The Representations of Anti-traditional Women Characters in Ancient Chinese Romance Novels Written by Thai Writers

Abstract

Background and Aims: Ancient Chinese romance novels present representations of Chinese women who challenge traditional norms, as reflected in their titles and content. This study examines the representation of anti-traditional Chinese women in ancient Chinese romance novels written by Thai writers and explores whether these characters align with the depiction of Chinese women within the Chinese social context. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of cross-cultural literary adaptation and foster a broader discussion on gender roles in ancient Chinese literature.

Methodology: This study adopts a documentary research approach combined with content analysis to examine ancient Chinese romance novels set in a feudal context. The scope of the research is limited to novels with titles that reflect themes related to women or female identity. To ensure quality and relevance, only novels with a rating of 4.80 or higher and at least 236 reviewers—representing 70% of the highest number of reviews—were considered. A total of 24 books comprising 22 distinct stories, all written by Thai authors, were initially selected from the website www.mebmarket.com.

        To further enhance the quality and suitability of the data, the selected novels were ranked according to the number of raters, from highest to lowest. Only the top 50% of these were retained for the final analysis, resulting in 12 books comprising 11 unique titles. The study employs qualitative data analysis and presents the findings through descriptive interpretation.

Results: The study found that the representations of anti-traditional women in ancient Chinese romance novels primarily focus on three key aspects: representations of their identity, their relationships with others, and their roles in various fields. Female protagonists are portrayed as independent thinkers and leaders who do not conform to traditional ideals of beauty or domestic duties. They seek equality in relationships and are bold enough to sever ties when necessary. Additionally, they occupy professions that challenge traditional roles, such as businesswomen or military commanders. These representations reflect a breaking of the traditional societal constraints in ancient Chinese society.

Conclusion: Thai writers portray ancient Chinese women as challenging traditional norms, embracing independent thought, and assuming roles that defy convention. This portrayal aligns with the growing feminist discourse in Thai society and reflects the writers' deep understanding of Chinese culture as well as their strong connection to the Thai social context.