Doing things with suicide in ancient China

Referentin

Dr. Kathrin Leese-Messing (Universität Freiburg i. Br.)

Datum und Zeit

12. November 2026, 16:15-17:45

Ort

Rämistrasse 59, 8001 Zürich, Raum RAA-E-12

Inhalt

The significance and potential of the subject of suicide in Chinese history has been widely recognized. It has, however, so far received scant scholarly attention with regard to the ancient period. But how can we approach this subject from a historical perspective? Is the modern concept of suicide applicable to ancient contexts at all? And how can comparisons with other ancient cultures help us to get a better grasp of the subject? This talk will address these questions by way of looking at what, according to ancient Chinese sources, people were "doing" with suicide, and what we, as historians, can (or cannot) "do" with the records of such acts.

Organisation: Asien-Orient-Institut - Sinologie