The Study Of Chinese Traditional Ethics On Women Based On "Commandments For Women"

"Commandments for Women", the work of Banzhao, focuses on cultivating traditional women how to keep humble, submit to their husbands and have a good relationship with their cousin. By summarizing former female ethics, "Commandments for Women" exerts a far-reaching influence as a milestone in the history of feudal female ethics. So we can learn more about the suffering to feudal women by analyzing it,According to Yin and Yang, the gender philosophy, "Commandments for Women" established its theory. Qian and kun corresponded respectively to Yang and Yin, heaven and earth. It implied men and women in gender. Being in a dominant position, "Yang" had a positive effect; while "Yin " in a subordinate position followed Yang. The value of "good Yang bad Yin" and "Female subordination" was produced consequently. Living in a strong atmosphere of Confucianism, Ban Zhao had increasingly agreed to this gender philosophy. Patriarchal society which based on consanguinity and her special experience all helped Ban Zhao finished "Commandments for Women".The fundamental aims of "Commandments for Women" included "female subordination", "the rules of compliance" and "loyalty and chastity". Women were forced to learn these thought from they were born. On one hand, women should strengthen individual self-cultivation and study the basic skill about how to be a good wife, for example, women’s morality, words, modest manner and good needlework. On the other hand, women should improve the interpersonal ethics by respecting their husbands, complying with parents in-laws and getting along well with sister-in-law. Eventually, the ideal model of women, which represented the highest expectation of female ethics in Chinese traditional culture, would be created,"Commandments for Women", "Analects for women", "Admonishment for imperial harem" and "Records of model and Virtuous women" are regarded as the Four Self-accomplishment Classics for Women. By comparing "Commandments for Women" with other three books, we can find that the ethical principles followed by traditional women were developed step by step and they became severe and even abnormal in Song and Ming dynasties.Undoubtedly, the traditional gender model of "men outside while women inside" has been broken down in contemporary society and the ethical pursuit of equality between men and women become more eminent. However, women will have to bear more burden if we ignore the physical and gender differences between men and women so that they can’t keep the balance between family and work. By virtue of traditional female ethics, modern women can find some useful factors to construct a new harmony and stability.