Festivals, Feasts, and Gender Relations in Ancient China and Greece [Paperback]

Examines gender relations in ancient Chinese and Greek societies as reflected in convivial contexts such as banquets, festivals, and feasts.This book examines gender relations in the two ancient societies as reflected in convivial contexts such as family banquets, public festivals, and religious feasts. Through an analysis of the different patterns that emerge in each society, Yiqun Zhou illuminates the different sociopolitical mechanisms, value systems, and fabrics of human bonds in the two classical traditions.This book examines gender relations in the two ancient societies as reflected in convivial contexts such as family banquets, public festivals, and religious feasts. Through an analysis of the different patterns that emerge in each society, Yiqun Zhou illuminates the different sociopolitical mechanisms, value systems, and fabrics of human bonds in the two classical traditions.Ancient China and Greece are two classical civilizations that have exerted far-reaching influence in numerous areas of human experience and are often invoked as the paradigms in EastWest comparison. This book examines gender relations in the two ancient societies as reflected in convivial contexts such as family banquets, public festivals, and religious feasts. Two distinct patterns of interpersonal affinity and conflict emerge from the Chinese and Greek sources that show men and women organizing themselves and interacting with each other in social occasions intended for collective pursuit of pleasure. Through an analysis of the two different patterns, Yiqun Zhou illuminates the different sociopolitical mechanisms, value systems, and fabrics of human bonds in the two classical traditions. Her book will be important for readers who are interested in the comparative study of societies, gender studies, womens history, and the legacy of civilizations.Introduction; Part I. Among Men: 1. Greece: comrades, citizens, and boys; 2. China: ancestors, brothers, and sons; Part II. Between Men and Wl£¼