To do wrong is unbecoming to a wife, and to do good is also unbecoming to a wife. A woman is only to be obedient to what is proper. Other Song "Neo-Confucians," such as Cheng Yi (1033-1107 C.E.), promoted female virtue by praising women who did not remarry following the deaths of their husbands.
Full Answer
What did Neo-Confucianism say about women's agency?
In not unclear terms, Neo-Confucianism held that women were subordinate to men. Although one could argue for agency for Choson women (and I will), there was still a clear gender hierarchy with men on top and women below.
Why was Confucianism opposed to women's rights?
At no point in her life was a woman, according to the traditional Confucian view, expected to function as an autonomous being free of male control. It was because of social values such as this that 20th century social reformers in China and elsewhere condemned Confucianism so vigorously.
What is Neo Confucianism in China?
Neo-Confucianism. Neo-Confucianism ( Chinese: 宋明理學; pinyin: Sòng-Míng lǐxué, often shortened to lixue 理學) is a moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, and originated with Han Yu and Li Ao (772–841) in the Tang Dynasty, and became prominent during the Song and Ming dynasties.
What did Neo-Confucianism say about marriage?
No wife was to treat a husband like a husband was to treat a wife. Neo-Confucianism had quite clear things to say about women: they belonged in a separate, domestic domain. They were supposed to obey their husbands loyally until death; after death, they were not to remarry.
What is the view of women in Confucianism?
Despite the alternative translations, it is clear that Confucius considered women, in any form, as a part of a different social class than men. Observers of the philosophy could regard women as inferior because the texts do not specifically state that women and men are a part of the same social class.
What was the status of women in Neo-Confucianism?
Neo-Confucianism had quite clear things to say about women: they belonged in a separate, domestic domain. They were supposed to obey their husbands loyally until death; after death, they were not to remarry.
In what way did Chinese women's roles change under Neo-Confucianism?
Neo-Confucian values reinforced the idea that a woman's role is subservient to the male's in the family and society. Despite this, women played an instrumental role in Chinese society. Many learned to read and write. Texts were written specifically for women with some women publishing their own books.
What was the traditional role of women in society?
The traditional social role of women is that of the lady of the house, taking care of the family, being focused on children and their happiness.
How did Neo-Confucianism change gender relations in China?
However, although the majority of changes introduced by the Neo-Confucian model were meant to subjugate women they also helped women by opening the door into feminine intellectual discourse by addressing women directly.
Abstract
By examining women’s petitioning practice during the Chosŏn, this paper aims to show how women’s legal practice allows us to reconsider the Confucian gender norms such as the Thrice Following ( samjongjido 三從之道) and the Doctrine of Spheres, inner and outer ( naeoepŏp 內外法).
Bibliography
Cho, Hae-joang. 1998. “Male Dominance and Mother Power: The Two Sides of Confucian Patriarchy in Korea.” In Walter H. Slote and George A. De Vos, eds., Confucianism and the Family. Albany: State University of New York Press. Google Scholar
Patriarchal System
Today's lesson on Confucianism and women could be one that's up for debate. Yes, the facts will be facts, but depending on your paradigm or what scholar you choose to believe, you still may find yourself disagreeing with some of its content.
Roles in Marriage
Starting around The Han Dynasty, which ruled China from about 206 BCE to 220 CE., Confucianism began to teach that a virtuous woman was one that submitted herself to the authority of the men in her life. If she was unmarried, her source of authority would be her father or if he was deceased, her brother.
Analects for Women
For example, listen to these translated excerpts from the late eighth century Chinese text known as the Analects for Women. When instructing women, they read:
What was Neo-Confucianism?
Neo-Confucianism was both a revival of classical Confucianism updated to align with the social values of the Song dynasty and a reaction to the challenges of Buddhist and Daoist philosophy and religion which emerged during the Zhou and Han dynasties.
What did the Neo-Confucian rationalism believe?
Unlike the Buddhists, the neo-Confucians believed that reality existed, and could be understood by humankind, even if the interpretations of reality were slightly different depending on the school of neo-Confucianism. But the spirit of Neo-Confucian rationalism is diametrically opposed to that of Buddhist mysticism.
What did Neo-Confucianists use metaphysics for?
However, unlike the Buddhists and Taoists, who saw metaphysics as a catalyst for spiritual development, religious enlightenment, and immortality, the neo-Confucianists used metaphysics as a guide for developing a rationalist ethical philosophy.
Which Confucian school was based on the teachings of Hu Hong?
In contrast to this two-branch model, the New Confucian Mou Zongsan argues that there existed a third branch of learning, the Hu-Liu school, based on the teachings of Hu Hong (Hu Wufeng, 1106–1161) and Liu Zongzhou (Liu Jishan, 1578–1645).
Where did Neo-Confucianism originate?
Neo-Confucianism has its origins in the Tang Dynasty ; the Confucianist scholars Han Yu and Li Ao are seen as forebears of the neo-Confucianists of the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty philosopher Zhou Dunyi (1017–1073) is seen as the first true "pioneer" of neo-Confucianism, using Daoist metaphysics as a framework for his ethical philosophy.
Who was the most influential Neo-Confucian thinker?
After the Xining era (1070), Wang Yangming (1472–1529) is commonly regarded as the most important Neo-Confucian thinker. Wang's interpretation of Confucianism denied the rationalist dualism of Zhu's orthodox philosophy.
Which religions stressed the unreality of things?
Whereas Buddhism insisted on the unreality of things, Neo-Confucianism stressed their reality. Buddhism and Taoism asserted that existence came out of, and returned to, non-existence; Neo-Confucianism regarded reality as a gradual realization of the Great Ultimate...
What is the significance of Neo-Confucianism?
Most significantly, Neo-Confucianism encouraged scholars to concern themselves with the practical side of human affairs, with law, economics, and politics. Three main traditions of Neo-Confucian studies developed in Japan.
What did Neo-Confucianism contribute to?
Neo-Confucianism in the Tokugawa period contributed to the development of the bushido (code of warriors). The emphasis of Neo-Confucianism on the study of the Chinese Classics furthered a sense of history among the Japanese and led in turn to a renewed interest in the Japanese classics and a revival of Shintō studies ( see Fukko Shintō ).
What is the Shushigaku?
The Shushigaku, based on the Chinese school of the philosopher Chu Hsi, became the cornerstone of education, teaching as cardinal virtues filial piety, loyalty, obedience, and a sense of indebtedness to one’s superiors.
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What were the women at the bottom of the Confucian hierarchy?
Women were at the bottom of the Confucian hierarchy. Exemplary behavior and uncomplaining obedience was expected of them. By custom, aristocratic men and women lived separately. Men had multiple wives and concubines, but women were not allowed to see men other than their close relatives, husbands, or masters, or the palace eunuchs. Homosexuality was discouraged, but not specifically condemned as "sinful." Abortion was also discouraged, except in cases where the mother's health was endangered.
What was the ideal Confucian state?
The ideal Confucian state, with its "natural" hierarchy of ruler and subject, mirrored the home, with its "natural" hierarchy of husband and wife, and older and younger children. Moreover, in the ideal Confucian home -- a microcosm of the state -- women were expected to demonstrate obedience before all other virtues, and at every stage of life.
What were women required to do as children?
As children, girls were required to obey their fathers; as wives, women were required to obey their husbands; and as widows, women were required to obey their grown-up sons. At no point in her life was a woman, according to the traditional Confucian view, expected to function as an autonomous being free of male control.
Was homosexuality a sin?
Homosexuality was discoura ged, but not specifically condemned as "sinful.". Abortion was also discouraged, except in cases where the mother's health was endangered. For Confucians, spiritual development begins at home, and the home traditionally has been seen by Confucians as the paradigmatic arena of social relations.
Why did Confucius consider women inferior?
Observers of the philosophy could regard women as inferior because the texts do not specifically state that women and men are a part of the same social class.
What does Confucius say about women?
However, some academics argue that the passage implies that Confucius was highlighting that a woman does not normally engage in the external affairs required for minister’s, while a few argue that women are unfit for the role of ministers. At best, the quote shows Confucius distinguishing between men and women.
What does Junzi mean?
Junzi is commonly translated to “superior man” or “gentleman.”. Superiority is embodying wisdom and virtue, by becoming more fully human. Moral transformation to sageliness is the ultimate achievement. Although not used historically, a potential translation could be the gender neutral version, “superior person.”.
What was the absence of powerful and supportive literature by early Confucian philosophers?
The absence of powerful and supportive literature by early Confucian philosophers, including Confucius himself, produced a vacuum that could be filled with negative interpretations of women. In a reformed philosophy, Confucian philosophy should reconcile widening differences with feminism.
Why is sexism important to Confucianism?
Confucianism and sexism have become inextricably linked, because sexism is crucial to how Confucianism was taught. However, Confucianism philosophy has the potential to detach from the sexist undertones and reshape the perception of women.
How many ministers did Confucius have?
Confucius tells the king that there were only nine ministers, when there was clearly ten people, (one of them was a woman).
What would happen if a rural family birthed no sons?
If a rural family birthed no sons, the community would regard that as a tragedy. Confucianism is often associated with oppressing women, whether that be subjugating women to their fathers during childhood, husbands during marriage, or sons during widowhood.
Overview
Neo-Confucianism (Chinese: 宋明理學; pinyin: Sòng-Míng lǐxué, often shortened to lixue 理學, literally "School of Principle") is a moral, ethical, and metaphysical Chinese philosophy influenced by Confucianism, and originated with Han Yu and Li Ao (772–841) in the Tang Dynasty, and became prominent during the Song and Ming dynasties under the formulations of Zhu Xi. After the Mongol conquest of China in the thirteenth century, Chinese scholars and officials restored and preserved neo-Confucianism as a way to safeguard the cultural heritage of China.
Origins
Neo-Confucianism has its origins in the Tang Dynasty; the Confucianist scholars Han Yu and Li Ao are seen as forebears of the neo-Confucianists of the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty philosopher Zhou Dunyi (1017–1073) is seen as the first true "pioneer" of neo-Confucianism, using Daoist metaphysics as a framework for his ethical philosophy. Neo-Confucianism was both a revival of classical Confucianism updated to align with the social values of the Song dy…
Philosophy
Neo-Confucianism is a social and ethical philosophy using metaphysical ideas, some borrowed from Taoism, as its framework. The philosophy can be characterized as humanistic and rationalistic, with the belief that the universe could be understood through human reason, and that it was up to humanity to create a harmonious relationship between the universe and the individual.
The rationalism of neo-Confucianism is in contrast to the mysticism of the previously dominant Chan Buddhism. …
Schools
Neo-Confucianism was a heterogeneous philosophical tradition, and is generally categorized into two different schools.
In medieval China, the mainstream of neo-Confucian thought, dubbed the "Tao school", had long categorized a thinker named Lu Jiuyuan among the unorthodox, non-Confucian writers. However, in the 15th century, the esteemed philosopher Wang Yangming took sides with Lu and critiqued some of the foundations of the Tao scho…
In Korea
In Joseon Korea, neo-Confucianism was established as the state ideology. The Yuan occupation of the Korean Peninsula introduced Zhu Xi's school of neo-Confucianism to Korea. Neo-Confucianism was introduced to Korea by An Hyang during the Goryeo dynasty. At the time that he introduced neo-Confucianism, the Goryeo Dynasty was in the last century of its existence and influenced by the Mongol Yuan dynasty.
In Vietnam
In 1070, emperor Lý Thánh Tông opened first Confucius university in Hanoi named Văn Miếu. The Lý, Trần court expanded the Confucianism influences in Vietnamese Mandarin through year examinations, continued the model of Tang dynasty until being annexed by the Ming invaders in 1407. In 1460, emperor Lê Thánh Tông of Lê Dynasty adopted Neo-Confucianism as Đại Việt's basic values.
Bureaucratic examinations
Neo-Confucianism became the interpretation of Confucianism whose mastery was necessary to pass the bureaucratic examinations by the Ming, and continued in this way through the Qing dynasty until the end of the Imperial examination system in 1905. However, many scholars such as Benjamin Elman have questioned the degree to which their role as the orthodox interpretation in state examinations reflects the degree to which both the bureaucrats and Chinese gentry actually believed those interpretations, and point out that there were very active s…
Confucian canon
The Confucian canon as it exists today was essentially compiled by Zhu Xi. Zhu codified the canon of Four Books (the Great Learning, the Doctrine of the Mean, the Analects of Confucius, and the Mencius) which in the subsequent Ming and Qing Dynasties were made the core of the official curriculum for the civil service examination.