Shen Defu (Chinese: 沈德符) (1578–1642) was a Chinese writer and bureaucrat during the Ming Dynasty. He lived in Zhejiang.

In 1618, he achieved the rank of juren in the Imperial examinations, but failed an exam for promotion to the rank of jinshi a year later. His principal work was the Wanli ye huo bian (Unofficial Gleanings of the Wanli Era, Chinese: 萬厲野獲編), which he completed in 1607.[1][2] Perhaps because he failed to move beyond the rank of provincial office, in this text he inveighs again the excesses of imperial office holders, including extravagant dress.[3] He was married for a time to the courtesan Xue Susu.[4]

References

  1. ^ Shen Defu (1578). "Survey of the Legitimate and Illegitimate Dynasties in History". World Digital Library (in Chinese). Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  2. ^ Theobald, Ulrich. "Chinese Literature Wanli yehuo bian 萬厲野獲編 'Inofficial Matters from the Wanli Reign'". Chinaknowledge.org. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  3. ^ Chen, Buyun. “Wearing the Hat of Loyalty: Imperial Power and Dress Reform in Ming Dynasty China.” In The Right to Dress : Sumptuary Laws in a Global Perspective, c. 1200-1800, edited by Giorgio Riello and Ulinka Rublack, 416–34. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
  4. ^ Berg, Daria (2009). "Cultural Discourse on Xue Susu, A Courtesan in Late Ming China" (PDF). International Journal of Asian Studies. 6 (2): 171–200. doi:10.1017/S1479591409000205. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
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