China Underground Interview

Matteo Damiani, an Italian Sinologist and founder of the media websites China Underground and CinaOggi, asked many interesting questions about my new novel Tales of Ming Courtesans.

Link to the Interview.


 

Tales of Ming Courtesans Book Trailer

History Tidbits of the Pipa 琵琶

This is a brief introduction to the history of the Chinese classical plucked string instrument – the pipa 琵琶. In Tales of Ming Courtesans (coming soon!), two protagonists - peerless beauties Chen Yuanyuan 陳圓圓 and Li Xiangjun 李香君 - are both dazzling pipa players and kunqu singers in the glitzy Qinhuai pleasure district.

History Tidbits of the Guqin 古琴

This is a brief introduction to the history of the Chinese classical plucked string instrument, the “guqin” 古琴. In my soon-to-be-published historical novel Tales of Ming Courtesans, one of the protagonists, famed courtesan Liu Rushi 柳如是, is a skillful guqin player, apart from being a brilliant poetess and painter. In one scene, she smashes her guqin, which is a gift from one client, in a blinding fit of fury.