About Women's Status In Ming Dynasty

This paper challenges the conventional viewpoint which holds that woman's status in Ming Dynasty is very low. Firstly, it makes a comprehensive investigation on woman's status in politics economy law education, and draws the conclusion that it is "high in low". In politics, empresses and imperial concubines took part in political affairs actively, having stronger consciousness of participating; In economy, women acted as an important role, participating in farming fostering silkworms spinning and other activities broadly, which promoted their economical status; In law, they shared more extensive rights in engaging breaking off engagement divorcing and excusing women prisoners; In education, every estate had some women who had certain culture traits and artistic talents. Secondly, as to the fact that prevalence of pudicity worship and uprushing of anti-Confucian is collateral in the dynasty, this paper analyses their expressing forms and causes, and concludes that they are "falling at first and rising in the end" and "lower at first and higher in the end". This paper attempts to make an objective assessment of woman's status in Ming Dynasty, so I can provide some reference for assessing woman's status in Chinese history.