The Donkey in Late-Imperial and Modern North China

The Chinese history of the donkey is unknown. Despite its significance in the quotidian lives of late-imperial China, the draft animal has received no scholarly attention. This essay outlines the donkey's diverse roles in Chinese agriculture, transportation, and commerce. It charts the centrality of donkeys (and mules) in village life, no less than their salience in the cityscape. The representations of the donkey in literature and the visual arts are surveyed, as is its appearance in the religious sphere. The geographic region covered is north China, where wheat is grown, and equines have been the preferred draft animals. The time span ranges from the sixteenth through the mid-twentieth century, namely the late-imperial and Republican periods.