Zhang Yajuan's present research focuses on Chinese pirates during the Qing Dynasty, with a particular emphasis on female pirate stories. In the late Qing Empire, there were several renowned female pirates who were valiant and intrepid, and whose stories were spread globally by Westerners who visited China during that period. This project aims to explore the interaction between Chinese maritime women and the global maritime society through the medium of these Chinese female pirate stories.
Yajuan ZHANG
Zhang Yajuan has been awarded a twelve-month IIAS Fellowship to participate in the IIAS Fellowship Programme in Leiden from April 2025 until March 2026.
Het project is 'Pirates of the Ming Dynasties, Ancient Chinese Women and the Ocean, Chinese Youth Popular Culture'.