The women who shaped the life of queer 18th century painter/calligrapher Zheng Banqiao

Zheng Banqiao was given a girl's name at birth, approved by his grandfather who worked as an educator for the county,

Zheng Banqiao’s life did start on a queer note. He was born in the winter of 1693 and given the childhood name of Hemp Wench, which his paternal grandfather, who worked as an educator for the county, approved.   It might seem odd for a family with scholarly aspirations to give their child a humble name that bordered on vulgar, but this was in accordance…