Female Images in Sino-French Cross-Cultural Adaptation: A Comparative Study from “The Orphan of Zhao” to “The Orphan of China
Abstract
In 1753, Voltaire, the renowned French Enlightenment philosopher, adapted the 13th-century Chinese Yuan zaju The Orphan of Zhao into the French play The Orphan of China. This paper points out that although Princess Zhuangji's suicide reflects a certain degree of female self-awareness, it still conforms to the "female virtues" advocated by Confucianism and the inheritance of family bloodline. In contrast, Idame possesses a strong sense of autonomy, embodying the combined influence of Confucianism and Enlightenment thought, with both her sensibility and rationality shaping her fate. The paper also demonstrates how Voltaire's adaptation integrates the French cultural context into traditional Chinese Confucian virtues of loyalty and sacrifice, while exploring the development of female ideological awareness.
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