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Tales of “Tiger Women” from Ancient China

In ancient China, Confucian traditions required women to be gentle and obedient. According to “The Book of Rites,” a collection of texts mainly published in the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) on the society and politics of the Zhou era (1046 – 256 BCE), unmarried women must obey their fathers, while married women were supposed to be subservient to their husbands and obey their sons if their husbands died. Wives who failed to meet the requirement would be called “female tigers,” generally a pejorative term for tough, imperious, or “unreasonable” women — similar to the modern term “tiger mom,” though not exclusive to parents.To get more news about ancient china women, you can visit shine news official website.

Throughout history, many women gained — often unfair — reputations as intractable. Much of this stemmed from the sexism of patriarchal ancient Chinese society. A closer look reveals most of the women labeled “female tigers” merely stepped in when their husbands scuffled with others, or disliked them visiting prostitutes and taking concubines. Here are some of the most famous “tiger women” from ancient China:Zhuan Zhu was one of the “Four Assassins” of ancient China, each of whom became famous for killing a tyrant. Born in the Spring and Autumn period (770 – 476 BCE), he was hired by Prince Guang of the State of Wu to assassinate the Wu king. Prince Guang arranged a dinner with the king and Zhuan disguised himself as a servant, hid a knife in the belly of a cooked fish, and stabbed the king to death as he served the fish to him. The king’s bodyguards killed Zhuan at the scene as he tried to make his escape.

But this supposedly fearless assassin was most afraid of his wife. According to The Spring and Autumn Annals of Wu and Yue, a historical record from the Eastern Han dynasty (25 – 220), when Wu Zixu, an official serving Prince Guang, met Zhuan for the first time, an enraged Zhuan was fighting ruffians on the street. But when Zhuan’s wife appeared, and asked him to stop fighting and return home, to everyone’s surprise, he immediately ended his combat and left with her.

Surprised, Wu asked Zhuan why he was so obedient to a woman, to which he replied: “I am second to just one person, but I am above all the others.” Hearing that, Wu concluded that Zhuan was brave, but not reckless, and so recommended him to Prince Guang for the assassination mission.

Though details of Zhuan’s wife are sparse, including even her surname, she was recorded as a “tigress” in official records, while Zhuan was labeled “the first henpecked man in history” by scholars in later dynasties.
Fang Xuanling was prime minister under the reign of Emperor Taizong in the Tang dynasty (618 – 907), and his wife, surnamed Lu, had a reputation for being virtuous and loyal. According to The New Book of Tang, an official history finished in the Song dynasty (960 – 1279), when Fang fell severely sick and thought he would soon die, he told Lu: “I am dying, but you are still young. Do not live in widowhood. Find another person, and have a good life with him.” However, Lu refused and even poked one of her own eyes out as a symbol of her loyalty to Fang and vowed she would never marry again.

Yet in numerous folk tales, Lu is described as a stubborn and shrewish woman; her obstinacy even birthed the phrase chicu, or eat vinegar, which means to be jealous of a love rival and is still in use today.

According to The Anecdotes of the Emperors, Ministers, and Common Men, a novel by writer Zhang Zhuo recording anecdotes in the Tang dynasty, Fang was so afraid of Lu that he didn’t take any concubines, a scandal in those ultra-patriarchal times.

Upon hearing of Lu’s influence, the Taizong Emperor decided to interfere and awarded Fang a concubine. Despite the emperor’s order, Lu forbade the concubine from joining their family. The emperor was enraged by Lu’s disobedience and summoned her to court, telling her to drink a cup of deadly poison or accept the concubine. Lu drank the liquid without hesitation.

But she didn’t die. The emperor laughed. He told Lu the cup contained only vinegar —it had been a test of her nerve. The emperor was so impressed by Lu’s principled nature that he revoked the award of Fang’s concubine and never interfered in their marriage again.

Now You Can Evaluate Your 2D Part Drawings With 3YOURMIND

We are proud to present our new LTS release, which will become available for all our SaaS and on-premise customers over the next few weeks. This version contains our new machine-read-drawing analysis feature that helps companies digitize parts at scale.To get more news about 2d drafting, you can visit shine news official website.
We’ve made it easy for customers to automatically screen thousands of 2D drawings in 3YOURMIND and get quick responses about printability and cost estimations. As a result, innovation and engineering teams no longer need to design a 3D part file from 2D technical data to gain printability insights.

Our software can process 2D drawings directly, which helps save teams time on manual tasks so they can focus their expertise where it’s needed most. It may sound like magic, but in our new version, you’ll see how we’ve made it a reality. The technology is embedded in 3YOURMIND’s part identification and assessment processes and works well for single and batch uploads. By default, we support multiple drawing formats with the ability to teach the AI-based algorithms any industry standards in the United States, Europe, or Asia-Pacific.

We’re proud to work with leading OEMs in industries like railway, defense, and energy to bring great technology to production. Our clients manage millions of reference cases, and they use 3YOURMIND to screen their portfolios to identify the right candidates to switch from conventional to additive processes.

Now, 3YOURMIND’s new 2D drawing analysis helps customers find those parts faster than ever. By getting immediate feedback on part printability, customers can digitize their parts to build 3D digital part inventories. This means that teams working in the supply chain, production, and purchasing can use digital inventories to order and print parts in just a few clicks.

This release is currently being rolled out to our SaaS customers. If you don’t see updates immediately, they should be available within the next few days.

On-premise customers will soon receive the installation package to enjoy all the benefits from improvements made over the last six months (Version 22.11 to 23.4).

For information on how to roll out the new on-premise version for your organization, please contact our technical support help desk or contact us via email.

Pros And Cons Of Thermoset Injection Molding

Weighing the pros and cons of the molding process for your composites can help you determine whether it is the right choice for your project needs. Manufacturing plastic or composite parts requires heating and pouring the raw materials into a mold that has been specially made for the part. The four most common molding processes are:To get more news about 2k injection molding, you can visit asm-mold.com official website.

Different molding processes are used to create different works. In this article, we will weigh the pros and cons of the injection molding process for thermoset composites.

Advantages of thermoset injection molding
Injection-molded parts may be the most suitable one for several reasons:

ㆍMany different types of materials can be used for injection molding, including thermoplastics and thermosetting resins, polymers, and elastomers. This provides engineers with a lot of control over which hybrid material will produce the best results, especially when it is necessary to meet specific performance requirements.

ㆍVery suitable for high-volume operation.

ㆍPrecision and low waste. Due to the specific mold and material combination, compared with other processes, there is less waste of injection molded parts.

ㆍShort cooling time-the injection molded parts cool quickly, reducing the time required for the injection molded parts to be released from the mold.
Disadvantages of thermoset injection molding
For the above reasons, injection molding is an excellent process, but it also has certain limitations and defects. These disadvantages include:

ㆍMold costs – these costs can be very important because precision-made molds are required.

ㆍFlash – Flash is inevitable when injection molding thermoset plastics. Once the part is created and ejected from the mold, the next step is to automatically or manually remove the flash (excess material). Due to the high viscosity of liquid plastics, a flash of thermoplastics is not a problem.

ㆍPart size – The size of the part being created is very important in the molding process. Typically, smaller part sizes (0.1 lb to 6 lb) are injection molded, while larger parts are transfer or compression molded. The number of orders will also determine which molding process is best for the project. Compression molding may be used for smaller parts with a low (or high) volume, while transfer molding may be used for medium to high volume projects. Injection molding will be ideal for large-volume running smaller pieces.

Finally, when choosing a molding process for your part, it is always recommended to talk to a thermoset composite or thermoplastic engineer. After assessing your needs, they will be the most capable and able to make suggestions for your work and provide the highest quality products at the most reasonable cost.

2K Double Die Mold Plastic Injection Mould

For certain products we need 2 injection steps for injection moulding. We call this 2K injection moulding. With 2K injection moulding, two materials with different properties, colours or levels of hardness are processed into one end product in one injection moulding process. This saves costs. With the 2K technique a possible assembly step is prevented. The choice for a 2K or 2-component injection moulding process is primarily based on a cost advantages, design features or aesthetic preferences.To get more news about 2k mold, you can visit asm-mold.com official website.

What is 2k injection mold?

2K Injection Mold, sometimes known as 2 materials 2 shots molding or 2 color molding, is an innovative manufacturing process used to produce complicated molded parts from two different materials. ...

2K Injection in performed on one machine that is programmed to perform two injections in one cycle. Injection molding is the process of making custom plastic parts by injecting molten plastic material at high pressure into a metal mold. Just like other forms of plastic molding, after the molten plastic is injected into the mold, the mold is cooled and opened to reveal a solid plastic part.

The following five major elements are indispensable in the processing of double-shot molding:

1.Mold evaluation and product analysis Before mold design, mold evaluation and product analysis is a must including the appearance, size and shape to avoid unnecessary complication for two-color mold design.

2.Mold structure An good mold design should not only meet the requirement of customers, but also save costs, reduce the difficulty of processing, shorten the processing time for customers. To achieve this, we must not only fully digest the requirements of customers, but also have an full understanding of injection machine, mold structure, processing technology and processing capabilities of mold factory itself.

3.Material selection Material selection is very important for double-shot molding. It should meet the requirements of wear resistance, toughness, fatigue fracture performance, high temperature performance, cold and heat fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance etc.

4.Parts processing and assembly In addition to reasonable design and material selection, the accuracy of double-shot molding is also crucial in the subsequent processing and assembly. Therefore, in order to ensure precision processing of mold, high-precision advanced processing equipment and experienced technicians are must.

5.Mold testing In order to avoid wasting time and trouble during mass production, it is necessary to adjust and control various processing conditions after mold has been assembled to find the best temperature and pressure conditions. In the trial process, it is necessary to follow reasonable operation steps and record the useful technical parameters in the test process to facilitate mass production of the product.

Binance Wants To Connect Crypto Funds With Institutional Capital

Binance is rolling out a "self-service" platform aimed at connecting institutional capital with crypto funds.To get more news about BINANCE, you can visit wikifx.com official website.

Dubbed Capital Connect, the platform sets disclosure standards for market participants handling size, allowing investors to review detailed fund information before potentially opening lines of communication.

Data on assets under management, performance records and minimum investment amounts are expected to be shared, among other details.

Capital Connect is targeted at asset and fund managers, brokers, hedge funds, family offices and high net-worth individuals, liquidity providers and corporations.

Changing interest rates and macroeconomic conditions have increased institutional inquiries from investors with differing investment theses on digital assets, Catherine Chen, head of Binance VIP and Institutional said in a statement.

"Increased capital flow in crypto asset funds will have positive spillover effects and benefit the entire ecosystem," Chen said.The platform is open to Binance VIP-level users, a status that starts by holding the equivalent of 200,000 BUSD in user accounts. To participate, both investors and investment managers must complete Binance Institutional's know-your-customer verification.

A Binance spokesperson told Blockworks the platform defines "institutional investors" as entities that allocate funds on behalf of others: family offices, pension funds and the like, though specific definitions "vary from region to region."

"Crypto investment funds" are portfolios composed of digital assets maintained by investment managers for their clients, they said.Allocators across the US are set to be left out, however. Binance said Capital Connect will only be available in certain jurisdictions across Latin America and Asia Pacific, as well as Europe, Middle East, and Africa.

Binance declined to provide specific jurisdictions in which Capital Connect would be offered.‘Beware' Of Crypto Investing Or Risk Ending Up In Bankruptcy Court, SEC Chair Warns

Crypto Events Dial Down the Glamour Amidst Bear Market

In the midst of the extended crypto winter, crypto event organizers are reevaluating their strategies, toning down on the extravagant displays and entertainment. The bear market's impact has prompted a shift in focus, as conferences aim to provide attendees with a more substantive experience centered around important industry topics like regulation and taxation.To get more news about crypto events, you can visit wikifx.com official website.

Tiffany Fong, a popular crypto vlogger known for her insightful interviews, recently attended both Bitcoin Miami 2023 and NFT NYC 2023. As a first-time participant in crypto conferences, Fong shared her observations on the changing landscape. While she couldn't compare it to the bull market conferences of the past, she noticed a significant reduction in the emphasis on entertainment and more emphasis on substantive discussions.

The bear market's prolonged downturn has forced event organizers to reevaluate their priorities. Gone are the days of flashy displays and extravagant parties. Attendees are now encouraged to ask "intelligent questions" and engage in meaningful conversations about pressing topics affecting the crypto industry.

One of the key themes emerging from these revamped conferences is the increased focus on regulation and taxation. As the crypto industry faces growing scrutiny from regulatory bodies worldwide, attendees are seeking clarity and guidance. Panels and workshops led by industry experts are aimed at dissecting complex regulatory frameworks and providing insights into tax implications for crypto investors.

This shift in conference dynamics reflects the maturation of the crypto industry. With the hype and frenzy of the bull market subsiding, the emphasis is now on building a more sustainable and regulated ecosystem. Crypto events have become platforms for thought-provoking discussions, where attendees can learn from experts, network with peers, and gain a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape.

These transformed conferences have also provided a unique opportunity for collaboration and partnership within the industry. As attendees engage in discussions, they discover synergies and potential avenues for cooperation. Startups and established companies alike are exploring strategic alliances to tackle challenges collectively and drive innovation forward.

While the bear market has brought its share of challenges, it has also paved the way for a more introspective and substantive crypto event experience. As the industry continues to navigate regulatory hurdles and redefine its path, attendees can expect even more engaging and informative conferences in the future.

In conclusion, the bear market's grip on the crypto industry has forced event organizers to reevaluate their priorities and shift the focus of conferences. Substance now takes precedence over style, as attendees engage in meaningful discussions about regulation, taxation, and other pressing industry topics. This evolution signals the maturation of the crypto industry and paves the way for a more sustainable and regulated ecosystem. As the bear market persists, crypto conferences will continue to adapt and provide valuable insights, collaboration opportunities, and thought-provoking discussions for attendees.

CFTC-Binance Lawsuit Could Worsen Crypto Market Liquidity

Poor liquidity, a problem plaguing crypto markets since the collapse of the FTX exchange in November, could worsen, breeding price volatility as regulators go after dominant exchange Binance.To get more news about crypto currency liquidity, you can visit wikifx.com official website.

On Monday, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) sued Binance for running an alleged "illegal exchange" and a "sham" compliance program. The regulator, which is responsible for oversight of commodities and derivatives markets, including the derivatives tied to bitcoin (BTC), sued Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao and former top compliance executive Samuel Lim, alleging "willful evasion" of the U.S. law.

Binance has long been the leading digital assets exchange and accounted for a much bigger share of the global trading volumes than its former rival FTX. Per Morgan Stanley, the exchange accounted for 81% of the total BTC traded on centralized exchanges in February. According to the case document, a single trader from Chicago is responsible for 12% of the total trading volume on Binance.

Observers, therefore, are worried the lawsuit would bring a deeper decline in the market liquidity - a measure of how difficult or easy it is to trade large quantities at stable prices.

"The main worry is what this will do short-term to market liquidity. If market makers step back from trading on Binance now, and if Binance's U.S.-based trading desks have to stop operations, that will reduce liquidity in an already thin market," Noelle Acheson, the author of the Crypto is Macro Now newsletter, said.That will exacerbate volatility and could keep some large players on the sidelines for a while longer," Acheson added.

Liquidity is widely measured by a metric called the 2% market depth - a collection of the buy and sell orders within 2% of the mid-price or the average of the bid and the ask/offer prices.

The greater the market depth, the less likely that large buy/sell orders will cause significant deviations in the asset's market price. Market makers are entities that provide liquidity to a financial market by creating buy and sell orders that aren't executed immediately.Bitcoin's 2% market depth slipped to a 10-month low last week, extending the deterioration seen since FTX's sister firm Alameda Research, formerly one of the largest market makers, closed shop five months ago.

The situation will persist for a while, according to DRW-subsidiary Cumberland, one of the earliest and longest-standing crypto market makers.This lawsuit will certainly exacerbate tightness in the already-strained digital asset banking system, and as a knock-on effect, it will damage liquidity," Cumberland said in a tweet explaining the impact of the regulatory action on the market.

Pullback likely
Some observers expect bitcoin to revisit the former resistance-turned-support near $25,000 in the wake of the heightened regulatory uncertainty.

"It is clear that the CFTC wants oversight on all crypto exchanges. It's not something new, but the market is reacting prudently and we are still holding our breath for further negative news, which may push BTC down," Laurent Kssis, a crypto trading adviser at CEC Capital, told CoinDesk.

"Long rekts [liquidations], which increased [Monday], will inevitably push prices down, possibly below support near $25,000," Kssis added.

Bitcoin fell by over 3% on Monday, hitting lows near $26,500 in response to the CFTC's action against Binance. The cryptocurrency has since stabilized around $27,000, having put in a nine-month high of $28,889 on March 23, CoinDesk data shows.

Cryptocurrency Scams: How to Spot Them

Cryptocurrency scams can take many forms. Similar to the money in your bank account, scammers want your crypto and will do anything they can to get it. To protect your crypto assets, it helps to know when and how you’re being targeted and what you can do if you suspect that a cryptocurrency and communications related to it are a scam.To get more news about WikiBit App, you can visit wikifx.com official website.

Initiatives aiming to obtain access to a target’s digital wallet or authentication credentials. This means scammers try to get information that gives them access to a digital wallet or other types of private information, such as security codes. In some cases, this even includes access to physical hardware.
Transferring cryptocurrency directly to a scammer due to impersonation, fraudulent investment or business opportunities, or other malicious means.
For social engineering scams, scammers use psychological manipulation and deceit to gain control of vital information relating to user accounts. These scams condition people to think they are dealing with a trusted entity such as a government agency, well-known business, tech support, community member, work colleague, or friend.

Scammers will often work from any angle or take as much time as they need to gain the trust of a potential victim so that they reveal keys or send money to the scammer’s digital wallet. When one of these “trusted” entities demand cryptocurrency for any reason, it is a sign of a scam.
Romance Scams
Scammers often use dating websites to make unsuspecting targets believe they are in a real long-term relationship. When trust has been granted, conversations often turn to lucrative cryptocurrency opportunities and the eventual transfer of either coins or account authentication credentials. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) found that approximately 20% of the money reported lost in romance scams was in cryptocurrency.

Imposter and Giveaway Scams
Moving down the sphere of influence, scammers also try to pose as celebrities, businesspeople, or cryptocurrency influencers. To capture the attention of potential targets, many scammers promise to match or multiply the cryptocurrency sent to them in what is known as a giveaway scam. Well-crafted messaging from what often looks like an existing social media account can often create a sense of validity and spark a sense of urgency. This mythical “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity can lead people to transfer funds quickly in hopes of an instant return.
Within the context of the cryptocurrency industry, phishing scams target information pertaining to online wallets. Specifically, scammers are interested in crypto wallet private keys, which are the keys required to access cryptocurrency. Their method is like many standard scams—they send an email with links that lead holders to a specially created website and ask them to enter private keys. When the hackers have this information, they can steal the cryptocurrency.

Blackmail and Extortion Scams
Another popular social engineering method that scammers use is to send blackmail emails. In such emails, scam artists claim to have a record of adult websites or other illicit web pages visited by the user and threaten to expose them unless they share private keys or send cryptocurrency to the scammer. These cases represent a criminal extortion attempt and should be reported to an enforcement agency such as the FBI.

Investment or Business Opportunity Scams
The old adage “if something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is” still rings true, and it is one to keep in mind for anyone venturing into investing in general. It is especially true for cryptocurrencies. Countless profit-seeking speculators turn to misleading websites offering so-called guaranteed returns or other setups for which investors must invest large sums of money for even larger guaranteed returns.

Eurostar urged to carry adrenaline injectors in first-aid kit after medical alert

A junior doctor is calling for lifesaving adrenaline auto-injectors to be carried on Eurostar after caring for a young child who suffered an allergic reaction on the service.To get more news about chest seal, you can visit rusuntacmed.com official website.

Dr Raphaelle Debray, 26, who is French and works for the NHS, was en route to Paris when she responded to an appeal for a doctor. She requested the onboard medical kit and found it contained only some plasters and a defibrillator. In contrast, international guidelines state that commercial airlines should carry emergency medical kits, with equipment and medication including adrenaline. British Airways and easyJet said they carried adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) on all flights.

Debray said: “This is not like a regular train where you can get an ambulance to come very quickly because of the time that you are underground.” She said the Eurostar medical kits should also include other medical items such as a resuscitation mask and airway stents to prevent obstructions in the upper airway.Debray has written to Eurostar urging it to upgrade its first aid kits to include an AAI, available under the brands EpiPen, Jext and Emerade. Fortunately, the child did not suffer an anaphylactic reaction during the episode caused by chocolate containing egg, and quickly recovered after the incident on 11 April.

In the letter sent to Eurostar, Debray wrote that it was “shocking” that an onboard medical kit on an international service carried only plasters and a defibrillator. “A more complete medical kit in your trains could prevent deaths or severe injuries.”

Eurostar said this weekend it would review its medical kits, but that it was prevented by government regulations from including prescription medicines, which would include AAIs. A spokesperson said: “The safety and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues is always our number one priority. We carry first-aid kits as well as defibrillators on each of our trains, and our onboard crew are trained in first aid.”

The spokesperson said there were exemptions to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 that permit aircraft, ships, offshore installations and schools to hold and supply some prescription medicines for emergency medical aid, but none applied to rail services. “We will be liaising with the relevant authorities about this,” the spokesperson said.

The risk to some people from severe allergies was highlighted by the case of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse, 15, who died in July 2016 after suffering a severe allergic reaction on a BA flight to a baguette bought from Pret a Manger at Heathrow airport.

Natasha’s father, Nadim Ednan-Laperouse, co-founder of the charity the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, said: “Access to adrenaline auto-injectors can be a matter of life or death.

‘Given the exploding numbers of severe allergic reactions among children and young people, it is obvious that first-aid kits on planes, trains, ferries and cruise liners should contain AAIs. Ministers need to reform the regulations around AAIs.”

Simon Williams, chief executive of Anaphylaxis UK, said it was vital that people who were prescribed AAIs carry them at all times. He said the charity would support a wider availability of AAIs. “Staff will need full and proper training on dealing with an emergency and administering an AAI, and legislation may need to change.”

Ancient China’s Tiger Queen

Archaeologist Sarah Milledge Nelson, alumna of the University of Michigan, distinguished university professor emerita at the University of Denver, and award-winning author of scholarly works, has just published Ancient China’s Tiger Queen, her third novel. In it, Nelson tells the story of a real queen of the Shang dynasty in ancient China, who was also a general, a shaman, a landowner, and the mother of three children. Nelson talked with UMMAA about the whys and hows of writing fiction as an archaeologist, and what novels can accomplish that archaeology cannot. To get more news about women in ancient china, you can visit shine news official website.

Nelson’s first and second novels are Spirit Bird Journey and Jade Dragon. Although the three books are not a trilogy, they are connected, explained Nelson.

“The theme that relates them is strong women leaders,” she explained. “And they go in chronological order: Early Neolithic, Late Neolithic, and Bronze Age." Tiger Queen takes place in the Shang Dynasty, which was during the second millennium BCE.

Though they are fictional tales, her novels all have unassailable foundations in archaeology.

“I have invented as little as possible,” she said. “I made use of both archaeological and written materials. I wanted to be able to reply to those skeptical of the women leaders in the stories. To those who have asked, “How do you know the chief was a woman?” my reply is simply, how do you know it’s not so? Using the archaeological evidence, a story with a woman chief is just as plausible as a story with a male chief.”

Nelson’s first two novels are based on excavations she participated in. Spirit Bird Journey is based on her work at Osanni on the west coast of Korea. That novel was translated into Korean, and for those who want to visit it, there is a museum at the small village nearby. The second novel takes place in northeast China, at Niuheliang, which is called the Goddess Temple for a sculpture fragment made of unbaked clay: a female face inset with green jade eyes.

Ancient China’s Tiger Queen is based on the first readable Chinese writing—that of the oracle bones—and the grave of Fu Hao, a consort of King Wu Ding of the Shang Dynasty. Although Nelson was not part of the crew at this site, she visited it three times and spoke with Dr. Zheng Zhen Xiang, the director of the first excavation of Fu Hao’s tomb, and two Anyang archaeologists still working there, Jing Zhi Cheng and Tang Ji Gen.

Nelson read and taught for years about the Shang dynasty and King Wu Ding’s most important queen, and she wrote and rewrote the novel over a decade.

The main character of Ancient China’s Tiger Queen is Lady Hao (fu is the Chinese word for lady, Nelson explains), who (in the story) introduces horses and chariots to Shang from her homeland to the north, and thus allows her husband, King Wu Ding, to establish an empire.

To help guide readers who are not familiar with the history of Shang, each chapter begins with a quote to situate the story in the archaeological discourse about the site. Author’s notes are added at the end to explain some debatable interpretations of the evidence and to allow students to critique those choices. For example, nobody knows why or how horses suddenly appear in Shang.

“The origins of horseback riding in China are still in dispute,” Nelson wrote. “In fact, there is still controversy over the earliest horse riding in Central Asia, which presumably antedated that of China by thousands of years… Horse bones are found in several sites in the Chinese Neolithic, especially the north and west, regions that would have been in touch with horse breeders on the steppes. This is the region where I have imagined Lady Hao to have been born and raised. But no one has yet studied how Neolithic horses were used, or even whether they were wild or domesticated.”

It’s not hard to see the dominant theme in Nelson’s work. In addition to three novels, Nelson has published ten scholarly books—including the classic Gender in Archaeology: Analyzing Power and Prestige, which is still selling and still cited after more than twenty years—and edited eight other volumes.

Nelson believes that archaeological explanations will always be about males until archaeologists are able to show that women were an important part of cultural evolution, and the agency of women is established and taken for granted. For the most part, when you say “the leader,” people think of a male, Nelson points out. She wants to put a dent in that assumption.

But despite her efforts, and those of fellow archaeologists, the rate of change has been slow.

“In terms of archaeology, I don’t think [gender] has been taken seriously by those who write grand theory,” Nelson said. “Very few women have made an impact on the field in terms of theory. Feminist/gender archaeology is still considered a fringe endeavor in many places.”

Frustrated with the lack of progress in gender archaeology, Nelson decided to try a different tack: try to connect with the public through novels about women in archaeology.