Gendering the medium of writing

This study focuses on the gender characteristics of writing media in female calligraphy creation in the Song Dynasty. It uses the perspective of material culture to analyze the gender coding and scene norms of writing tools and carriers and examines their impact on the identity expression of female calligraphers. The study is carried out in three aspects: first, revealing the relationship between the material characteristics of writing media and female calligraphy style, emotional expression, and spatial layout, and analyzing the differences and innovations in media selection among women of different classes; second, analyzing the gender power game in the circulation of calligraphy works, including the media intervention of male critics and the resistance strategies of female calligraphers; third, exploring the reproduction process of writing media and gender relations, revealing gender discipline, consumption differences and the limitations of media revolution. The results show that women in the Song Dynasty accumulated cultural capital through media selection and innovation but were still subject to gender norms. From the material culture perspective, this study deeply analyzes the gender coding and identity expression mechanism of writing media in Song Dynasty women’s calligraphy

Calligraphy · Chinese literature · Cultural identity · Narrative · China's Ethnic Minorities and Relations · Chinese history and philosophy · Poetry Analysis and Criticism