This talk explores Empress Wanrong’s life and image through the contrasting perspectives of East and West. The qipao, her iconic dress, functions as both an emblem of elegance and the lens through which identity, culture, and perception are refracted.
Key figures in her story—the Last Emperor Puyi, her eunuch Sun Yaoting, and her English teacher Isabel Ingram, as well as Puyi’s tutor Reginald Johnston—illuminate the intersections of private court life and the wider world. Eastern portrayals highlight grace, tradition, and historical continuity, while Western eyes often emphasize intrigue, spectacle, and exotic allure.
Sally Yu Leung is an author, researcher, and independent curator. She has organized 23 major exhibitions at museums, primarily in the United States and China, and lectured internationally on a variety of topics, including the customs and folklore behind the Chinese New Year, the evolution of the qipao, and the hidden meanings in Chinese children’s clothing and accessories. She has been a docent, cultural ambassador, and a former Commissioner for the Asian Art Museum as well as a board member or trustee of several other museums in the Bay Area. Sally has also been inducted into the Chinese Ministry of Culture’s Hall of Fame for contributions to the protection and preservation of Chinese cultural heritage.
Registration Policies
The Society for Asian Art’s cancellation policy requires at least one week’s advance written notice in order to receive a refund of registration fees. This excludes our Travel programs, which have separate cancellation policies, as well as any programs where a specific refund policy is stated on the event page. Your fees will be returned to you through a check in the mail. To cancel, please contact us.
For programs located within the Asian Art Museum, the museum entrance fee must be paid separately and is not included with your registration fee.
Please note that by registering for a program, you are giving consent to the SAA to be photographed or videoed as a participant.
