2. But where are the lesbians? (Queering Premodern Asia - a limited series)

Nuances: Our Asian Stories

Queering Premodern Asia is a limited series and the 5th season of the Nuances podcast about Our Asian Stories. Each episode explores different aspects of sexual diversity in premodern Asia with commentary from guest scholars. Episodes are divided into a narrative portion, and a discussion with a guest co-host from the queer Asian community.

• Introduction & content warnings
• China – Literacy as a barrier (Prof. Wu)
• China – Li Yu's "The Fragrant Companion" (read by Karen)
• China – Lesbian consort in the Ming dynasty (Prof. Wu)
• China – Wu Zao
• China – Golden Orchid Societies
• Korea – Deposed Crown Princess Sun Bin
• Japan – Lesbian sex toys
• Iran – The cross-dressed woman (Niloofar Rasooli)
• Discussion with Karen

References - in the shownotes on nuancespod.com

Episode transcript: COMING SOON

Guest scholar:

• Niloofar Rasooli, doctoral fellow at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
• Wu CunCun, ⁠professor of Chinese literature at the University of Hong Kong⁠.

Guest co-host bio:

Karen Zheng is a first-generation, queer, Chinese-American poet. Her poetry has been featured in Sine Theta Magazine, Honey Literary, Benningham Review, Harbor Review and elsewhere. She has received fellowships from the Breadloaf Writers’ Conference, Roots. Wounds. Words, Chicago Storystudio, and The Poetry Lab. She has been a finalist for Harbor Review’s Washburn Chapbook Prize. In her free time, she hosts the Mx. Asian American podcast and Tucked in Bed podcast. Find out more about her on her website and listen to Mx. Asian American here and here.

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