Women of the Song Dynasty

Ch. 8 China and The World- Women of the Song Dynasty


          The Golden age of the Song dynasty China was filled with arts and literature, setting standards of excellence in poetry, landscape painting, and ceramics (Strayer, 2013, p. 367). While the Song and Tang dynasty renewed unity, many women of that era marked another turning point in the history of Chinese patriarchy. Before the Son Dynasty, Chinese women from the steppe nomads to the elite led less restricted lives and participated in a social life that more freedom than how it was in earlier times. When the Song dynasty approached there was the reviving of Confucianism and when the economy grew so did the tightening of patriarchal restrictions of women. Female submission and passivity from the earlier Han dynasty came into play in women’s roles during the Song dynasty.

          It is interesting that when Confucian came into play, masculinity went from horseback riding, athleticism, and warrior values to calligraphy, scholarship, painting and poetry. It seems to me that men started to feel less empowered and threatened from women becoming more independent bringing women back to being submissive and passive. It is quiet sad that these women had to take huge steps back from less restricted lives to being looked at as weak, reticence, and delicate. Women today have come a long way of having rights but many cultures and the stigma here in our culture is still going on.  One of the main reasons I chose to reflect on this topic was the horrific practice of foot binding these women in that time used to go through. I believe that foot binding is still being practiced in China just recently and women are still looked at as weak and passive- submissive. A lot of the way women see themselves and many of the insecurities they face goes back thousands of years from the expectations of men. Even though women have more independence and are still fighting for rights, the media and old ways of looking at women influences the mentality of women today that have to look a certain way to be accepted into society. 

          The women in elite families bind their feet to portray false images of female beauty and eroticism.  I believe this mentality still exists today in the women in our society giving false images of beauty where they feel the need to meet the “beauty standards” with surgery and unhealthy habits. Culture and old beliefs influence foot binding and women would endure the pain as tradition and acceptance. Many women have reasons to foot bind while others do not. Women then had to endure being put into situations where they were no longer in charge of their own bodies.

          The growing success elite families forced many women to become prostitutes, concubines, and entertainers. However, in some ways the Song dynasty was positive to women's lives by their property rights expanding, able to control their own dowries and inheriting property from their families. Women were also encouraged to get their education so that they may effectively raise their sons and increase the family fortune. It is safe to say that the Song dynasty brought both restrictions and new opportunities to women.
 
Reference
Strayer, R., W. (2013). Ways of the world: a brief global history with sources, 2nd edition.  
                   Bedford/ St. Martin’s. Boston, NY. Print.

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