Was intended to guide women in society and how women of that period should behave. Key influence on Chinese gender systems for over 20,000 years. In the Han dynasty, the female historian Ban Zhao wrote the Lessons for Women, advice on how women should behave. She outlines the Four Virtues women must abide by: proper virtue, proper speech, proper countenance, and proper merit. The three subordinations and the four virtues is a common four character phrase throughout the imperial period. Ban Zhao's lessons support Chinese patriarchy in every way imaginable
. Ban Zhao offered women seven lessons: 1. Humility (the female is the weaker of the two genders and thus, the more humble) 2. Husband and Wife (the sole role of a woman as a wife is to serve
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Whole-hearted Devotion (a wife must be devoted to the husband, meaning, she is to tolerate concubines and is not to re-marry after the husband's death)
6. Implicit Obedience (a wife must be obedient towards the husband's parents)
7. Harmony Between Younger In-laws (a wife must contribute to maintaining the harmony in the husband's siblings' relationships, which in practice means that the wife is supposed to make sure that her sisters-in-law remain submissive to their husbands if they are married and to her husband and brothers-in-law if they are not)
5. Why does Ban Zhou advocate women to be educated? Do her stated reasons strike you as her true motives? Be specific in defending your answer.
Ban Zhou believes that women should be educated, but not to seem smart or clever. The women being educated is not supposed to amaze other people. Ban Zhou believes that being educated is a key to life. It helps you not to embarrass yourself in front of others, most importantly not to embarrass yourself in front of your mother-in-law and father-in-law. I know Ban Zhou has good intention as to why women should be educated, but in a passage from her book she says, "...Yet only to teach men - is that not ignoring the essential relation between them?" and, "...only why should it not be that girls' education as well as boys' be according to this principle." I conclude that deep down, Ban Zhou wants the same treatment of women and men, and the first step to getting there is with educated
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As is a common saying of today, we see "Yin and Yang" as two words that can't be said without the other. It is the natural order to say both words together, as is a marriage. So shall a man be authoritative over his wife, and a wife serve her husband. Without these so-called "rules of conduct", it would destroy the natural order. A marriage is not only a man/women, but a abstract symbolism of how all nature should run. If it wasn't the natural order for man and women to mate, then would we have some of the greatest empires of ancient history??? Ban Zhou clearly states, "Truly it is the great principle of Heaven and Earth, and the great basis of human relationships." However, she implies that only can these guidelines be met if the husband and wife enters marriage with worthy intentions. If not, then will the relationship not be maintained in proper accordance. This proper relationship should be built on two values, harmony and
Yan Zhitui states that, "women take charge of family affairs, entering into lawsuits, straightening out disagreements, and paying calls to seek favor...the government offices are filled with their fancy silks." (Differences between north and south, 111). Yet, even in the Qing dynasty women were still restricted by and expected to uphold more traditional ideals, especially in the public eye. So, in the end, through her virtue, Hsi-Liu’s two children we able to become upright. Here, there is a split between what a woman is supposed to be according to old Chinese tradition, and the realities facing women in Tancheng. The loss of her husband, and economic hardship had forced His-Liu to behave in a different way, as if she were usurping the power from the eldest son so she could teach the two boys a lesson about being good family members. While she still maintains the ideals of bearing children, and being loyal to her husband, even after he dies, out of necessity she is forced to break from Confucian ideals of being only concerned with the domestic issues. This too put her at odds with the more traditional society around her, as the villagers pitied her sons, but vilified the Hsi-Liu for being so strict with them (Woman Wang, 65). Had she remarried, she would have been looked down upon even more because she would had broken her duty to remain faithful to her deceased
Ban Zhao wrote Lessons for a Woman around the end of the first century C.E. as social guide for (her daughters and other) women of Han society (Bulliet 167). Because Zhao aimed to educate women on their responsibilities and required attributes, one is left questioning what the existing attitudes and roles of women were to start with. Surprisingly, their positions were not automatically fixed at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Ban Zhao’s own status as an educated woman of high social rank exemplifies the “reality [that] a woman’s status depended on her “location” within various social institutions’ (167). This meant that women had different privileges and opportunities depending on their economic, social, or political background. Wealthier noble women would likely have access to an education and may have even been able to wield certain political power (167). Nevertheless, women relinquished this power within the family hierarchy to their fathers, husbands, and sons. Despite her own elevated social status, Ban Zhao still considered herself an “unworthy writer”, “unsophisticated”, “unenlightened’, “unintelligent”, and a frequent disgrace to her and her husband’s family (Zhao). Social custom was not, however, the only driving force behind Zhao’s desire to guide women towards proper behavior.
The united States Declaration of independence states that all men are equal, but aren’t all women as well? Nowadays, the numbers for the population are at an increase for the support in gender equality, with the capture of feminist labels. The seek for equality between men and women, and criticize the privileges that arouse by gender differences. However in Old China, males control almost everything due to a patriarchal society. At that time, not only men, but also women are influenced by male chauvinism. In the Jade Peony, written by Wayson Choy, female characters are affected by an unequal perspective despite their age group.
In the patriarchal, Confucian influenced, Han dynasty, a woman’s role and social status was far from equal to that of a man. In Ban Zhao’s work Lessons for a woman she depicted the role of a woman, as a lower-class member of society. Hidden beneath the stereotypes of what a woman was supposed to be, Ban Zhao was a rarity of her time as she excelled as a historian and teacher.
Nisa: The life and Words of a !Kung Woman was written by an incredible anthropologist, Marjorie Shostak. While doing research and anthropological field-work in the Dobe regions of Africa, she studies women, Nisa, above all, who grabs her attention from the !Kung tribe. Marjorie Shostak does research and studies their culture, language, rituals, practices, and different aspects that make this specific culture so interesting to read about. The author narrates her interviews, observations, and analyses of the !Kung tribe from her field-work. Sexuality and the controls on sexual behavior are important aspects that Shostak describes as Nisa, a phenomenal woman in her culture experiences.
Chen, Jo-shui. "Empress Wu and Proto-feminist Sentiments in T'ang China." In Imperial Rulership and Cultural Change in Traditional China, edited by Frederick P. Brandauer and Chün-chieh Huang. 77-116. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1994.
This would seem to be a relatively accurate description. Though she is self-deprecating, and downplays her intelligence, it is apparent that Ban Zhou is a revolutionary. (Teacher’s comment, ?) Maybe he wants it cited In Lessons for Women Ban Zhao begins by downplaying any intelligence or abilities that she possesses. She calls herself an “unworthy writer, unsophisticated, unenlightened, and by nature unintelligent.” This seems odd that she would put herself down while writing and providing a new interpretation of Confucian writings. By nature a decidedly enlightened and sophisticated undertaking. (Teacher’s comment- not a sentence) Perhaps she does this because even though she advocates the inclusion of women in the educational system of the time, she also is highly aware of the controversial nature of her writings. Chinese society was highly prejudicial towards women and the thought of someone arguing for female inclusion in typically male arenas would have definitely been controversial. Ban Zhao gives the credit of her “limited” abilities to her scholarly father and cultured mother. The basis for Ban Zhao’s writings at this time was primarily due to her concern for her daughter’s well-being and the need to impart upon them the proper manners and expectations for a successful married life. Because Lessons for Women is explicitly for her daughters and since it speaks directly to them, one can assume that her daughters received a fair amount of Ban Zhao’s teachings in their own daily interactions. It would also be fair to assume that her daughters learned, at least on some level, the classics as well as how to read and write. Ban Zhao found it strange that teachings of women were so neglected. Though there was much thought on the education and expectations of men, there was none of women. She believed that focusing on just males, while neglecting females, was ignorant. Without a standard set of
Gender equality has been an issue in the world for the past century. The contrast between men and women in China begins at home and translates into workplace expectations. In China, the expectation in the home is that men are superior to women and that she should be obliged to serve her husband. According to the Passport to China, “Confucianism is still a major factor in Chinese culture. A direct quote from the Passport to China represents this well. “The Confucian husband rules over his wife as a lord rules his people.” This essentially means that the husband is superior to the woman entirely in households that still maintain the Confucian attitudes of the past.
Since the beginning of early Confucianism, women in early China suffered oppression. Unfortunately, the religion holds much responsibility for the sexism. Confucius’s answers for the Chinese people’s way of living consisted of sexual discrimination and segregation towards females. Women in China were urged to meet the expectations outlined in Confucian ideals. Such concepts were mainly limited to the men. Thus, Confucianism defined gender expectations. Confucianism stimulated the inequality of women in Chinese culture.
Lessons for Women was written by Ban Zhao, the leading female Confucian scholar of classical China, in 100 C.E. It was written to apply Confucian principles to the moral instruction of women, and was particularly addressed to Ban Zhao’s own daughters. As her best remembered work, it allows the reader insight into the common role of a woman during this fascinating time-period. The work starts off by Ban Zhao unconvincingly berating herself, and claiming how she once lived with the constant fear of disgracing her family. This argument is rather implausible, for the reader already knows the credibility of Ban Zhao, and how important her role was in ancient China.
Long story short, let me be honest and say that the longer essay stapled to the back of this one is the one I wrote first, because I read the instructions wrong. I thought I would attach that paper also and turn it in, since I took the time to write it, and finished it before realizing it was not what you were looking for. It does, however, relate to this paper, because in this paper I will (indirectly) give the reasons why I wanted to write that paper in the first place.
Kingston uses the story of her aunt to show the gender roles in China. Women had to take and respect gender roles that they were given. Women roles they had to follow were getting married, obey men, be a mother, and provide food. Women had to get married. Kingston states, “When the family found a young man in the next village to be her husband…she would be the first wife, an advantage secure now” (623). This quote shows how women had to get married, which is a role women in China had to follow. Moreover, marriage is a very important step in women lives. The marriage of a couple in the village where Kingston’s aunt lived was very important because any thing an individual would do would affect the village and create social disorder. Men dominated women physically and mentally. In paragraph eighteen, “they both gav...
In discussing the Chinese dynasty’s and during the Han Dynasty, Ban Baio, a famous Chinese historian, wrote “Lessons for a Woman,” (200-300 CE) outlining the position and duties of women in society. As time changed and civilization emerged, so did history as it began to bel less biblical and more focused on social change. McNeill notes that, “cultural borrowing,” was in fact a huge part of civilization. This document in particular can serve as an example in which Baio felt was a set of instructions for the proper behavior and attitude of women, particularly with regard to their
After I read the Women’s Roles in Traditional China Ebrey text, I know that it described women’s virtue and vices. And also the text includes perceptions of women and they can’t participate with the financial problems. For talking about the women’s roles in old China, I associate the Books of odes with describing the women’s figure, one of this odes describe, “ Peach tree young and fresh, plump are its fruits: this girl’s getting married, she’ll do well in her rooms. It depicted that most of girl were the virtuous figure and can do the well household at home. This text also indirectly mentioned that women should did the household at home and couldn’t have a work at outside, which shows that women has a low status in ancient society.
Shan Te has hard time saying no to whoever comes to her asking for help, but men like Yang Sun take advantage of her generosity and loving personality to exploit her. Despite all the good deeds shen Te does to Young Sun, He bravely tells Shui Ta that “Shen Te is a woman: she is devoid of common sense. I only need to lay hands on her and church bells ring.”(56). Yang Sun statement shows no respect to woman probable because of the way the society has been stereotyping women to be devoid to common sense. The same statement can mean that in that society, a women can not hold important government position that involves making laws and policies. Yang Sun believes women are predictable and easily manipulated. He says ‘because I lay my hands on her breasts’’ (56) to be enough justification to why Shen Te is devotional to him. He thinks women are just like a machines that need to be touched on buttons to execute function. It is very shocking for Shui Ta, Shen Te’s double self of to hear a man’s perspective on a woman position in her society through her