Abstract
This thesis explores the courtesan in the High Qing Dynasty from the 1600s to the 1800s with a primary focus on the Yangtze River area. The Qing Dynasty was particular compared to other dynasties in that China experienced political stability and a rising female population. This stability along with the Manchu support of commercialization allowed for China to undergo growth in their markets and trade with Europeans. The rising female population along with the breakdown of previous class barriers allowed for the courtesan market to flourish. During this time, the Manchus carried on the tradition of Confucian values and enforced them strongly onto the public. This thesis looks at the longstanding tradition of gender roles within the Confucian patriarchy and how courtesans showed societal discontent with the Chinese Confucian tradition. In doing so, the role of the courtesan is contrasted with the role of the common woman and put into the context of what was happening during Qing China.