The Sensorium of Jin Ping Mei

Catalog description

This course investigates the incorporation of sensory perceptions into textual practice as represented in Jin Ping Mei (The Plum in the Golden Vase). Jin Ping Mei was a 16th century Chinese novel masterpiece, describing the downfall of the merchant Ximen Qing?s household as he engages in corrupt and lustful actions with a number of wives, concubines, and maids. It is known for its sensational depiction of sex and sensory excess. Why does the novel devote so many pages to detailed descriptions of food, clothing, and music? What kind of visual, auditory, and tactile senses does the text elicit and how do they affect textual meaning? And how do the various sensory renderings of the text influence readers and reading practices? We will explore the ways in which text serves as a site of interconnection among senses and highlight the various forms of human sensuousness by combining a close reading of Jin Ping Mei with a reading of the most recent studies on intermediality, materiality, and the history of senses. (ASIAN-LL)