A Study Of Dunhuang Women'status In Family In The Period Of Tang,the Five Dynasties And Early Song

In the long feudual society, women were always regarded as a group being oppressed by feudual code of ethics which were required the female following father at home, following husband after marriage, following son after her husband died. However, their positions and life were beyond people' s imagination in some regions in certain historic period. Dunhuang women in the period of Tang, The Five Dynasties and early Song were just an example. They have independent identity, opened ideology and independent economic position.The period of Tang, The Five Dynasties and early Song were a typical historic stage. The study of Dunhuang women' family position in this period had important significiance to learn about the women'conditions of Dunhuang, even whole ancient china.The article was divided into four parts :The first part studied the daughters'status in family, and pointed out, in the economic aspects daughters made contributions to their parents'home, some of them also could get part or whole family property by inheritance by will ,adopting an nephew or daughter's son as heir, being in charge of family under the conditions of no male in their family .In the life aspects, they had the right of being educated, choosing their spouse on their own, the freedom activities, these facts illustrated that they occupied certain position in family.The second part studied the changed conditions of the married daughters' position, including daughter-in-law, mother-in-law, and pointed out, the daughter-in-law's economic status in family was reflected in three aspects: the contributions to husband's family, the certain ownership to the family and the right of inheritance, the rights of management to the family property. Their status of life in family embodied the aspects as follows: the relatively equal relationship between husband and wife, taking part in social intercourse and amusement of the culture, the freedom of divorce and remarrying. The mother- in -law's economic status in family was reflected in three aspects:their source of income, the ownership to the family property, the rights of management to the family property. Their status of life in family embodied the two aspects: one was the right of educating their sons and daughters, the other was the right of the last decision of children' matrimony case.The third part analyzes the cause that the status of the Dunhuang women in the period of Tang, The Five Dynasties and early Song were relatively higher.The last part the family status of daughter who renounce the family, and pointed out, both upper and lower nun had higher status in family, because they made the special contributions to their family.In all, being women' contributions to their family. Two kinds of women that mentioned above had the relatively higher status in their family.