EVENTS

This presentation explores the feminist dimensions of Journey to the West, analysing how the novel constructs and subverts gender roles within its patriarchal framework. While often seen as a male-centric adventure, the novel features complex female characters, such as Guanyin, Princess Iron Fan, and the Queen of Women’s Kingdom, each of whom challenges traditional gender expectations in distinct ways. Guanyin, a powerful Buddhist deity, orchestrates the pilgrimage, embodying wisdom and divine authority, while mortal women navigate roles of power, resistance, and subjugation. The episode of the Women’s Kingdom offers a rare depiction of female autonomy, yet it also reinforces Confucian gender norms. Additionally, the portrayal of temptress figures reflects anxieties about female agency. By examining these characters through a feminist lens, this presentation reveals the nuanced gender dynamics at play in Journey to the West, highlighting both its reinforcement and subtle critique of patriarchal ideologies in classical Chinese literature.

Speaker

Aditya Kumar Pandey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chinese at Sikkim University. He earned his BA, MA, MPhil and PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University and his PhD topic was “The Indic Roots of the Chinese Classic Journey to the West”. He has studied at Beijing Language and Culture University and Renmin University of China. A certified HSK 6 holder and UGC NET-JRF qualifier, he specialises in Chinese language, literature, and India-China comparative folklore. As a freelance interpreter, he has worked with organisations like SCO, WHO, and BRICS. His research focuses on China-India cultural exchanges and comparative studies.

Chair

Usha Chandran is an Assistant Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University and an Honorary Fellow at the Institute of Chinese Studies, New Delhi. She holds a PhD in Chinese on Gender issues in China from JNU. Her major research interests include gender issues in China and comparison with India, the interface between gender and language as well as popular culture, women’s subjectivity in literature, and exploring sociological methodologies to study Chinese society. Major publications include book chapters and journal articles. She is currently working on an authored book titled, Gender Discrimination at Work in Urban China, and an edited volume titled, Gender in Language and Expression.

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