Cultural Geographic Region Under Female Characters:Research On Geographical Distribution Of Lienv In Chongqing During The Qing Dynasty

Lienv, a major part of women in ancient China, is a group of females praised in the male-dominated society. That’s why they are recorded in the history. As it went to the Qing Dynasty, as a group of special crowd with obvious common features, they are divided into various small groups like “Jiefu”, “Liefu”, “Lienv” and “Zhennv” etc.. In the Qing Dynasty, Lienv becomes a universal phenomenon, widely distributed. However, due to differences in history, geography, culture and economy of different regions, the distribution varies from regions. Chongqing is a place rich in regional culture; what’s more, a large number of immigrants moved in Chongqing in the Ming and Qing dynasties, which contribute to the diversity and regionalism of Lienv culture. In this paper, Chongqing region in Qing Dynasty is studied. Based on local chronicles recorded during Qing and the Republic of China, moral connotation of females is deeply analyzed to discuss the geographical distribution of Lienv in Chongqing and divide regions based on different Lienv cultures, so as to expound the natural and cultural environment formed due to regional differences and reveal the relation between Qing females and geographical environment.In the first chapter, it analyzes the purpose, category and other related contents listed in Local Chronicles; by revealing the image of Chongqing Lienv in the Qing Dynasty, it further discusses the morality mentioned in Local Chronicles. Standards for Lienv include “chastity”, “undefiled”, “heroic”, and “filial piety”, and also involve “righteousness”, “virtuous”, and “gentle” etc..In the second chapter, it probes into the geographical distribution of Lienv in Chongqing, which is divided into two sections. In the first section, geographical distribution and overall characteristics of Lienv are described as a whole. The phenomenon of Lienv is common, but the distribution is extremely imbalance, which is reflected in the large quantity variance among prefectures and the obvious distributional difference within prefecture. Two dense points(Fuzhou and Jiangjin) and two concentrated areas(Chongqing prefecture and Zhongzhou) integrate points and sphere, showing the feature that the distribution is more in the west and less in the east. In the second section, it systematically discusses the geographical distribution and features of Lienv. Chongqing Lienv in the Qing Dynasty are divided into Zhennv, Jiefu, Lienv, Liefu, Xiaonv, Xiaofu, Yifu, and Xianshu, among which Jiefu and Liefu are two major groups. Distribution of Lienv tends to be in the west; in two important prefectures; and the architectural difference of Lienv types varies largely within different prefecture. Besides, Jiefu, Lienv and Liefu(namely BDC, DBC, BCD) are the most common component type of Lienv in Chongqing region.In the third chapter, it separately discusses the chastity, filial piety, and righteousness of Lienv based on different geographical distribution. As for behavior analysis, the following aspects are emphasized: first, the overview of different kinds of behavior; second, geographical distribution of corresponding behavior; third, features of each kind of behavior in different regions(for example the age and duration for preserving chastity after the death of her husband, reasons and ways for behaving chastely and heroic, how to practice filial piety, and raise children etc.).In the fourth chapter, it discusses Lienv culture in different regions. By adhering to such principles as physical geography principle, administrative division principle, similarity principle, principle of combining overall analysis and main factors etc., three Lienv culture regions are divided, namely, mid-east region, southeast region and west region. At last, it deeply analyzes the factors that affect the forming of different culture regions. physic-geographical environment(geographical conditions, natural hazards) and social humanity environment(honor system, political geography position, administrative division establishing time, military geographic position, and war; economic development situation; immigrants and the general mood of society) have a great influence on the forming and geographical distribution of Lienv phenomenon.