Women’s Civil Legal Status In Eastern Jin And Southern Dynasties

The social status of women can best reflect the degree of social civilization.Among all the components of women’s social status, the legal status, especially the civil legal status occupies a very important position.During the Eastern Jin and Southern Dynasties, wars occurred frequently and dynasties changed frequently.While the northern labor people escaped to the south area, they also brought the advanced production tools and production skills, thus southern agriculture had made considerable development, handicraft industry and commerce also gradually prospered. With the northern people migrating to the south area, the national integration of accelerated its pace. The rapid development of Buddhist, philosophy and religion of this period also contributed another fabulous age next to the Spring and Autumn Period, when schools of thought sprang up and they shared different thoughts and opinions actively. With the comprehensive effect of all these factors, a unique prospect of women’s civil legal status in the Eastern Jin and Southern dynasties has opened up in front of us.This article selects the Eastern Jin and Southern Dynasties as the object of study,which is a typical stage of Chinese feudal society and functions as a connecting link between the preceding and the following. Basing on a detailed analysis of the historical materials and absorbing the results of previous studies, this article explores the civil legal status of women in this period, so as to make more objective analysis and evaluation on this issue. explores not only the social survey and women’s social status of Eastern Jin and Southern Dynasties, but also emphasis on the discussion of women’s legal status that time. Firstly, this article uses the "role" theory of Sociology and from a perspective of three roles that a woman plays through her whole life,respectively discusses her property rights in three situations,as daughter,a wife or a mother. As a daughter, the property rights is mainly reflected in the trousseaux and the inherited property when her own family die off. As a wife, she owns the management right of her trousseaux and the inherited property under the special circumstance. Widows even take over the management right of family property. As a mother,her status is much higher in the family who enjoys the ownership of private property, the management right of family property and so on. In addition, considering the special status of imperial concubines, princesses and other upper class women,this article lists them separately to discuss their property rights. Secondly, this article explores the ordinary women of Eastern Jin and Southern Dynasties in personal freedom rights, marriage rights, right of equality between spouses, parental rights and so on. Finally, this article concludes the characteristics women’s civil legal status of Eastern Jin and Southern Dynasties: comparing to the Han Dynasty, women’s civil legal status has been improved in Eastern Jin and Southern Dynasties; During this period, the wedding etiquette presents some new features; Comparing to ordinary women, the upper class women enjoy more civil legal rights; Thanks to the effect of some ethical thoughts, like "ethics of filial piety", "respect for seniority", mothers usually have a higher status.