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WOMEN IN MEDIEVAL CHINA - HISTORY 252
I.WOMEN IN MEDIEVAL CHINA
1.GENERAL REMARKS
A.STATUS OF WOMEN FROM ANCIENT CHINA
a.CONFUCIANISM, PATRIARCHY
b.CONFUCIANISM TELLS US THAT WOMEN BY NATURE
(1)QUARRELSOME
(2)JEALOUS
(3)PETTY=-MINDED
c.PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION AT CORE OF THIS
B.PERIODS OF HISTORY TO COVER IN MEDIEVAL CHINA
a.TANG 618-906
b.SONG OR SUNG 960-1279
c.KUAN OR MONGOL 1276-1369
d.MING 1369-1644
C.SOURCES AVAILABLE TO US
a.BY SONG PERIOD MORE SOURCES
(1)STORIES, DOCUMENTS, LEGAL CASES
D.WOMEN'S RIGHTS & FREEDOMS VARIED BY DYNASTY
a.TANG DYNASTY LIFE BETTER FOR WOMEN
b.SONG NOT AS GOOD FOR WOMEN
II.TANG TO MING DYNASTIES
1.STRUCTURE OF SOCIETY
A.VAST MAJORITY OF CHINESE LIVED OFF LAND IN VILLAGES
a.RANGING IN SIZE FROM
(1)FEW DOZEN TO SEVERAL THOUSAND
B.LIFE IN VILLAGE LIKE IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE
C.VILLAGERS RARELY LEFT THEIR VILLAGE
D.FAMILY BASIC UNIT
E.AT LEAST 3 GENERATIONS LIVE TOGETHER
a.ESPECIALLY IN RICE GROWING REGIONS OF CENTRAL &
SOUTH CHINA
III.WOMEN IN THE RELIGIOUS & LEGAL TRADITIONS OF MEDIEVAL CHINA
1.INFLUENCE OF BUDDHISM & TAOISM
A.BY 8TH C. BUDDHISM FULLY ESTABLISHED IN CHINA
B.SLIDE R11 FUSING OF NATIVE TRADITIONS W/INDIAN,
PERSIAN, GRECO-ROMAN & CENTRAL ASIAN ELEMENTS
C.WHILE BASICALLY BUDDHISM BROUGHT BETTER LIFE FOR
WOMEN
D.IT STILL BROUGHT MIXED RESULTS PARTLY BECAUSE NO
SINGLE BUDDHIST IDEOLOGY RELATING TO WOMEN
E.BUDDHISM ALSO INFLUENCED & INFLUENCED BY NATIVE
TRADITIONS
F.MOST INFLUENTIAL PART OF BUDDHISM
a.BODDHISATVA IDEA FROM MAHAYAN BUDDHISM
b.BUDDHIST DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THAT BODHISATTVA HAS
POWER TO EMBODY IN ANY FORM
(1)MALE, FEMALE, CHILD, EVEN ANIMAL
(2)DEPENDING ON TYPE OF BEING HE IS SEEKING
TO SAVE
c.MUCH SCHOLARLY DEBATE REGARDING ORIGIN OF
DEVOTION TO FEMALE BODHISATTVA KUAN YIN
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d.ALTHOUGH KUAN YIN STILL BEING PORTRAYED AS MALE
AS LATE AS 10TH C
e.WITH INTRODUCTION OF TANTRIC BUDDHISM INTO CHINA
IN 8TH C IMAGE OF BODHISATTVA AS BEAUTIFUL
WHITE-ROBED GODDESS PREDOMINANT
f.KNOWN AS COMPASSIONATE SAVIOURESS
g.COMPARABLE TO VIRGIN MARY IN WEST
h.BY 9TH C STATUE OF KUAN YIN IN EVERY BUDDHIST
MONASTERY IN CHINA
i.TODAY SHE IS WORSHIPPED BY TAOISTS AS WELL AS
MAHAYAN BUDDHISTS
G.IN BUDDHIST BELIEF ALSO IDEA THAT WOMEN CAME TO
SYMBOLIZE ALL THAT MUST BE TRANSCENDED IN ORDER TO
ACHIEVE ENLIGHTENMENT
H.MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS IN JAPAN LECTURE
I.STILL STRONG ROLE FOR QUEEN MOTHER OF THE WEST
a.HSI HUANG MU
b.MEDIEVAL TAOISTS CONSIDERED HER EMBODIMENT OF
ULTIMATE YIN
(1)DARK FEMALE FORCE
(2)SHE CREATED WORLD
(3)SHE ALSO MOTHER, TEACHER, LOVER
(4)AS LOVER IT IS HER DIVINE PASSION THAT
COMES THROUGH
c.SO QUEEN MOTHER OF WEST IS BOTH TRANSCENDENT &
DIVINE PASSION
2.BACKLASH AGAINST BUDDHISM IN LATE TANG & SONG DYNASTY
A.LED TO REASSERTION WOMEN INFERIOR
B.CONFUCIAN IDEAS POPULAR ONCE AGAIN
C.GENERALLY SPEAKING HIGHER STATUS
a.MORE CONFUCIAN THE FAMILY
D.LED TO LONG PERIOD OF DECLINE FOR WOMEN'S STATUS &
POSITIONS
3.EDUCATION FOR GIRLS
A.JUST ENOUGH SO COULD READ SIMPLE VERSIONS OF
CONFUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
B.EDITED TO EMPHASIZE LOWLY ROLE WOMEN EXPECTED TO PLAY
C.WOMAN'S SEXUAL PURITY MUST BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS
a.SHE OBLIGATED TO SELF-MUTILATION OR SUICIDE TO
PREVENT BEING RAPED
4.MARRIAGE & DIVORCE CUSTOMS
A.GIRL'S PARENTS TO PROVIDE DOWRY
B.WIVES TOOK ACTIVE INTEREST IN SELECTION OF MARRIAGE
PARTNER FOR CHILDREN
a.BUT FORMALLY ARRANGED THROUGH MATCHMAKER
(1)USUALLY OLDER WOMAN
C.WOMEN 16-20 WHEN MARRIED
a.MEN COUPLE YEARS OLDER
D.WEDDING RITUALS
a.BRIDE LEFT HER NATAL HOME WITH HER GROOM & HIS
FRIENDS, RELATIVES
b.THIS IS FIRST BRIDE HAS SEEN HER GROOM
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c.WHEN COUPLE ARRIVED AT HIS HOME BRIDE
(1)KNELT & BOWED TO HER NEW PARENTS-IN-LAW
(2)& TO TABLETS REPRESENTING FAMILY'S
ANCESTORS
d.THEN COUPLE DRANK WINE FROM SAME CUP
e.STRING THEN ATTACHED TO COUPLE
f.LATER THEY SHOWN TO THEIR BEDROOM
g.WHEN BEANS OR RICE HAD BEEN TOSSED ON BED
(1)SYMBOLIZING FERTILITY
E.OFTEN PARENTS ADDED NEW WING TO HOUSE FOR THEM
F.WIFE USUALLY ON 3-4 MONTH TRIAL
G.EVEN IF MAN LIKES WIFE BUT HIS PARENTS DON'T
a.HE IS TO DIVORCE HER
H.WIFE BECAME SECURE WHEN BORE SON
I.WOMEN WHO DID NOT MARRY REMAINED SPINSTERS AT THEIR
NATAL HOMES
J.IF WIFE NOT PROVIDE HUSBAND WITH MALE HEIR
K.HUSBAND THEN PERMITTED TO TAKE 2ND WIFE
L.1ST WIFE HAD NO RIGHT TO DIVORCE
M.AS OLD SAYING WENT
a.MARRY A CHICKEN, FOLLOW THE CHICKEN; MARRY A
DOG, FOLLOW THE DOG
N.STATUS OF WOMAN CAME WHEN BECAME MOTHER-IN-LAW
O.AS ELDEST FEMALE SHE COULD ENJOY HER GRANDCHILDREN
a.HELP WITH THEIR EDUCATION
P.HAD MORE TIME FOR RELIGIOUS DEVOTION
Q.SONS USUALLY DEVOTED TO MOTHERS
R.IN SONG TIMES NEO-CONFUCIANISM SOMETIMES BLAMED FOR
WOMEN'S STATUS DECLINING
S.CHENG YI - BEST KNOWN NEO-CONFUCIAN TEACHER
a.ONCE TOLD FOLLOWER IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR WIDOW
TO DIE OF STARVATION THAN TO LOSE HER VIRTUE
BY REMARRYING
b.WHILE SONG TIMES WIDOWS FREQUENTLY REMARRIED
c.LATER CENTURIES HIS SAYING JUSTIFIED WIDOWS NOT
REMARRYING
T.BY SONG PERIOD LAWS CHANGED THAT WOMAN'S PROPERTY
AUTOMATICALLY PASSED TO HER HUSBAND
U.WOMEN FORBIDDEN TO REMARRY IF THEIR HUSBANDS DIVORCED
THEM OR DIED
5.CONCUBINAGE
A.WEALTHY CHINESE SOMETIMES SELECTED CONCUBINES
a.WHO LIVED IN SEPARATE ROOM IN HOUSE
b.SOMETIMES COMPETED WITH LEGAL WIFE FOR
PRECEDENCE
B.CHILDREN BY CONCUBINES ACCEPTED SAME AS LEGAL
CHILDREN
C.IF CONCUBINE'S CHILD SON & WIFE ONLY HAD DAUGHTERS
a.THEN IN WIFE'S OLD AGE DEPENDENT ON CONCUBINE'S
SON
D.POOR FAMILIES OFTEN SOLD THEIR DAUGHTERS TO WEALTHY
VILLAGERS TO SERVE AS CONCUBINES
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6.INFANTICIDE
A.FEMALE INFANTICIDE NOT UNCOMMON IN TIMES OF FAMINE
a.SO REST OF FAMILY HAD FOOD
B.ALTERNATE - GIRLS SOLD INTO SLAVERY
C.EVEN IN GOOD TIMES GIRLS TOLD FOOD WASTED ON THEM
BECAUSE THEY WOULD MARRY OUTSIDE THEIR ANCESTRY
a.INCREASE SIZE & WEALTH OF HUSBAND'S FAMILY NOT
THEIR OWN
D.WHAT KNOWN FOR SURE THAT DAUGHTERS INSIGNIFICANT
a.THEIR NAMES NOT EVEN ENTERED IN FAMILIAL TEMPLES
7.FOOTBINDING
A.BEGAN DURING SONG DYNASTY 960-976
B.REPORTEDLY TO IMITATE IMPERIAL CONCUBINE
a.WHO REQUIRED TO DANCE W/FEET BOUND
C.BY 12TH C PRACTICE WIDESPREAD
D.GIRLS FEET BOUND SO TIGHTLY
a.UNABLE TO DANCE & HAD TROUBLE WALKING
E.FOR SOME CHINESE MEN IT WILL BE EROTIC FETISH
F.USED TO IMMOBILIZE CONCUBINES WHO WANTED TO ESCAPE
G.BUT NOT RECOMMENDED BY NEO-CONFUCIAN TEACHERS
H.RATHER IT ASSOCIATED W/PLEASURE QUARTERS
a.& WOMEN'S EFFORTS TO BEAUTIFY THEMSELVES
I.BUT ALSO SHOWS WOMEN HAD LITTLE IMPORTANT PRODUCTIVE
WORK TO PERFORM
J.FIRST AT AGE 3 TOES BROKEN
K.THEN MOTHERS BOUNDED GIRLS AGED 5-8 WITH LONG STRIPS
OF CLOTH
a.KEEP TOES FROM GROWING
b.TOES MINUS BIG TOE BENT UNDER
L.AFTER SONG TIMES MOVED BEYOND ELITE PRACTICE
M.VERY COMMON IN NORTH & CENTRAL CHINA
N.EVENTUALLY SPREADING TO ALL CLASSES
O.ONLY THOSE WITH SERVANTS BOUND THEM REAL TIGHT
a.AS WALKING DIFFICULT
P.IDEAL - 3 INCH GOLDEN LOTUS
a.ACTUALLY TO NOT GROW LONGER THAN 3.9 INCHES
Q.BECAME INCREASINGLY POPULAR DURING LATE IMPERIAL
PERIOD
a.WHEN ESTIMATED 1/2 TO 2/3RDS OF FEMALES FEET
BOUND
R.FOOTBINDING BECAME RITE OF PASSAGE
S.CHINESE WOMEN DID NOT ALWAYS SEE THEMSELVES
VICTIMIZED BY PRACTICE
a.PART OF BECOMING WOMAN
b.WOULD ADD TO THEIR PROSPECTS FOR BETTER LIFE
T.LEGALLY BANNED AFTER ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRST CHINESE
REPUBLIC
U.EVEN TODAY IT IS NOT UNUSUAL IN MAINLAND CHINA TO SEE
OLDER WOMEN STILL LIMPING
IV.WHAT DID WOMEN DO WITH ABOVE OPPRESSIVE FAMILY SYSTEMS?
1.GENERAL REMARKS
A.IN GENTRY FAMILIES WOMEN NEEDED MORE THAN WISDOM &
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ASSERTIVENESS TO SURVIVE
B.THEY NEEDED
a.RESILIENCE
b.TOUGHNESS
c.ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN WHAT MARGERY WOLF HAS
CALLED UTERINE POLITICS
C.WOMEN MANIPULATED PROPERTY & CONFUCIAN VALUES
a.TO BRING THEM POWER & RELATIVE SECURITY IN OLD
AGE
D.WOMAN COULD ACQUIRE REFLECTIVE AUTHORITY
a.BY TIEING SONS TO HER & THEN ASSISTING THEM TO
GAIN POSITION & POWER
b.CLAIMS OF FILIAL PIETY - 1 OF CORNERSTONES OF
CONFUCIAN PHILOSOPHY
E.WHILE THIS GUARANTEED CONFLICT AMONG WOMEN
a.THIS AXIOMATIC IN CHINESE FAMILIES
F.GAIN OF EACH WOMAN ALWAYS CAME AT EXPENSE OF ANOTHER
G.ALSO IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT WOMEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN
NATAL FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS IN TANG & SONG ERAS
MORE THAN IN LATER PERIODS
V.WOMEN'S ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES
1.GENERAL ACTIVITIES
A.MORE INFORMATION KNOWN FROM SONG & LATER
B.FAMILIES WHO COULD AFFORD IT TRIED TO KEEP THEIR
WIVES & DAUGHTERS AT HOME
a.WHERE PLENTY FOR THEM TO DO
C.ACTIVITIES AT HOME FOR WOMEN & GIRLS
a.TENDING CHILDREN
b.PREPARING MEALS
c.SPINNING, WEAVING & SEWING
D.MIDWIVES
E.WIDOWS RAN INNS
F.MAID SERVANTS
G.FARMERS' DAUGHTERS WOVE MATS
2.SILK OR SERICULTURE, TEA, RICE
A.ALL LABOR INTENSIVE - WOMEN PROMINENT
B.TEA CAME FROM INDIA & SE ASIA
a.ORIGINALLY VALUED AS MEDICINE
b.MEANS OF KEEPING BUDDHIST NOVICES AWAKE DURING
MEDITATION
c.BY TANG TEA IN GENERAL USE
C.WOMEN CODDLED WORMS TO GET THEM TO SPIN THEIR COCOONS
3.LADIES AT COURT
A.WOMEN OF PALACE AMONG FORTUNATE FEW IN TRADITIONAL
CHINA
B.WAITED UPON BY MANY SERVANTS
C.WOMEN FREE TO FILL THEIR DAYS WITH
a.FAMILY OUTINGS
b.CRAFTS
c.GAMES
(1)BACKGAMMON
(2)POLO
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(a)ADOPTED FROM PERSIA
(3)SLIDE R 19 PAINTINGS WOMEN PLAYED TOO
(a)1 OF MOST POPULAR PASTIMES
4.WOMEN'S POLITICAL POWER
A.SOME WOMEN ACTIVE IN POLITICS
B.WU ZHAO (625?-706?)
a.OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE
b.POPULARLY KNOWN AS EMPRESS WU
c.SELECTED BY EMPEROR TANG TAIZONG AS CONCUBINE
(1)PART OF HIS HAREM
d.ALSO AT SOME POINT BUDDHIST NUN
e.WU AFTER HIS DEATH ROSE TO POSITION OF SUPREME
POWER AT COURT
f.AT FIRST CONTENT TO RULE THROUGH HER SONS
g.BUT IN 690 DECLARED HERSELF EMPRESS OF CHINA
h.TO BOLSTER HER CLAIM OF LEGITIMACY SHE CITED A
BUDDHIST SUTRA
(1)WOMAN WOULD RULE WORLD 700 YEARS AFTER
DEATH OF GAUTAMA BUDDHA
i.& SHE BECAME MAJOR PATRON OF BUDDHISM
j.FOR DURING HER REIGN BUDDHIST RITUAL BECAME
INTEGRAL PART OF STATE & IMPERIAL OBSERVANCES
k.FOR HER PRESUMPTION SHE HAS BEEN VILIFIED BY
LATER CHINESE HISTORIANS
l.BUT ACTUALLY QUITE CAPABLE RULER
m.WU RESPONSIBLE FOR GIVING MEANING TO CIVIL
SERVICE EXAMINATION SYSTEM
n.WU FIRST TO SELECT GRADUATES OF EXAMINATIONS FOR
HIGHEST POSITIONS IN GOVERNMENT
o.DURING HER LAST YEARS REPORTEDLY SHE FELL UNDER
INFLUENCE OF COURTIERS
(1)& WAS DEPOSED IN 705
(a)AT AGE OF 80
5.EMPRESS MA HUANGHOU IN MING PERIOD
A.TO BE ADDED LATER
VI.STATUS OF WOMEN UNDER MONGOL RULE
1.GENERAL REMARKS
A.UNDER MONGOLS AS RULE WOMEN TREATED BETWEEN THAN
THEIR OTHER ASIAN COUNTERPARTS
B.MONGOLS DID NOT BIND THEIR WOMEN'S FEET
C.MONGOLS DID NOT FORCE WOMEN TO WEAR HEAD COVERINGS
D.MONGOLS DID NOT RESTRICT WOMEN'S MOVEMENTS
E.WOMEN PLAYED PIVOTAL ECONOMIC ROLES AMONG NOMADIC
MONGOLS
F.DURING ERA OF SO-CALLED BARBARIAN DYNASTIES
a.C 10-14TH CENTURIES
G.WOMEN HAD GREATER OPPORTUNITIES
a.POLITICAL
b.SOCIAL
c.CULTURAL
H.NOMADS OF STEPPES, HUNTERS OF FORESTS & EVEN FEW
FARMERS
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a.GAVE WOMEN MORE RIGHTS THAN IN CHINA
I.WHY?
a.WOMEN PLAYED SUCH KEY ECONOMIC ROLES
b.UNDERTOOK CRITICAL MILITARY, SOCIAL & ECONOMIC
RESPONSIBILITIES
J.SO NB TO GRANT THEM SUBSTANTIAL AUTHORITY
K.MONGOL RULERS OF CHINA PROVIDED NUMEROUS
OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN TO DISTINGUISH THEMSELVES
L.WOMEN IN POLITICS OF DOMAINS CONQUERED BY STEPPE
NOMADS
2.SPECIFIC STRONG POLITICAL WOMEN
A.GENGHIS KAHN'S MOTHER - HO'ELUN
B.OGODEI KHAN'S WIFE TOREGENE
C.KHUBILAI KHAN'S MOTHER - SORGHAGHTNI BEKI
D.KUHBILAI KHAN'S WIFE - CHABI
E.ABOVE 4 WOMEN ALL EXTREMELY INFLUENTIAL IN POLITICAL
HISTORY OF MONGOLS
F.ABSENCE OF SOURCES SO CAN'T TELL ABOUT NON-ELITE
WOMEN
G.KHUBILAI KHAN'S DAUGHTER
a.INDEPENDENT
b.FERVENT IN HER RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
c.BECAME PROMINENT BUDDHIST NUN
(1)MIAO-YEN TEMPLE IN DADU
(a)YUAN DYNASTY NAME FOR PEKING)
H.PRINCESS SENGGE
a.1 OF KHUBILAI'S GREAT GRANDDAUGHTERS
b.GATHERED TOGETHER SPECTACULAR COLLECTION OF
CHINESE ART
I.GUAN DAOSHENG
a.CONTEMPORARY OF KHUBILAI
b.MOST RENOWNED WOMAN PAINTER OF THIS ERA
c.SUBJECTS OF HER PAINTINGS
(1)BAMBOO
(2)ORCHIDS
(3)PLUM BLOSSOMS
(4)CHERISHED BY CONTEMPORARY CONNOISSEURS
(5)BUT PERCEIVED AS LESS SIGNIFICANT
(6)& MORE DECORATIVE THAN PROVOCATIVE