The Role Of Confucianism In Ancient China

Marriage Arrangement, but the power of elders still have an important role in some of the major decisions of a person, especially in area of education as it represents social class and considered as a ‘family business’ due to the foundation of Confucianism (G. Huang & M. Gove 2012).

during the Zhou Dynasty, China was experiencing a great deal of political turmoil. A major part of this era was called the Period of the Warring States. It was a time when there were numerous wars that occurred due to the conflict that existed between seven states. (Watkins, 2013) These warring states were the Han, Wu, Zhao, Chu, Qi, Yan and Jin. According to Jerry H. Bentley and Herbert F. Ziegler of the book Traditions and Encounters, “This period forced some people to reflect on the nature of society, and the roles of humans beings within society.” The authors continued saying that it forced others to “identify principles that would restore political and social order.” (Bentley & Ziegler, 2011) The principles of Confucianism were established and followed in order to help the citizens of China to live and govern their communities more efficiently. Through Confucianism, Confucius helped legitimize China’s rule and bring about order in the mist of turmoil. The effects of Confucius’ principles are still seen and felt today in many aspects of modern day Chinese society. Veritably, there were points throughout Chinese history where Confucianism affected almost every aspect of life in China. Confucius has impacted the development of Chinese thought and culture in various ways from education to politics, to familial relationships.

In Ancient China the father of the woman decided who that his daughter would marry. There was no agreement between the two fathers. The father would talk with an astrologer who had a birth chart on every child. By looking at the time and date of their births he would then decide whether or not they would be compatible for one another. The father when then make the decision whether they would marry, the daughter’s thoughts and opinion’s did not count.(9) The woman was required to be completely devoted to her husband. After the marriage a Chinese women was expected to bow to her new in-laws and offer them tea. This showed them that she now belonged to her husband’s family. It was required of her to obey her new

When it comes to discussing the manners and customs that dominated in China in the past century, numerous topics appear. Thanks to the numerous written testimonies, we can almost reconstruct the life and experiences of people in ancient China. Of course, many of the practices described are not only interesting, but surprising. In this paper I am going to take a closer look at the status of women in ancient Chinese family.

Firstly, the relationship expectations in Chinese customs and traditions were strongly held onto. The daughters of the Chinese

Women’s role in Ancient Chinese civilisation was always vital to society due to their role in the family and during the Tang and Song dynasty significant changes occurred, changing Chinese women’s lives forever. While it is no secret women were inferior to men in the history of China, not many are aware of the major differences of the status of women from dynasty to dynasty. The Tang-Song dynasties ruled from 618AD to 1279 AD and many distinct differences between these two dynasties can be observed. Women’s role in these dynasties primarily included domestic duties, with the introduction of new roles to the female gender. Their role was very important to society as the woman of the family ran the household and as that was the most important

After China had been conquered by the Mongols and their population was diminished by the plague, they began to look to into their past in order to shape their future. The Chinese society allowed “two empresses [write] instructions for female behavior” (423). These behaviors included those that were held previously to the Chinese women and were seen as “traditional expectations” (423). Much of the Chinese culture was changed due to the rule of the Mongol Empire. Because of this, China attempted to put an end to any evidence of foreign rule from the Mongol Empire. This included the “[discouragement] [of] the use of Mongol names and dress” (423). This discouragement of the Mongol traditions provided China the opportunity to reintroduce the concept of Confucian learning. This is another

Confucian reinforced the need for people to respect their family and encouraged them to work hard

As China faced new international pressures and the change to a communist society, gender relations transformed women from servants of men to full independent workers, who finally became soldiers of the communist state. In Jung Chang’s novel, Wild Swans, the three women – grandmother Yu-Fang, mother Bao-Qin and daughter Jung Chang – exemplify the expected gender roles of each generation. I will argue that Confucian society presented few economic opportunities for women to support

Women were considered inferior to their husbands and were expected to be obedient to them. According to Mencius, one of Confucius’ most important follower who spread the teachings of Confucianism, “When a daughter marries, her mother instructs her. Sending her off at the gate, she cautions her, saying, ‘When you go to your family, you must be respectful, and you must be cautious. Do not disobey your husband.’ To regard obedience as proper is the Way of a wife or concubine.”

This paper focuses on the philosophy of the Qin dynasty and the Ming dynasty. For thousands of years, Confucianism had been the mainstream philosophy in Chinese traditional culture. It played a significant role to enlighten people’s thoughts in all periods of history. However, during Qin Dynasty, the thoughts of Confucianism, “Cultivating yourself first, then regulate your family, govern your state, and bring peace to world” was not accepted by Qin government; instead, in 213BC, Confucianism was devastatingly destroyed by Emperor Shi Huangdi.

Lessons for Women is a book of conduct written during the Han Dynasty by Ban Zhao (C. 45-120) to advise the women of her family on the proper conduct of a wife. Ancient China around this time was a Confucian state in which the society was control by the belief in order and harmony. The book contains seven chapters that talks about: humility, husband and wife, respect and caution, womanly qualifications, wholehearted devotion, implicit obedience, and harmony with younger brothers- and sisters- in law. This work of literature reflects on how a proper women was to behave obediently to the husband, by being devoted and respectful to avoid humility to herself, her parents and her clan. It gives the readers an idea of the power that men had over women during this time period and the exceptions for both roles of husband and wife. Lessons of women informs the readers that women during the Han Dynasty had no control over their own lives and the philosophy of Confucian had a huge influence on the society’s everyday life. Ban Zhao emphasizes the importance of distinctions between men and women, and their separate natures.

The details and circumstances of women’s life in 1930’s China. In 1030’s China women’s status can be described to be just a little bit better than a horse. They were not even seen as human, just a son boring machine and the even worse part is that if they could not bear a son for the men, and this was one of the excuses why men were able to have multiple wives. Women were expected to be obedient to the man they belong to, also if they lost their virginity before marriage, they could only end up as a prostitute, because no man wants a dirty woman. As the women marry to their husband the women have to change their last name same as the husband's. Also the child’s last name has to be the husband last name, which is why the traditional Chinese

The transitions from the Koryŏ dynasty to Chosŏn dynasty was gradual yet sudden. Although some areas remained similar, many of the political, cultural, and social aspects from the Koryŏ era were transformed during the Chosŏn era. Consequently, these changes impacted on women’s roles and their ways of living. One of the main distinctions was that during the Koryŏ period; Buddhism was still widely practiced for spiritual and religious purposes and Confucianism was acknowledged for state governance. In contrast, for Chosŏn; Neo-Confucianism was the most valued principle and strongly drifted away from the Buddhist spiritual influences. As preference towards Neo-Confucianism ideologies grew more prevalent throughout the late Koryŏ dynasty and onto the Chosŏn dynasty, Koryŏ women were politically, socially, and culturally more liberal in comparison to the women from the Chosŏn dynasty.

The Chinese family has been the keystone of society in China for over 2000 years. This importance has been adopted from the Confucian ideas on filial piety (孝,xiào), based the strict principles of hierarchy, obedience and obligation (Teon, 2016). Methods for children to practice filial piety to their parents include financial support, showing respect, caring for them when sick or they become old and also supporting their emotional needs( (Mao, 2011)on Chow, 2007). Generally, this meant that elderly parents would live with their eldest son. Blood relationships between father and son had always been very important in Chinese society (Zhang & Franklin W. Goza, 2006). Due to this structure, ancient China became a patrilineal and patriarchal society, meaning both women and men were seen to be descendants, only from their fathers’ family. This introduced huge importance of the continuation of family name and paying reverence to one’s ancestors. For a woman, this meant paying reverence to her father’s ancestors as well as the ancestors of her husband. Once married a woman would become completely affiliated to her husband’s family(pójiā 婆家) and removed from her own(niángjiā 娘家) (Jordon, The Traditional Chinese Family and Lineage, n.d.). Although in 1949 when the Chinese Communist Party or CCP came to power Confucian ideas criticised and dismissed, and although China was becoming ever increasingly influenced by Western culture, the notion that sons must care for their parents still