Giō is a female dancer loved and abandoned by the powerful and ruthless military leader Taira no Kiyomori. Her story appears for the first time in the Tale of the Heike, a 14th century narrative, but is soon appropriated by numerous literary and artistic genres such as Noh theater and illustrated hand scrolls and albums. Although Giō might have never existed, at least four tombs in Japan carry her name, and a Buddhist temple near Kyoto dedicated to her is visited every year by thousands of pilgrims and tourists. Prof. Strippoli’s talk will explore the transformations of the legend of Giō, a legend that contributes to our understanding of Japanese women’s history, literature, visual and performing arts, and cultural heritage.