Research On Social Life Of Women In Liao Dynasty

The Liao Dynasty was a feudal dynasty founded by Qidan as the main rule nationality. Because of the development of progressiveness and imbalance during each period, and the differences of domestic class, national and regional, the social life of woman in the Liao Dynasty was different in different periods and classes. On politics, the married system of the imperial family only intermarried with the queen family and the special political system of North-South Roadside bureaucracy resulted in the queens interfering in politics frequently. On economy, the commoner women directly created social wealth, but also were exploitees, while the princesses who possessed their own castles held social wealth. On women'education, mainly included cultural and woman ethic education. The content of cultural education was primarily Confucianism, and mostly from their parents or tutoress. Usually,only noble women can get cultural education, the common women had little or without culture education. However, all women had to accept woman ethic education what made an impact on women'chastity concept in mid and late period of Liao Dynasty, and divorce from free tended to conservative. The characteristics of marriage also showed match and amalgamation of nationalities. In household life, a virtuous woman must show filial piety to parents, procreate, help her husband and teach children, besides administer property. Under the influence of the society and family embracing Buddhist, many women also embracing Buddhist and contributed to building locale. It showed that women can control certain property in family. However, so many women becoming Buddhist nun or vegetarians attracted a lot of adverse effects on the development of commerce, agriculture and stockbreeding. On the protection of woman, there was no special law on protecting woman in Liao Dynasty. The servant women the bottom of the society got personal security in law until mid and late period of Liao Dynasty. Although it was a progress of the society, servant women still can be freely traded until late Liao Dynasty.