Dangerous Women: Chinese Women Warriors in History
and Fiction, Ancient and Modern
Cherie Hughes
East West Center-NEH Institute
June 2010
“Her swinging sword flashes like nine falling suns shot by Yet the legendary
bowman; she moves with the force of a team of Dragons driven by the gods
through the sky; her strokes and attacks are like terrible thunder; and when
she stops, all is still as water reflecting the clear moonlight.” –Tu Fu (ca. 712770, Tang), “Viewing a Student of Madame Kung Sun”1
Introduction
Historical Women Warriors
Fu Hao: c. 1200 BCE, Shang
Lady of Yue: 5 BCE, Zhou
Xu Mu: c. 7 BCE, Wei
1
www.woodka.com/www.cgcmall.com, June 17, 2010.
1
Pingying: c. 7 CE, Tang
Women Generals of Yang: Wife, Mother, 2 Sisters, 3 Sisters-in-Law, Song
Mu Guiying: Song
Qin Linagyu: c. 1574, Ming
Literary Women Warriors
Ancient Non-Chinese Literature
Aijaru: Marco Polo, Bk 4.4
Urduja: Ibn Battuta, Bk 4, 253-54
Ancient Chinese Literature
Water Margins:
Hu Sanniang, Chapter 47
Gu Dasao, Chapter 49
Chou Qiongying, Chapter 98
2
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Lady Zhurong
Modern Chinese Literature
The Heaven Sword and the Dragon Saber, by Jin Yong
Zhou Zhirou
3
Meijue
Zhao Min
Return of the Condor Heroes, by Jin Yong
Xiaolongnu
Celluloid Chinese Women Warriors
Hero
4
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
House of Flying Daggers
Tomorrow Never Dies
Swordswoman of Huangjiang
Come Eat with Me
The Black Rose
Warriors of the Yang Clan
Mulan
Kill Bill
5
6
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