This section contains 633 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
The Role of Women in Chinese Culture
Summary: Examines the role of women in traditional Chinese culture. Mentions marriage as a contract, the differing rights and roles of sons and daughters, the rules of marriage and divorce, and concubines.
In traditional Chinese culture, women were inferior to men. They were not allowed to make any decisions concerning their families. Their only purpose in life was to stay home and take care of the households. "A woman's duties are to cook the five grains, heat the wine, look after her parents-in-law, make clothes, and that's all! ...she must follow the `three submissions.' When she is young, she must submit to her parents. After her marriage, she must submit to her husband. When she is widowed, she must submit to her son. These are the rules of propriety." ("The Mother Of Mencius", p.34) That's the principle that was followed in traditional China. Some of the examples of this are discussed in this essay.
Young girls were taught to be good housewives and good mothers; they had to submit to their fathers. Children were not allowed to disagree with...
This section contains 633 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |