On Hainan Women's Social And Economic Role In Ming And Dynasties

As a region mingled inhabited by Han and ethnic minorities, Hainan's economyhad enjoyed a rapid development during Ming and Ching Dynasties due to Hainanregion's favorable location in the midst of the South China Sea overseas trade route.And the booming economy at that time was the combined efforts of Han people andthe ethnic minorities. Women of Hainan region had played a significant role in thebusiness prosperity in that they were actively involved in the economical activitiessuch as farming, weaving and peddling. Thus, men of Hainan were somewhat freedfrom house chores to take up academic study or overseas business activities. Womenengaged in farming, weaving or even peddling while their husbands embarked onacademic study or overseas business, which were not unusual in Hainan at that time.The social status of Hainan women had improved noticeably during that time.As regarding to what is women's pudicity, there were also great differencesbetween Hainan region and the rest of China. Marriage is the foundation forconstructing households and the springboard for women to participate in social andeconomic activities. Hainan's wedding rituals, which centered on brides, had goneastray in the direction of extravagance. The unique social and economic status ofHainan women was the integration and interaction between the immigrants from theMainland and the Hainan aborigines. The mainstream of such integration andinteraction was in line with the traditional Chinese culture. However, the frontierlocated Hainan society also had the striking characteristics of local cultural flavor.