Confucianism in the early history of China
Introduction
Confucianism in the early history of China had strong traditions on the position held and role played by the women. The women were to maintain strict obedience to men, form the relation point of a father, brother, a husband and to a son after the demise of the husband. Women had no economic voice, as reproductive role, house chores such cooking, cleaning and other domestic duties being their primary roles. was the only power vested in them. The Confucian ideology saw these women drawn into early marriages, with no right to choose even the husband while being denied the opportunity to education, and having no control of their own physical bodies. It was an act of slavery embedded on the women of this era.
The female character Li Wa doesn’t fit in this context of ideal woman under Confucianist as she is described as rich, with sizable income. She also lives in a noble house within quite a serene neighborhood. having her own female procuress, service maid. This kind of lifestyle and freedom was not something women in the history of Confucianism would enjoy let alone possess.
The idea of a woman desiring a man and to have children with, was not a right a woman would choose I the old confucianist ideology. In this case of Li Wa, the female procurer, is seen to encourage and approve of the intimate relationship that Li Wa and son of Ch’ang-chou. The mother gives a go ahead for mutual desire between the two to be with each other even as the lad moves into Li’s family, perhaps because of the fact that he represents a noble family.
Women were regarded as obedient, they could not lie to their male counterparts. This narrative does not fit in the Li Wa story because Li has perfectly conned and played the son of Ch’ang-chou into scheme where he spends all his money and wealth given by his father, and becomes broke and homeless. He is affected by this scripted play to the point he falls ill and almost giving up on life. Li Wa seemed to have done it for her own interest, something that was deemed as unacceptable act by an ideal Confucianist woman.
After series of events, the son of Ch’ang-chou, disowned by the family and as he sets out, his path and Li Wa is reunited. After reunion, Li Wa does not play into the confucianist idea as she commands and shapes the education, and the excellence that the son of Ch’ang-chou finally achieves. She does not let him to conduct things in his own way, instead she orders and instruct him on when and at what point he will be considered as successful amongst his scholars. This act is not displayed by an ideal woman of Confucianism, where women were never to order or take charge on any matter.
Significance and meaning of your findings
Pan Chao’s lesson for women as extracted from this piece is significant to the liberalization of women in the modern era. The freedom and rights depicted in Li Wa character illustrates the courage and boldness women can have in shaping their future and that of their families. The right of women to choose their marital partners without interference and at the right age, shows how important they can be when it’s not forced on them. Therefore the idea of women not taking control of charge of their lives should be demystified and revoked in the society.
The idea of women attaining economic independence and empowerment to rise to the top, and be described as rich is only possible if they are not reduced to and enslaved to reproductive role and domestic chores.
Conclusively, Pan Chao’s story has significantly dismantled the patriarchal system and proved the importance of women in the society both as shapers of their own family and contributors to the development of the society at different level of service.