Confucianism Formed The Lives Of Women In The Han Dynasty

Having had wiped out six states, The First Emperor of Qin implemented a whole set of policies including the standardization of actions in order to transform diversify into unity. A problem of reconstruction of moral principles also lay ahead of Han Dynasty which had been just founded. The Confucian scholars integrated and expanded the ethical code of Zhou Dynasty to serve reality. The publication of Bai Hu Tong (Comprehensive Discussions in the White Tiger Hall) marked that the Confucian ethical code had shaped up. During this period, binding force to the women was strengthened in the realm of ideology. The emphasis was placed on the traditional idea of which men were respectable and women were lowly. The relationships between husband and wife were brought into the three guides and were stipulated that husband guide wife. The seven reasons of divorce of men were put forward for the first time. The idea of chastity became ripe. The three obediences and four virtues were reaffirmed and interpreted fully. Two influential textbooks for women arose.The lives of women of Han Dynasty were manifold and complicated on which the Confucian ethical code had both influential and uninfluential aspects. The Confucian ethical code strictly distinguished between the two roles of man and woman and provided that woman's duty was to manage household affaires, but the women of Han Dynasty weren't limited by this code. Some of them went out of family and were engaged in many realms, such as economy, politics, culture and education, military and so on. The common people liked to give birth to a boy. They sometimes abandoned or killed a girl after she was born. Girls were educated within the family .The main content of learning included the etiquette for women and how to be a good wife. Although there was the general mood of free love among the people, the proper way of contracting a marriage was the command of parents and the good offices of a go-between. The content of the Confucian ethical code such as seven reasons of divorce of husband and to respect wife was reflected in the actual life. Though the idea of chastity had been promoted, there was the general mood of divorce and remarriage among the women. Though there was the orthodox idea of distinction of the sexes, women didn't hide themselves at home. They would go out of the door and take part in some activities. To receive a male guest alone was also allowed. In a word, they would associate with men freely and easily. They had festivals and activities of their own and would involve in some activities of men. To enlighten women by education and to pay severe penalties to female crimes against feudal order of seniority in human relationships shows the Confucian ethical code didn't strike root in the hearts of the women. By comparison, the sphere and degree of influence of the Confucian ethical code of Tang Dynasty surpassed Han Dynasty. The women of Roma were also controlled by patriarchy and authority of the husband at the same time, but they were kept with in the fewer bounds, thus their lives were more leisurely and carefree. There were some women appeared in the history of Han Dynasty who broke through the limit of sexes and showed their ability, wisdom and courage which were not inferior to the men. They were emperors' mothers who acted as regent, princesses who were married to the minoritynationality kings, female intellectuals who were learned and versatile and heroines who dared to save their parents when they were in trouble, avenge and revolt.The government of Han Dynasty achieved a curtain effect on changing prevailing habits and customs, but there were regional differences on the degree and time of influence of the Confucian ethical code. The women of West-Han Dynasty were more active because of the open atmosphere and the influence of the enterprising spirit of the times. The women, especially who lived in the family of intellectual, were kept within the bounds of the Confucian ethical code progressively along with the consolidation of patriarchy and authority of the husband. The influence of the Confucian ethical code began to reduce when the ideological trend of the emancipation of individuality rose at the end of Han Dynasty. There were differences between different ranks of women to accept influence of the Confucian ethical code. Women of same rank would differ from each other owing to the different level of understanding and degree of acceptation. Because Han Dynasty was at the time of when the Confucian ethical code just shaped up, the social regulation was still inaccurate and it couldn't produce the desired result soon.