​The Real Mulan? Tales of a Female Rebel in Eighteenth Century China 
Cecily McCaffrey PhD
7 November, 2020          
​9:30 am - 11:00 am, PST (US & Canada)
The recent release of Mulan (Disney 2020) has excited many critical discussions about the representation of China’s best known woman warrior.  Join First Saturday PDX for a discussion of an equally fascinating figure, the eighteenth century Chinese female rebel Wang Cong’er.  In this talk, Dr. Cecily McCaffrey explores the accumulation of tales about Wang (who herself left no written record), considering in particular the moral overtones expressed in both imperial and contemporary writings – and asks whether the comparison to Mulan might be warranted.

​About the speaker:
Cecily McCaffrey is Associate Professor of History at Willamette University where she teaches East Asian history.  A specialist in modern Chinese history, she holds degrees from Tufts University (BA), University of California at Berkeley (MA), and University of California at San Diego (PhD).  Her primary research focus is religiously inspired rebellion in the Qing dynasty; current projects include a study of the “old forests” of central China as they have been represented through time.
Recommended Reading:                                                                                                                               Recommended Research:
Empress,  Shan-sa                                                                                                                                          Qiu Jin, Revolutionary
A World Trimmed with Fur, Jonathan Schlesinger
How Much of These Hills is Gold, C Pam Zhang
Mulan:  Five Versions of a Classic Chinese Legend, Shiamin Kwa


Video of this presentation can be seen here
Join us after the webinar from 11 - 11:30am in our First Saturday Tea House to further the discussion and online social time.  Bring your cup of tea! 
​(Separate  access link for this will be provided in your single registration for this event.)

​This presentation is offered via Zoom Webinar:
  • Internet access is required.
  • Join from computer, tablet, or smartphone. 
  • Please Register Here once to receive the TWO access links in the same confirmation email to join the webinar and then the Tea House separately.
  • See our Zoom page for information on how to connect to our online events.  
Our program series is co-sponsored by Portland State University's Institute for Asian Studies, and is free and open to the public.