The Confucian Four Books for Women

Pang-White's translation is a must read for anyone who has interest in studying the compatibility between Confucianism and feminist philosophy. It also provides valuable resources for scholars working in both feminism and Chinese philosophy. -- Lili Zhang, Dao Ann Pang-White's recent work, The Confucian Four Books for Women: A New Translation of the Nu Sishu and the Commentary of Wang Xiang, is a gift for Anglophone scholarship on Chinese philosophy and religion. It is also a major step for feminist reclamation...As it stands, the text is an incredible resource to both scholars and teachers, and I hope to see many using it to reread and reappropriate Confucian canons in new and interesting ways. -- Sarah Mattice, University of North Florida, Reading Religion Pang-White has truly done a superb job here. This first complete translation...is not to be missed in any serious collection on Confucianism and premodern East Asian/Chinese culture. -- Lukas Pokorny, University of Vienna, Religious Studies Review Pang-White's new translation is an admirable acheivement. It is significant to the field because of its historical value as well as the value to contemporary feminist discourse suggested by Pang-White. -- Guotong Li, California State University, Long Beach, Journal of Chinese Religions With this complete translation of the Four Books for Women, Ann A. Pang-White fills a longstanding and embarrassing gap in Western literature on traditional China. Her decision to include the commentary by the late-Ming literatus Wang Xiang adds immensely to the collection by affording a glimpse of its reception at the turn of the seventeenth century. The texts are preceded by Pang-White's thoughtful and evenhanded discussion of not only their historical value, but also their place in contemporary feminist discourse. --Paul R. Goldin, Professor of Chinese Thought, University of Pennsylvania, author of Confucianism