Wordless Wednesday - Pawn in the Imperial Power Game

Comments

June 25, 2008 at 11:37 am

(1) Randall says:

Beautiful print! I don’t understand the title. Is the painting of a captive princess?

June 25, 2008 at 11:42 am

(2) Stan says:

This must have been before women’s lib.

June 25, 2008 at 12:01 pm

(3) Beth says:

Is this a painting of Kublai Khan’s daughter that married Chana Dorje?

June 25, 2008 at 12:24 pm

(4) Faith says:

Great print! Women are still captive in some countries even today. It’s odd to think that a print like this still rings true in the 21st century.

June 25, 2008 at 12:32 pm

(5) asianhistory says:

This poor imperial Chinese princess is being banished to the steppes to marry some barbarian, in order to cement an alliance. These marriages were all the rage for centuries, although sources indicate that some of the princesses considered it a fate worse than death!

This particular girl was married off around 900 A.D., before Kublai Khan’s time but after the first known instance, when Princess Wencheng married Tibet’s Tsongtsan Gampo in 640.

June 25, 2008 at 12:39 pm

(6) Newlyweds Guide Francesca says:

Women are still sometimes captive in the good ol’ U.S.A. The print is quite colorful. Is it a tapestry or painting?

June 25, 2008 at 12:40 pm

(7) Nancy says:

Yes, it would be nice to be able to say that these things don’t happen now, but that’s not the case.

June 25, 2008 at 1:24 pm

(8) Suzanne says:

What a plight! No wonder she looks distressed.

June 25, 2008 at 1:25 pm

(9) asianhistory says:

This is a detail from a painted scroll. She has a whole caravan, with ladies-in-waiting and servants. So, at least she wasn’t banished alone!

I’m sure that some of these ladies were able to find happiness in their new homes, but I don’t know the full story on this particular girl.

June 25, 2008 at 2:06 pm

(10) Will says:

You are correct Nancy – I recently read an article somewhere about current day Afgan poppy brides. Thousands of young daughters every year being given to power lords and drug dealers to pay back a poor poppy growing farmer’s debt. History and contemporary problems are often very similar!

@ asianhistory – Thanks for you visit and comment! Second one from an About account today.

Happy WW!

-Will

June 25, 2008 at 2:40 pm

(11) Gypsy Princess says:

I love your WW, they are always interesting! And as a history buff I love them even more.

Poor woman!

June 25, 2008 at 5:54 pm

(12) Jon says:

I really enjoy this type of print. They are full of history and are very thought provoking.

June 29, 2008 at 2:15 pm

(13) Deborah says:

As always, another beautiful print.