Study Of Female Values In Song Dynasty

Feminine values of Song dynasty was developed on the basis of inheritance of the traditional concept, the development of the commodity economy, imperial examination system, and three religions into the dominant thought(the Confucianism, the Buddhism and Daoism). It consists of consolidation of national traditional culture and construction of a great era.Women in Song dynasty abided the traditional culture, such as obeying women’s courtesy, constraining their own words and deeds, taking care in their appearance and clothes, abiding by filial duty, sticking to their job as well as hard in housework in order to create a good inner environment for their husbands. They strongly support their husbands to serve the country and to fulfill the benevolence. All of their traditional values were inherited from the essence of Confucianism reflecting the pursuit of absolute moral idealism.Under the background of Song dynasty, women were not only obeying moral codes but also struggling to free themselves from traditional restriction. They actively participated in improving livelihood and increasing wealth, and willing to help others especially in the time of famine.Influenced by culture, women in Song dynasty actively strived toward knowledge and a large group of elites represented by Li Chingzhao was known by the era. While other women, who were influenced by the concept that innocence is the virtue for women, hided their talents and gave selflessly of themselves to their family. But the government-owned prostitute, as the special group they had to make a living through their talents.In addition, women’s criteria of choosing spouse paid attention to knowledge and morality. For the widows, they were loyal to their husbands and they would shoulder the responsibilities to maintain the family. On the idea of children education, women in Song dynasty were strict with children and hoped children to win a name by imperial examination. They paid attention to moral training on morality cultivation. Going in for politics, they persuaded children to be honest, upright and hardworking officials. In the aspect of how educating children, women in Song dynasty won remarkable achievements.Most of women in Song dynasty threw themselves into the ranks of Buddhism’s belief, and some of them did not be tied down by Buddhism and even opposed the religious belief. They could deal well with the relationship between responsibility and belief, and they got a deeper understanding of life and it helped them to live in society.Influenced by tradition and reality, Confucianism plays a core role in forming process of female values in Song dynasty. They had their own life principles, moral pursuit of perfection, strong consciousness of social responsibility, values realization by means of males and stoop to compromise and so on. In that era, assisting husband and bringing up children were primary means to realize their values. In general, no matter virtuous wife, strict mother, inheritance, state affairs, responsibility, duty, women in Song dynasty always associated with the society. What’s more, they had social desirability, and they fulfilled the duty with all their heart. Their mainstream values agreed with theme of the times, played a guiding role in family, had promoting effect on social order and made contribution to politics, economy and culture, so women of Song dynasty is excellent group in historical process of China.