Sword and Lotus: The Life of a Confucian Buddhist Woman Warrior in Seventeenth Century China

This paper focuses on the life of Liu Shu (1520–1657), a woman warrior who lived through social and political turmoil violent dynastic transition from Ming (1368–1644) dynasty to Qing (1636–1911) dynasty. Drawing writings different versions accounts her written by male literati in time periods, this intends reveal multiplicity complexity how could exert agency interact with dominant structure. Commonly, women’s has been understood as resistance against male-dominant patriarchal system. However, recently, scholars such Saba Mahmood have problematized universalizing overtly resistant acts society bring radical changes demonstrations agency. These argue that approach fails recognize their autonomy while living self-fulfillment, women capacity reproduce, sustain, or subtly change norms views values justify support In light these scholars’ studies, explores Shu’s engagement military activities Buddhist practices analyze she transgressed established gender order uphold rather than reject virtues promoted ideology. The also discusses conflicting demands male-centered drastic enabled negotiate challenge It considers disobedient were accepted applauded some address own agenda cultural, historical, contexts.