In imperial China, people moved away from the gender they were assigned at birth in different ways and for many reasons. In this talk, Stanford University professor Matthew H. Sommer will discuss eunuchs, boy actresses, clergy and more. Through these examples, learn what life and law were like in late imperial China for people who might today be considered transgender.

Matthew H. Sommer is the Bowman Family Professor of History at Stanford University. He is the author of Sex, Law, and Society in Late Imperial China and Polyandry and Wife-Selling in Qing Dynasty China: Survival Strategies and Judicial Interventions. His latest book, The Fox Spirit, the Stone Maiden, and Other Transgender Histories from Late Imperial China, from Columbia University Press, is co-winner of the 2025 John Boswell Prize from the LGBTQ+ History Association.

This talk will take place in the Library Program Room. Registration is encouraged but not required. Walk-ins are welcome.

This August, go back to school with our Level Up Your Learning: Adult Lecture Series. See link below for details.

Learn more about Transgender Histories in Imperial China

Accessibility
Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Sunnyvale will make reasonable efforts to accommodate persons with disabilities. If you require special accommodation, please contact the library at 408-730-7300 or chat with a librarian at least three days in advance of the program.