The Expectations for Women in Confucianism During the Chunqiu Period

Abstract

Confucianism plays an important role in modern Chinese culture. Research have found the suppression of women in Confucianism and the role of women in Chunqiu. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the relationship between early Confucianism in Chunqiu and women. Therefore, this study focuses on an overall description of the expectations for women of early Confucianism by examining the primary sources, such as Biographies of Exemplary Women, Zuo Zhuan and The Book of Songs, as well as existing research. The study finds that women were expected to be chaste, obedient, intellectual and righteous for the benefit of their husbands or of their states, sharing a lower social status. These expectations differ from reality, in which these traits were not regarded as important. Confucianism promotes the customary separation between two genders, in pursuit of courtesy for the social order. As for the limitations, this research has not deliberately distinguished the difference of expectations from Confucianism in Chunqiu and Han dynasty, leaving a gap for future research.