Dr. Beverly Bossler

Biography

Beverly Bossler studies the social, intellectual, and gender history of middle period China, specifically the Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties. Her book, "Powerful Relations: Kinship, Status, State in Sung China (960-1279)," examines how kinship and family relationships shaped political status and social position during the Song dynasty. The book was published in Chinese as "Quan li guan xi: Song dai Zhongguo de jia zu, di wei, yu guo jia." Another significant work, "Courtesans, Concubines, Cult of Female Fidelity," traces the interaction of gender relations and economic, social, and moral philosophy from the late Tang to Yuan dynasties. Bossler edited a volume on gender in late imperial and modern China, titled "Gender in Chinese History: Transformative Encounters," which brings together research from emerging scholars. Her recent research focuses on the impact of patronage practices on social life during the Tang and Song dynasties. She aims to challenge major historical narratives through her work, which demonstrates how kinship networks and career paths influenced the social origins and practices of Chinese elites prior to the Song dynasty. In her classes at Brown University, she teaches about Tang-Song history, gender, family, and the history of East Asia, drawing upon her extensive background in social history and the dynamics of family and gender relations.

Research Interests