Sisterhood In The Nvshu Culture

Works of the Chinese American writer Lisa See describes Chinese story mostly treat China as the background, and focusing on the existence of women’s status which has been forgotten by mainstream history. Her novel Snow Flower and the Secret Fan describes the living conditions of the laotong girls who exist in the nvshu cultural patterns, and the background is Hunan minority nationality regions in Ming dynasty. This paper aims at analyzing the laotong relationgship of the novel in the perspective of Chinese folk culture and Western feminist theory, investigating the contact between nvshu, laotong relationship and the concepts of sisterhood, lesbian and body. This paper is mainly divided into the Introduction and the main part. Introduction part combines the studies of Lisa See and her works at home and abroad, analysis her strong surname roots awareness, family awareness and feminist consciousness.The main body is divided into four chapters:Chapter one analysis the concepts of sisterhood in the Western feminist theory, also analysis the sisterhood theme in this novel which is expressed as the laotong relationship. From the feminist perspective, there are subtle sexual compositions and physical contacts between the protagonists Lily and Snow Flower, and this paper regards it as a lesbian phenomenon to analyze.Chapter two studies the relationship between "laotong" and "nvshu" reveals that the exclusivity, privacy and other characteristics of nvshu provide a safe and reliable free space for the homosexual feelings of laotong sisters. And the laotong relationship is recognized and protected by the mainstream society; from the female perspective, the laotong relationship meets the needs of women’s emotional communication in the Male Supremacy oppression.Chapter three discusses the relationship between "laotong" and female body. The scene of physical contact in the novel reflects the subtle physiological and psychological reactions. As the carrier of nvshu writing by the protagonist, the "body" carries more of the deep-seated spiritual contractual relationship of sisters.Chapter four excavates that the inherent vitality of laotong’s love is the awareness of women’s rights from the perspective of "nvshu" theme, the female characters settings, etc. It is also the spiritual support and ideological guide of author’s writing and meditating.The conclusion point out the rich connotation in this novel and the theme of sisterhood as one of the most important topic in this novel is still significant for women today.