I have a new project that I’ve VERY excited about! I’ve been talking to a translator who specializes in Classical Chinese texts and we’ve agreed on a contract for a translation of the Bei Li Zhi (Anecdotes of the Northern Ward) with commentary! The commentary is going to focus on defining euphemisms, which will be a huge help when reading other resources. So far as I can find, it will be the first translation of the Bei Li Zhi into English–there is one translation into French, published in 1968, by Robert Des Rotours. You can find it in a library through WorldCat.org. (https://search.worldcat.org/title/1049424265?fbclid=IwY2xjawK9DwNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFBRndSVjU1ZmNFcDAwME1qAR4BMH_j9gNxqFunpEsNYdps77WUhsCRxYp8DwUGermteWzzYhWGUIAGclh-_Q_aem_UNU4bysD4r68oQHVzzqR0Q)
Even better, his terms of use are just that he receives credit as the translator. He’s even encouraged me to clean it up and publish sometime after we’re done, which could help fund future translation work!
The Bei Li Zhi is a major primary source of anecdotes about courtesans in the Tang capital of Chang’an, originally written by Sun Qi in 884. There are more than 10 chapters describing the Pingkang Ward (the pleasure district where the courtesans lived), the courtesans themselves, and the scholars/literati who were their clients.
From some of the (awful!!!) Google translations I’ve run the document through, the level of detail about the women’s lives and what each was known for is so much more than I’ve found anywhere else so far. I am very much looking forward to digging in and learning more from this!
Also, since translation services, especially rare ones like Classical Chinese, are EXPENSIVE (this one is costing $2500), I’m running a gofundme to help me pay for this project. If you’re interested in contributing, the fundraising site is https://gofund.me/e22f5abf. Everyone who contributes will receive a copy, of course!
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Sartorial Dominance Displays 