The Family Roles And The Status Of Chinese Female During Yuan Dynasty

Chinese female during Yuan dynasty played different family roles in different periods of life, they complied with the requirements of different roles, the most fundamental roles which they played were daughter, wife, concubine, daughter-in-law, mother, mother-in-law. Ancient Chinese family is a kinship system that stresses rank, sequence and identity. Women s status in this kinship system was determined by the role that they played in the family. Women s status was not only complied with the ethical principles of "the three obediences", the respect for seniority and Filial Piety of Confucianism also played an important role in Women s status. Furthermore, the economic factor also played a decisive role. With the influence of Mongolian tradition, there were some different features in the status of Chinese female during Yuan dynasty. The law of Yuan dynasty ruled that the husband could sell or marry the guilty wife to others, according to the law, the wife was her husband’s private property, and it is unique in legal history. This paper discusses the family status of daughter, wife, concubine, daughter-in-law, mother and mother-in-law, and shows the different status in different family roles of women.