The Social Life of Inkstones Read Along: Chapter 3

[forestofglory]

Welcome to the second post of our read a long of The Social Life of Inkstones: Artisans and Scholars in Early Qing China by Dorothy Ko! For this post we are reading: "Chapter 3: Suzhou"

Previous posts:
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2

You are welcome to join in at any time!

In this chapter we meet Gu Erniang and several other inkstone carvers and some of their patrons. Here are some optional discussion questions:

What where the main arguments in this chapter? Did you find them convincing?

Did any historical figures introduced in the chapter stand out to you? In what way?

Did any of the inkstones or other objects in the chapter stand out to you? In what way?

What did this chapter make you want to learn more about?

Did anything in this chapter remind you of fiction you enjoy? Or inspire creative writing thoughts fic or otherwise?

(I might be slow to respond because my wrist has been acting up again)

Comments

[forestofglory]

It has taken me forever but I am finally replying!

Anyways don't worry about sticking to the discussion questions -- they are very optional. (Sometimes I have hard time knowing what to say without a starting point)

Great point about how precarious everyone's livelihoods where.

The bit about being sent a poem really does feel like something out of a drama!

I really get the impression that Ko wanted to know so much more about Gu Erniang, and kept expanding the scope of her research due to limited sources.

[rhysiana]

I really get the impression that Ko wanted to know so much more about Gu Erniang, and kept expanding the scope of her research due to limited sources.

Unfortunately relatable.