A Study Of Chinese Traditional Female Virtuousness

China’s economic model of male-working and female-weaving in ancient society determined the social structure that the feudal society was at the core of male power and male superior pattern.In the traditional Chinese society,the rulers consolidated the feudal rules,strengthened the concept of superiority and inferiors,promoted the "three obedience and four virtues" to maintain the patriarchal order and suppress female rights so that women’s status kept low.Women’s social roles are generally confined to family.They spend their life to learn how to be a good daughter,a good wife and a good mother.They were deeply oppressed by father-oriented patriarchal system.They had not only to practice virtue,be gentle,chaste and tenacious.After married,they also need to be filial to parents in-law,assisting their husband and teach children,treat relatives well.In the ancient society,the traditional female moral under the feudal autocracy,shows the characteristics centering on Confucianism mainstream and male-oriented thinking and so forth.Chinese traditional female virtuousness is an indispensable part of China’s traditional culture.In order to maintain the patriarchal hierarchy,feudal society paid attention to moral education,especially for females,and compiled a large number of books and teaching materials for females.During the Ming and Qing Dynasties,so as to strengthen the centralization of power and ideologically popularize Neo-Confucianism of Cheng-Zhu,the ruling class strengthened the confinement of females.In Qing Dynasty,Chen Hongmou was deeply influenced by Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism.Therefore,he studied the classics with more than 150 kinds of books.One of his representative works—the Selected Works of Women’s Education is the classic work of feudal society’s female moral education,and becomes the female education official textbook after Qing Dynasty.The Selected Works of Women’s Education brings together classic works from every generation of female-teaching articles to promote Confucian ethics and educate women to abide by their duties,honor their parents,be thrift and housekeeping.Although the Selected Works of Women’s Education is a tool for feudal autocratic ruling class,it has a positive effect on improving female cultivation,stabilizing family harmony and safeguarding national stability and other aspects.Rooted in the strict ancient hierarchical system,Chinese traditional female virtuousness not only obtains feudal etiquette dregs but also contains excellent ingredients.We must observe problems in two sides,abandoning their dregs while advocating the essence,connecting together the inheritance,carry-forward,criticism and innovation.First of all,it is necessary to explore and promote the excellent contents of the traditional female moral thought,such as the traditional mother-teaching thoughts in female ethics has played a positive role in the training of children’ generous kindness,dignified virtuousness,moral integrity and other good qualities,and establishing a life value loyal to one’s country.Furthermore,we must critically inherit the humility and filial piety,chastity and other excellent factors in "four virtuousness",being filial to parents,assisting their husband and teach children,and remove the "simple-minded filial piety" inside,"male superiority","martyrdom and chastity-preserving" and other dregs thoughts.Meanwhile,we have to focus on the traditional Chinese ethics,pouring the "self-esteem,self-love,self-reliance,self-reliance" time spirit into the inheritance and development of female ethics,to create a new female image and achieve the innovative transformation traditional female morals,making actively exploration to deal with family moral,carry forward traditional Chinese culture and establish a harmonious society.