A Study On The Questions Of The Concubines In Song Dynasty

Song Dynasty was an important transition period in history, likewise, the great change took place in the concubines'status and life state of the women of lower floor. Study on the concubines of the special women colony has important meaning to expand and deepen Song Dynasty women research of history,and strengthen know which Tang- Song further took place great history of change in Chinese ancient traditional society. The main content herein includes the following several respect.First, route and way which the concubine formed of Song Dynasty. These can be summarized as four kinds: (1)kidnap, lure woman for a concubine. (2)Buy, employ woman for a concubine. (3)Giving and accompanying to a concubine. (4)Take slave girl and prostitute to a concubines.Second, the marriage concubine's legal provisions and reality of Song Dynasty. Adhere to the law of Tang Dynasty, TheSongXingTong which was completed in the early period of the North Song Dynasty presents the rules and regulations on marrying concubines. Later, it made some adjustment by taboo of concubine of marriage; On the legal practice, it is comparatively strict to enforce the law, But the rules and regulations did not influence deeply people's everyday lives.Third, the concubine's status of family of Song Dynasty. concubines'status at home was low and complex, but their position at home had been accepted in accord with customs and etiquette. The complexity of concubines'position at home had something to do with the changing of the social background.Fourth, the concubine's right of the person and proprietary of Song Dynasty .Concubines had no personal dignity and independence, but their rights of life, to some extent, were respected and protected. And it was legal for a widow concubine without son to inherit her husband's property. What is more, a concubine can have her own property through various ways, for example, by inheriting according to the will from her husband's family.Fifth, over theories.To make the maid accompanying a bride to her new family a concubine legally is one of the inevitable outcomes of the social change between Tang-Song Dynasty. In Song Dynasty, the concubines of high officials were actually a part of privileged class because the law granted them some social prestige. In addition, they could participate in their husband's political activities. The concubinage scale is slightly smaller in Song Dynasty than that in Tang Dynasty, but equal to that in Yuan Dynasty which is after Song Dynasty. Along with the social and historical changing, the people of Song Dynasty have gradually changed their view on concubine-holding.