Mother-daughter relationships in Tianyuhua and Zaishengyuan

This thesis focuses on mother-daughter relationships in two tanci fictions, Tianyuhua 天雨花 (Heaven Rains Flowers, author unknown) and Zaishengyuan 再生緣 (Destiny of Rebirth, written by Chen Duansheng; eighteenth century). By examining the descriptions and narratives of mothers and daughters in these two tanci, this thesis illustrates how they view chastity, filial piety, and ambitions from a gendered perspective. This study explores mother-daughter alliances in a patriarchal family, the portrayal of mothers and daughters outside orthodox norms, and a different qing (genuine emotion) narrative between mother and daughter. This thesis aims to give a deeper understanding of tanci fictions written by women and the mother-daughter relationship in Chinese traditional literature. By using detailed contexts in Tianyuhua and Zaishengyuan as examples, this thesis also argues that both of them emphasized the mother-daughter bond, the daughter’s agency, and love between mother and daughter emphasized over filial rituals.