The Earliest Account of Gestation in Chinese History

This project investigates the earliest account of the ten-month gestation period in Chinese history, found in a newly discovered manuscript from roughly the Fourth Century B.C.E., and traces the evolution of this and related accounts throughout the First Millennium. By establishing a critical edition for this new discovery, equipped with a full scholarly apparatus, the project will recover an important episode in the history of the reproductive sciences; allow for an opportunity to observe the development of a singular topic from the Warring States down to the Song; and provide a new perspective for considering all of the sources featuring the gestation account. The results will make a significant contribution in the history of science, culture, and the textual traditions of China.