On the talk of characterization, neither #WWX nor #LWJ were particularly feminine in the novel #MDZS by #MXTX. But LWJ definitely had more traditional feminine traits. A thread about traditional Chinese views on femininity. It differs slightly from the Western view.
Disclaimer: Some people have more fem energies and others more masculine. What we view as fem or masculine is slightly different by culture. So when I say fem, I mean what is traditional considered feminine in ancient Chinese culture.
1. LWJ is frequently described as jade. This is a trope associated with women. Women are typically described as “jade beauties.”
2. LWJ controlled the money. In ancient Chinese culture, women typically controlled finances. Even in present day, most men have their wives manage finances and savings. This is quite different from Western culture.
At burial mound, WQ and WWX were acting like a married couple. Watching them argue like that made LWJ jealous because it came off like WQ was the wife. She was controlling the money and yelling at him about his spending.
3. LWJ knows WWX’s food preferences and orders items especially for him and A-Yuan. It is because he’s 温柔体贴 which is one of the ideals for a woman. It loosely means gentle and thoughtfulness. It includes people your loved one cares about (A-Yuan).
Part of this includes when LWJ notices WWX is feeling sick/sad and takes care of him without WWX saying anything. This kind of considerate thoughtfulness is attributed to women.
By contrast, WWX actually thought LWJ enjoyed eating spicy. He didn’t notice until second life when the kids corrected him. He also didn't know that LWJ liked him. This kind of obliviousness is typically attributed to men.
4. LWJ stays at home to weave cloth in the incense burner extra. LWJ and WWX are both making money but staying at home is considered feminine.
5. WWX described LWJ as a cabbage eaten by pig (WWX). The cabbage is typically used to describe women and the pig is usually the man. This was WWX’s view of their relationship. He didn't consider himself a cabbage in their relationship.
6. LWJ’s jealousy. Even the term used, 喝醋 (drinking vinegar), which is commonly used to mean jealous, has its origins from jealous women. It’s even more obvious when he gets shy about WWX teasing him for being jealous.
The novel does a lot of word play to suggest and foreshadow WWX and LWJ as a married couple however, WWX as a character did not actually possess many or even any of the Chinese traits for femininity. Even when he was pretending to be MXY, he was just acting like a lunatic.
Some people claim he’s feminine because bought rouge, but within the context of the scene, he was doing business with the merchant to get info. Then later, he gave the rouge away to some ladies for more info.
WWX told the store worker his surname was Lan but it definitely does not imply any marriage with LWJ. Ancient Chinese people do not change their surnames when they get married. Even present day, name changing is not common. This is a Western concept.
The store worker called WWX, "Wei Wuqian," so WWX said his name was Lan. LWJ stumbles because it’s absurd that this worker and the noble HGJ suddenly share this association.
The only time WWX came off as fem. was when he described himself as, 本人上得厅堂下得厨房 when he cooked for the Wens. This is typically used to describe wives, meaning they can cook and entertain.
In contrast, he is constantly describing LWJ with traditional Chinese feminine terms/traits (cabbage, jade, drinking vinegar, LWJ managing their finances).
From WWX’s obliviousness towards how others feel and their preferences to his brash attitude not caring about harmony or maintaining peace and his wild spending, there is absolutely nothing about him that is feminine when it comes to traditional Chinese views.
And even tho LWJ had more traditional feminine traits, I wouldn't say he was feminine either. Neither one of them could really be considered feminine from a traditional Chinese POV. And again, this is specifically referring to LWJ and WWX's characterizations based on the novel.
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