing for women in the Tang in terms of the ritual regulation of women’s behavior and the social nature of poetry writing, then discusses the poetry of Shangguan Wan’er, a palace woman who became secretary to Empress Wu Zetian and also served at the court of her successor Emperor Zhongzong, becoming his consort. Guest Host: Dr. Maija Bell Samei