I've been researching courtesans in Tang Dynasty China for nearly 15 years, and in that time, I've never been able to find a translation of the Bei Li Zhi 北里志 (Records of the Northern Ward). This document is full of anecdotes and descriptions of courtesans in the Pingkang Ward, the pleasure district of the Tang capital city, Chang'an, and is invaluable for anyone studying the subject of courtesans and their lives.

I've found a professional translator who specializes in Classical Chinese language documents (which is a very different language than modern Chinese!), and we're very excited to work together to create the first English translation of the Bei Li Zhi and make research into the topic of courtesans, courtesan culture, and how they fit into the social fabric of Tang Dynasty China (they were a lot more important than people think!) more accessible to those who do not speak the language.

The trouble is: this kind of translation isn't cheap, and I'm just one researcher with no funding from academia or otherwise, so I need some help to afford it. All funds will go toward the cost of translation services.