When I first saw the preview for the movie, Snow Flower And The Secret Fan, and realized it was based on a Lisa See novel, I rushed to get my hands on the book! I previously read Peony In Love, also by Lisa See, which accompanied me on my trip to Puerto Rico. I had enjoyed Peony In Love, so I found myself anxious to Read Snow Flower And The Secret Fan before watching to movie. I must admit, I was by no means disappointed! In fact, I enjoyed it much more than the previous Lisa See novel I had read!
Snow Flower And The Secret Fan delves into the Chinese culture of the nineteenth century, where women were viewed as unimportant and good only for providing sons. Traditions surrounding women included foot binding, arranged marriages, and concubines. However, the book focuses on two unique female traditions practiced in Hunan (a province of South-central China), laotongs, and nu shu.
Laotongs could perhaps be understood, in our terms, as "kindred spirits". The Chinese translation of laotong is "old same". It is a relationship which bonds two young girls together for life. The characters in Lisa See's novel, Snow Flower and Lily, were bonded at the tender age of seven. Other relationships between women in China were common, such as sisterhoods. Laotong relationships, however, were rare and formal, the two girls often chosen carefully by a matchmaker. Such things as the girls' astrological signs, their foot size, and the prosperity (or lack thereof) of their natal families, were taken into consideration. Laotong relationships were made formal by the actual signing of a contract. These special bonds were put in place to help them cope with the hardships of their lives.
Nu shu, which means "woman's writing" in Chinese, was a form of writing developed specifically for women. It used about 600-700 syllabic characters (each character representing a syllable). Since in ancient China the culture was male-centered, and forbid girls from formal education, nu shu was derived out of secrecy in order for women to share their deepest feelings, emotions, experiences, and secrets. Snow Flower and Lily shared their nu shu on a fan, which they discreetly sent back and forth between them.
Snow Flower And The Secret Fan is a window into the often horrifying, yet intriguing ancient Chinese culture. It is also a heartfelt tale of the lives of two Chinese women, bonded as laotongs in their youth. I highly recommend the book for both the educational aspect of it, as well as the story that will draw you in from page one.
Old laotongs.
Nu shu writing.
Bound feet. Fortunately, this tradition died out in the early twentieth century. It usually resulted in lifelong disabilities and occasionally death. For more information on Chinese foot binding, click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foot_binding
Snow Flower And The Secret Fan movie trailer.
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