The Transitions From The Kory ?é Dynasty

Empress Wu, the only female to ever rule China, was a devout Daoist. Also, as the Tang Empire expanded eastward, contact with India increased and Buddhist influence reached its height. Many people traveled to India. Monks like Xuanzang went to India, brought back many sutras, literary compositions based on the teachings of Buddha, and translated them into Chinese. Seeing the rise of Daoism and Buddhism and the fading of Confucianism, Tang scholars set out to defend Confucianism. Han Yu, an essayist, vehemently argued against Buddhism and asked the Chinese to go back to their roots by studying and interpreting the Confucian Classics. His main argument against Buddhism was that the foreign religion preached equality among all and didn’t place proper importance between the five relationships (ruler vs. the ruled, father vs. son, husband vs. wife, older brother vs. younger brother, and older friend vs. younger friend) necessary for social tranquility. He urged that this was destroying social order. Nonetheless Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism all coexisted as the "three teachings" under the Tang.

In China during 406-221 BCE, the battling states between the Zhou and the Han Dynasties? were in a state of governmental disorder. Although the era was in a disruptive state, it ushered in a cultural opening that left a long lasting imprint on the Chinese history. As a result, three major belief systems surfaced Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism in an attempt to achieve a sense of political order in a disorder period. There are distinctions in the way each of the belief systems approached the many problems that plagued the Chinese society. First, all of the founders were contemporaries in China. As well as considered philosophies, who studied the future, and sat out to focus on the present rather than the past. In contrast, Confucianism, Daoism and Legalism established various paths in search of an optimistic future for the success of China. Second, both Legalism and Confucianism developed a social belief system, but are considered a religion. However, both Legalism and Confucianism purpose was to create an orderly society in the hopes of prosperity. In contrast, Daoism does

during the Zhou Dynasty, China was experiencing a great deal of political turmoil. A major part of this era was called the Period of the Warring States. It was a time when there were numerous wars that occurred due to the conflict that existed between seven states. (Watkins, 2013) These warring states were the Han, Wu, Zhao, Chu, Qi, Yan and Jin. According to Jerry H. Bentley and Herbert F. Ziegler of the book Traditions and Encounters, “This period forced some people to reflect on the nature of society, and the roles of humans beings within society.” The authors continued saying that it forced others to “identify principles that would restore political and social order.” (Bentley & Ziegler, 2011) The principles of Confucianism were established and followed in order to help the citizens of China to live and govern their communities more efficiently. Through Confucianism, Confucius helped legitimize China’s rule and bring about order in the mist of turmoil. The effects of Confucius’ principles are still seen and felt today in many aspects of modern day Chinese society. Veritably, there were points throughout Chinese history where Confucianism affected almost every aspect of life in China. Confucius has impacted the development of Chinese thought and culture in various ways from education to politics, to familial relationships.

Social structure is something that has been present all over history. There are many aspects used to define the social structure of a civilization, like race, ethnicity, class, gender, social mobility, and religion. One civilization in particular, China, has had the social structure of its reason evolve over time. Chinese dynasties from the Classical Era, the Post-Classical Era, and the Early Modern Period each established their own take on these categories. The dynasties from their respective time periods each differentiated themselves from the previous time period and allowed themselves to also have similarities between them. Chinese dynasties from the Classical Era and the Post-Classical Era are able to determine the factors of social structure that remain consistent and the factors that change throughout the time periods, which are class, gender, and social mobility. In the same way, the Ming and Qing dynasties of China from the Post-Classical Era compare to the Song and Tang dynasties from the Early Modern Period in China to define the consistencies of social structure through class, gender, and social mobility.

Confucianism is often characterized as a system of social and ethical philosophy rather than a religion.The structure of Confucian social philosophy is very well thought out and organized. The study of Confucian classics during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) gave birth to the social system designed in accordance with the Confucius theories.It social structure consistis of Scholars, who known to hold the society together, at the top. Peasants, Farmers, and Workers were next. Confucianism placed a great value on the product of food and work, therefore peasants and servants were respected some for doing work. Merchants were considered to be one step above parasites, and were the lowest in the caste system Merchants didn’t create anything, just bought and sold from one place to another, therefore they were not respected whatsoever. Islamic societies were divided into many clans, but also possessed a caste system. Their caste system consisted of priests on the top, then warriors and muslim rulers, then skilled traders and merchants, then Unskilled workers, and lastly outcasts and

Additionally, this institution of feudalism changed the everyday life of Europeans, while the spread of Confucianism in Korea influenced the submission of women to men.

The great dynasties, empires, civilizations, and nations are praised heavily by the milestones, highlights, and achievements. To the extend that they are sometimes turned into films, television, or documentaries for generations to watch discuss and compare to any literature or research that exists for people to study. The same is said for the figures and/or leaders that lived and help to shape the world and environment that is study or functioning still to this day. It would seem that at times history is studied based upon popularity or where the most documentation exists to study. Such a statement is not to create an argument that history is unbalanced in focus in terms of periods of time or geographic location but rather to challenge the focus of where each are studied. The beginning of a civilization is equally as important as the high times or popular periods, as its lays the foundation of the potential and promise of the surviving, thriving, and longevity. This is proven when looking at Numa Pompilius and what he help to create and establish for the Roman Empire and the development of Rome itself.

Women’s role in Ancient Chinese civilisation was always vital to society due to their role in the family and during the Tang and Song dynasty significant changes occurred, changing Chinese women’s lives forever. While it is no secret women were inferior to men in the history of China, not many are aware of the major differences of the status of women from dynasty to dynasty. The Tang-Song dynasties ruled from 618AD to 1279 AD and many distinct differences between these two dynasties can be observed. Women’s role in these dynasties primarily included domestic duties, with the introduction of new roles to the female gender. Their role was very important to society as the woman of the family ran the household and as that was the most important

8. In what different ways did Japanese and Korean women experience the pressures of Confucian orthodoxy?

Wu Zhao belonged to the Tang Empire, which according to the author which “…was a true empire, encompassing many lands, many peoples, and many ideologies. Multi ethnic and cosmopolitan, Tang China was perfectly suited for the ascent of a historical anomaly like Wu Zhao…” (Rothschild, 2008, p. 11) In a sense, there was a conflict of traditional Confucian values which promoted a patriarchal society and the liberal Steppe culture which gave women more freedom and rights. China at that time was a cocktail of these cultures which led to a significant impact on the lifestyle and values of peoples in that era. Women were bold and tough, and unlike earlier societies, were no longer confined socially and sexually (Rothschild, 2008, p. 12). While did not exist a perfect equality between men and women, women of that era were allowed to live without hiding under the dominance of the male Yang. As the author talks of the Silk Road, it is mentioned that,”…In this free-wheeling milieu, women donned men’s attire and rode horses…” (Rothschild, 2008, p. 15) .This “cosmopolitan” (Rothschild, 2008, p. 16) society was the foundation for the Tang Empire. Another important factor was the prevalence of Buddhism as a religion of the masses. Buddhism, in itself, helped united much of Asia, and was a common platform for men and women, unlike in Confucianism where

Daoism and Buddhism was introduced after nomadic people invaded northern China. The initial idea of patriarchy changed as people noticed that in nomadic people’s culture women were far less restricted. By the times of Tang Dynasty women were considered capable of handling legal affairs and were also allow to do activities that were originally created for only men. During this dynasty legal codes were created to recognize women's right to inherit property. A clear evidence of how patriarchy was changing was the reign of Empress Wu, the only woman ever to rule china.

During the golden of the Tang Dynasty in Chinese history, the ascension of Empress Wu to the position of Emperor during the second half of the 6th century in China marked a period of revolution and dichotomy. Not only did it grant the Empress the prerogative to rule in her own right, but also brought with it a period of animosity and chauvinism that defined and remained present within Wu’s rule. Throughout history traditionalist historians recorded Wu’s reign as a consolidation of economic and political clout, a direct threat to Confucian teaching. Yet although there are several problems attributed to Empress Wu’s regency such as the negative portrayal that has since remained for hundreds of years. Beginning in the twentieth century, shifting

Women in Ancient China during the Han Dynasty and Tang Dynasty lived in oppressed lives. Society perceived them as inferior to their husbands and parents-in-law. Their role in the family were to be housewives taking care of their family and maintaining the household chores. They were always under the instructions of their husbands and parents-in-law in they were treated like servants. They also had no control in their personal decisions because they were not allowed to decide who they were going to marry and what they wanted to do in their careers. Parents of daughters would also force their daughters to foot-binding because it would attract potential wealthy husbands. This paper argues that although the Han Dynasty and Tang Dynasty were known as the golden periods for China, nevertheless, it was overlooked by historians that women during the time were victims of gender inequality because they lived with no control over their personal lives and were expected to be submissive to their husbands.

Throughout China’s middle ages, Confucianism and neo-Confucianism played a role in how society and government worked. These influences started during the Song dynasty. When the Mongols took over, Confucian ideas were carried over to their government making them an even stronger power. How did Confucian and neo-Confucian thought influence the Song and Mongol dynasties?

Lessons for Women is a book of conduct written during the Han Dynasty by Ban Zhao (C. 45-120) to advise the women of her family on the proper conduct of a wife. Ancient China around this time was a Confucian state in which the society was control by the belief in order and harmony. The book contains seven chapters that talks about: humility, husband and wife, respect and caution, womanly qualifications, wholehearted devotion, implicit obedience, and harmony with younger brothers- and sisters- in law. This work of literature reflects on how a proper women was to behave obediently to the husband, by being devoted and respectful to avoid humility to herself, her parents and her clan. It gives the readers an idea of the power that men had over women during this time period and the exceptions for both roles of husband and wife. Lessons of women informs the readers that women during the Han Dynasty had no control over their own lives and the philosophy of Confucian had a huge influence on the society’s everyday life. Ban Zhao emphasizes the importance of distinctions between men and women, and their separate natures.