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encyclopedia-amazonica:If you want to support me, please consider donating to: https://ko-fi.com/encyclopediaamazonicaLiu Shuying - Poet and swordswomanLiu Shuying (c.1620- after 1657) was the daughter of a magistrate. Her father was killed when she was six years old and her mother taught her swordsmanship, military strategy using Sun Tzu’s Art of war, as well as Buddhist scriptures.Liu Shuying was briefly married to a man named Wang Ai, but he soon died. At eighteen, she was already a widow with a son. The Ming Dynasty collapsed in 1644 and Liu Shuying said that, though she wasn’t a man, she was going to fight the Manchu enemy. She thus sold her family’s belongings and recruited 1,000 men. Liu Shuying personally undertook their swordsmanship training. In 1646, she began fighting against local bandits in Hunan province. Liu Shuying then approached Zhang Xianbi, a general of the former Ming Dynasty, and offered him a military alliance. Zhang Xianbi, however, asked for her hand in marriage.Infuriated by this insult to her military ambitions, Liu Shuying told him that he lacked the strength to resist the Manchu. This episode dealt a severe blow to her confidence and she disbanded her soldiers. She then took her son and mother to Sichuan in order to avoid persecution from the Qing government. There, she lived as a recluse, taking care of her family and studying Buddhism.In addition to her military activities, Liu Shuying was also a talented calligrapher, painter and poet.Here are two of her works:“Reflections on Returning from Hechuan: To the tune of Huangying’er”I took a tearful leave of the battlefield,My orchid boat moored in a little cove.My loyal heart prevents me from following a silver pheasant released from its cageThe peach-blossom horse is waiting;The dragon slaying sword is idle.Long have I felt ashamed to face the moon.Sickly, how could I die for my country?All I am goo for is to be a recluse on Mount Shouyang.“To the Tune Xiaoxiangshen”Heaven covers me,Earth carries me,Did heaven and earth have a purpose in creating me?If they did not, I should fast and ascend to the heavenly avenues,If they did not, jade ornaments tinkling, I should tour the heavenly imperial capital How can I toil the mountains and forests below?My derision for that big man would be pointless.Bibliography:Kehrt-Kurz Doris, “Liu Shuying”, in: Hingham Robin, Pennington Reina (ed.), Amazons to fighter pilots, biographical dictionary of military women, vol.1Lin Yanqing, “Liu Shuying”,in: Lee Lily Xiao Hong, Wiles Sue (dir.), Biographical dictionary of Chinese women: Tang through Ming (618-1644) -- source link
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