Snark & Sensibility

PLEASE WELCOME?

R.F. WHONG

TO

FICTION FRIDAY

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY

Concubine vs. Mistress: Then and Now

When writing my fiction, Echoes Over Stormy Sea (Book 1 in the dual-time odyssey series), I thoroughly researched concubines in imperial China.

Throughout history, cultural norms, societal expectations, and personal desires have influenced the dynamics of romantic and marital relationships. In 1800s China, having concubines was both a social norm and a status symbol. The concubinage system allowed men, especially those of higher social and economic standing, to maintain sexual relationships with multiple women besides their wives.

Concubines, though lacking the legal status of a wife, played significant roles in the family dynamics, often bearing children and contributing to the family lineage. At that time, having several concubines was seen as a traditional way for men to ensure the continuation of the family name.

As we fast forward to the present day, the notion of having lovers outside of marriage—a practice referred to as having “mistresses” or “boyfriends”—is perceived differently depending on cultural and geographical contexts. In Western nations such as the United States and European countries, having these relationships is viewed through the lens of personal choice and individual freedom rather than societal obligation or status.

During the 1800s, taking concubines became a norm in Chinese society. In today's society, as long as it is consensual between adults, personal autonomy in open and romantic relationships seems to be acceptable. In this sense, the shift from the historical acceptance of concubines to today’s more personal and private arrangements signals a move toward individual autonomy. Nonetheless, extramarital affairs may still reflect a distorted understanding of love and commitment.

Interestingly, across time and cultures, people have often confused physiological responses with psychological needs. While the desire for love, companionship, and emotional fulfillment is universal, engaging in sexual relationships with multiple partners rarely satisfies these deeper emotional needs.

As a PhD biochemist, I understand that specific hormones interacting with their receptors play key roles in sexual arousal. However, receptor desensitization, a phenomenon where responsiveness decreases after repeated exposure to the same stimulus, occurs in most receptors. This explains why sexual relations with the same person can become tedious over time if the relationship lacks other sustaining elements. Similarly, frequently changing sexual partners tends to lead to a similar lack of satisfaction.

The Bible teaches that marriage should be between one husband and one wife, one man and one woman, for life. God, as the ultimate designer of human physiology and psychology, knows us best. As Christians, it is important to cultivate enduring and harmonious relationships with our spouses on physical, mental, and spiritual levels. Through this profound connection, we can truly achieve the threefold fulfillment of body, mind, and spirit.

ABOUT R. F. WHONG (AKA Dr. Ruth Wuwong)

Dr. Wuwong (PhD in biochemistry, MBA in finance) has published 120+ scientific books and papers (under her legal name) and a few Christian fiction books under R. F. Whong. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, a retired pastor. They served together at three churches from 1987 to 2020. Her grown son works in a nearby city.

She currently runs a small biotech company (www.vidasym.com) and has raised more than twenty million US dollars during the past few years for Vidasym.

In addition to her weekly newsletter and the platform (www.ruthforchrist.com), she’s active in several writers’ groups, including ACFW, Word Weavers, Facebook, and Goodreads. Through these connections, she plans newsletter/promotion swaps with others and has writers endorse her books, write forewords, and host her on guest blogs.

The Minnesota Anoka County Library has chosen her as a 2025 Featured Author.

MORE ABOUT ECHOES OVER STORMY SEAS

Experience adventure and romance in distant lands, a mesmerizing tale by Whong, named a 2025 Featured Author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library.

Two remarkable women, separated by eras, united by unyielding resolve.

Two eras, one stormy sea. Two women navigate love and heritage across centuries. Book 1 in this dual-time odyssey series braids together a mesmerizing tale about loyalty, redemption, and transformation.

Debra Gong, a PhD student in biochemistry, eagerly counts down to her upcoming 2020 wedding in Chicago. The unexpected death of her father, a famous writer, brings her back to Hong Kong. Then the sudden closure of borders because of the pandemic leaves her trapped and separated from her fiancé. Her father’s will requires her to complete his last, unfinished manuscript about a pirate princess to honor his memory.

In 1800, Shih Yi-Lan, a martial arts master and the fierce daughter of a pirate captain, faces the cultural expectations of matrimony. Unwilling to be confined by traditional roles, when her father demands her to cement an alliance through marriage, she devises a test for any would-be suitor: he must beat her in two out of three contests to win her hand. A mysterious contender with a pigtail unlike the other sea marauders rises to the occasion and triumphs.

As both women explore their worlds in flux, the stakes grow higher. Can Debra continue her PhD work, honor her father’s legacy, and find love and commitment? Will Yi-Lan maintain her resilience and passion amid the challenges? Their parallel journeys unfold against the backdrop of tumultuous times, connecting their fates in unexpected ways.

New release.

Genre: Adventure.

#1 New Release in 2 categories. Free on KU. Echoes over Stormy Sea (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPGQ6TZP), a thrilling adventure set in distant lands by Whong, named a 2025 Featured Author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library.

This book, crowned the Scrivenings Press 2024 GetPubbed contest winner in the historical fiction genre, was chosen by readers on Manybooks.net as one of the best books of the month for January, 2025.

??I feel honored that my book, with its strong Christian theme about the redemptive power of the Gospel, attracts non-Christian readers.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ruth.wuwong

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RWuwong

Website: www.ruthforchrist.com

www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-wu-wong

https://www.instagram.com/ruthwuwong/

https://www.amazon.com/author/love.respect.grace

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42632055.R_F_Whong

https://bookhip.com/FPJVSZZ

MY REVIEW OF ECHOES OVER STORMY SEAS 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Kudos for the extensive research for a topic that is not well known in Western culture. I particularly appreciated the devotion of the hero and heroine of the historical portions, daring to go against traditional expectations. 

As with most historical fiction, the author does take literary license to fill in the known from the unknown for sure. However, those portions were carefully presented in accordance with cultural and societal norms of the times. 

I liked the use of time-slip in this work. The romance of the contemporary hero and heroine, resembled in some respects, those of the historical hero and heroine. As a Christian author, R. F. Whong, blended Christian values in the contemporary portion while tastefully and accurately describing events that were not in keeping with Christian mores. 

I recommend this book.