An Analysis Of The Female Status In Shang And Zhou Dynasties

In The discussion about systems of Yin and Zhou, Wang Guowei points that: The greatest changes of politics and culture in China, are the changes from Shang to Zhou Dynasty. Without doubt, the developments of Shang and Zhou Dynasties have great impacts on later thousands of years. With the changes of politics and culture in this period, women’s social and family status also changes accordingly. This thesis mainly describes women’s status and its changes during Shang and Zhou Dynasties. The thesis has four parts:The first part: Introduction. It introduces the significance of this thesis and summaries the studies on the status of women in Shang and Zhou Dynasties. It also introduces the research methods.The second part discusses the status of women in Shang Dynasty. Firstly, the social background of women who lived in Shang Dynasty is described. Then the social status is commented in the areas of politics, economy, military, marriage and education by using the references of the oracle inscriptions and grave. The witch is used as an example to illustrate the changes of women status in Shang Dynasty. Finally, the reasons for the higher status of women in that Dynasty than that of the following Dynasty are illustrated.The third part focuses on the patriarchal clan system and the women status in Western Zhou Dynasty. In this part, the patriarchal clan system in Western Zhou Dynasty is firstly introduced. In the areas of politics, economy, military, marriage and education, the effect of the patriarchal clan system is then discussed. The reasons for the changes of women status are explained. Finally, the influences of the law and discipline on women status are discussed from the aspect of the discipline.The fourth part describes the women status in Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States. This part is different from other parts owing to the social changes in Spring and Autumn Period. The effect of social transformation on the noble women and the folks in that time is instructed in the areas of politics, economy and social life. Then, the reasons for the diversity of women status are briefly summarized. The impressions of the Confucianism, Taoism, Mohism and Legalism are finally presented.