Katherine
Liyu Zhang

Hi!! This is Katherine, welcome to my little corner of the internet.

What can a bridal chest, a piece of jewelry, or a dowry contract reveal about a woman’s life 2,000 years ago? I explore Chinese history through the overlooked stories hidden within dowry, uncovering women’s identities, choices, and voices across generations.

Through historical research, tactile exhibitions, interviews, and storytelling projects, I’m passionate about bringing forgotten narratives to life and amplifying voices often left unheard.

Welcome to my journey of discovering the stories history almost forgot.






Ten Miles of Red Dowry_Digital Archive
I first encountered the concept of dowry in Grade 8 while writing historical fiction novels. I became fascinated by the paradox of dowry: women brought everything they might need for life, including furniture, household objects, and even coffins, symbolizing that they would not become a burden on their husband’s family or rely on their resources, yet they were still expected to dedicate their lives to serving that household.

As I researched further, I discovered that dowry was a reflection of changing expectations of women throughout Chinese history. Flowing tassels on jewelry, for example, represented ideals of feminine elegance and movement, while pomegranate motifs symbolized fertility and the expectation of producing sons. 

Through my research, I found that information about dowry objects was scattered across academic sources. To address this gap, this archive, “Ten Miles of Red Dowry”, was created. It is an online platform documenting typical dowry items across Chinese history. The archive explores what women brought into marriage and what these objects reveal about female virtues, social class, and the evolving construction of women’s identities.


For more details, please click on any of the pictures on the right-hand side or visit the archive here:

https://tenmilesofreddowry-katherine-liyu-zhang.com/









Dowry Exhibition Across Five Dynasties
Each dynasty developed its own traditions and customs, reflected through unique dowry objects, wedding clothing, and jewelry. Although displaying these artifacts behind glass is necessary for preservation, it prevents visually impaired visitors from experiencing them through touch. 

This exhibition allows visually impaired individuals to interact with replicas and selected artifacts, exploring the textures, designs, and cultural meanings of objects unique to different dynasties and creating a more inclusive historical experience.

Bu Bu Sheng (A Half Remembered)_Novel
Women’s stories have often been overlooked in historical narratives. Even when women were recorded, it was never from their own perspectives.

The A Half Remembered series is a collection of historical fiction novels spanning 18 Chinese dynasties and featuring hundreds of women from different historical periods. The series seeks to reconstruct Chinese history from women’s perspectives by piecing together fragmented accounts scattered across historical archives into complete narratives.

In Bu Bu Sheng (A Half Remembered), I hope to explore women’s resistance, agency, and expressions of soft power within patriarchal societies. Some women challenged existing structures directly, such as emperor Wu Zetian, while others exercised influence and autonomy within the limited spaces available to them, such as Consort Li. Many women never appeared in official historical records, but the absence of their names does not diminish the significance of their lives. Through this series, their experiences, struggles, and contributions are brought back into historical memory.






For more details about the book on Amazon, please click on any of the pictures on the right-hand side. 

To explore the book on Qidian and Fanqie, two of China’s largest publishing platforms, please visit the links below.

Fanqie:
https://fanqienovel.com/reader/7620725248865878552
Qidian:
Book 1: https://www.qidian.com/book/1048025693/
Book 2: https://www.qidian.com/book/1048025811/
Book 3: https://www.qidian.com/book/1048026306/


Visually lmpaired_The Shape of Light Interviews & Touchable Exhibitions

Disability should never result in the deprivation of knowledge and cultural experiences. Traditional museums often provide audio descriptions of artifacts but rarely allow visually impaired visitors to physically engage with them.

This exhibition challenges that limitation by featuring artworks created entirely by visually impaired individuals, including handicrafts, paintings, and photography, accompanied by background music composed by visually impaired artists. Through this exhibition, visitors are able to touch each artifact and listen to creators share the personal stories and meanings behind their work.

Driven by a desire to understand and amplify the voices of communities often overlooked, I have spent the past four years interviewing visually impaired individuals about their experiences with education, marriage and social challenges. Through publishing reports and sharing their stories with the wider community, I hope to challenge misconceptions, increase awareness, and advocate for greater inclusion.





Artwork created by visually impaired artists.


Dowry Laws & Wedding_Research

Dowry laws and wedding traditions evolved significantly across Chinese dynasties, reflecting changing social structures, economic conditions, and expectations of women. This research examines the differences in dowry practices and wedding traditions between the Tang and Song dynasties, exploring the factors behind these transformations and whether changes in dowry regulations expanded or restricted women’s rights.

Ultimately, this paper investigates the limitations and possibilities of applying contemporary ideologies, perspectives, and human rights frameworks when analyzing historical societies, questioning how modern concepts of gender equality and rights should be used to understand women’s experiences in the past.




For more details, please click on any of the pictures on the right-hand side to access the full-length paper, or use the link below:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BBveXQwEBLQX-HFB6l8XOLHf1AHR1RDJONqP7dCwGgY/edit?tab=t.0

Soong Meiling & Soft Power_Research
Traditional historical narratives often center on male leaders while overlooking women who shaped history through alternative forms of power. This research was inspired by a desire to explore how women navigated patriarchal systems and exercised influence beyond formal authority.

This paper examined Soong Mei-ling’s role in the New Life Movement, Xi’an Incident, wartime mobilization, and international diplomacy. Using primary and secondary sources, including speeches and historical records, the paper explores soft power (the ability to influence others through emotions and values instead of force) as an alternative source of political influence. It argues that Soong Mei-ling’s ability to build trust, appeal to emotions, and navigate cultural connections allowed her to achieve outcomes that traditional political and military leaders could not, redefining the possibilities of leadership in twentieth-century China.



For more details, please click on any of the pictures on the right-hand side to access the full-length paper, or use the link below:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tXt82chBNHOM4vLrsswYuWXkk9keVyJw9djRuCsE_ls/edit?tab=t.0

Nüshu & Patriarchy_Research
This paper explores how women exercised power and agency within male-dominated societies through alternative forms of influence. Focusing on Nüshu, the world’s only known women-exclusive writing system, it examines how patriarchal structures shaped both its emergence and decline. Through analyzing Nüshu as a medium for female expression and alternative literacy within a restrictive Confucian society, the paper argues that women developed their own forms of resistance despite limited access to formal institutions. By examining ideological transformations, educational reforms, government policies, and the disappearance of female-centered spaces, this research reveals how male-led modernization and shifting power structures ultimately marginalized women’s cultural knowledge and alternative forms of power.


For more details, please click on any of the pictures on the right-hand side to access the full-length paper, or use the link below:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hHRcaKUOyv_FaqaXFpnX4wLjds5mUIT8UNnUL5HTpjk/edit?tab=t.0

Hermanity Society
Hermanity was created to amplify and preserve female voices through artistic expression and storytelling, recognizing that women’s experiences and contributions have often been overlooked in historical narratives. 

It organized educational workshops on women’s history, suffragist movements, and influential female figures, while hosting annual women-themed exhibitions featuring artworks created by students across the school. Beyond raising awareness, Hermanity also organized creative initiatives and fundraising activities, such as tote bag design projects. Through art, education, and collective action, the society created a platform for students to celebrate women’s voices and continue conversations about gender, identity, and social change.

SClE Student Leadership Body

Leadership Enrichment

Initiated and organized the school’s first student-to-student enrichment program, creating the entire curriculum and designing a six-week leadership development course. The program has since been implemented for four semesters, engaging 120 students in peer-led learning and leadership training.

Yearbook

Led the production of the first school yearbook, coordinating student contributors, managing content development, and documenting school life and student achievements through written and visual storytelling.

Mental Health Week

Organized the school’s annual Mental Health Week to promote student wellbeing and emotional awareness. Coordinated nine student clubs and over 100 student organizers to design activities, workshops, and campaigns.

Peer Mentoring and Peer Tutoring

Developed and supported peer-based support systems to strengthen student connection and academic assistance. Facilitated mentoring and tutoring initiatives that connected experienced students with younger peers.








SClE Model United Nations
Through simulations of the United Nations, SCIEMUN encourages students to develop cross-cultural communication, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving skills. As the Deputy Secretary-General, I managed conference logistics, public relations, and website operations, while leading the planning and execution of annual national conferences that brought together 200+ delegates from 14 schools across the country.

For more details about SCIEMUN, please click on any of the pictures on the right-hand side or use the link below:

http://sciemun.com/

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