1.

Theories on Women

-Women in ancient China did not enjoy the status, either social or political, afforded
to men. Women were subordinate to first their fathers, then their husbands, and
finally, in the case of being left a widow, their sons in a system known as the “three
followings”.

“xuấ t giá tò ng phu, phu tử tò ng tử ”

-Often physically ill-treated, socially segregated (segrigeit), and forced to compete for their
husband's affections with concubines

- In China everyone knew it was better to be born a male, and even female characters
in traditional literature sometimes stated that they had been a man in a previous life but
had reappeared as a woman in this one as a punishment for past deeds. Another common
introduction to a female character in such stories was the line “unfortunately she was born
a woman”.

- A male child would grow up to contribute financially to the family, perform rituals
such as those in ancestor worship, and perpetuate the family name. In contrast, a
woman could not earn money and one day would leave the family and join her
husband’s. Consequently, many baby girls were abandoned shortly after birth.

- Women were expected to excel in four areas: fidelity, cautious speech,

industriousness, and graceful manners. A woman’s virtue was a particularly valued
attribute in Chinese society.

- Women deemed especially virtuous such as chaste widows were sometimes given the
honor of a shrine, monument, or commemorative tablet after death or had their names
published in honorific obituaries.

2. Marriage

- Marriages in ancient China were usually arranged by both sets of parents. Not love
but economic and social considerations were upmost in everybody’s minds.

- Neither did some parents wait until their children were of age as many marriages had
been arranged when the couple were still young children or even babies.

- A man’s marriageable age ranged from 20 to 30 and a woman’s from 15 to 20

before the Qin Dynasty (the 3rd century BC). After the Warring States Period (475-
221BC), the marriageable age for girls was lowered due to the shortage of workforce
caused by frequent wars. Later saw a gradual rise in marriageable age in the following
dynasties.

If a marriage had been arranged but the groom died close to the ceremony, the
wedding might go ahead anyway and the bride joined her new family as a widow.

- The bride went to live with the groom in his house or that of his parents, keeping
her family surname. Her transferal of abode became a great procession when she was
carried on a red bridal chair and her feet never touched the ground between the homes in
order to ward off evil spirits.

- That a wife was not much more than a physical piece of her husband’s property is further
illustrated in the ancient practice of foot-binding. Girls from aged three upwards had
their feet crushed in bindings for years in the belief that the resulting small feet
would appeal to her future husband. (hủ tục bó chân)

- In Chinese law, a man could divorce his wife but she had no such right except if the
husband particularly mistreated his wife’s family.

- The accepted grounds for divorce were failure to bear a son, evidence of being unfaithful,
lack of filial piety to the husband’s parents, theft, suffering a virulent or infectious disease,
jealousy, and talking too much.

3. Education

- In Ancient China, a new-born baby girl did not bring bring joy to a family because a
son was more valuable than a daughter. Women were seen as inferior to men and
families did not feel the need to invest much in their daughters. Therefore, they
were also unworthy of receiving an education.

- Most women were not literate and did not know how to write any words. Some
daughters, especially those of scholars and teachers, were educated. They learnt at home
from their parents or the family scholar. Women could never become a leader or part of
the Ancient Chinese Government because they were not permitted to talk or act freely in
front of men.

4. The famous women in china

* Empress Consort Wu Zetian (Võ Tắc Thiên) (623/625 - 705 CE). The only female
emperor to be officially recognized in Chinese feudal history.

- She was also the king who became the oldest king (67 years old) and one of the oldest
emperors (82 years old). Scholars consider Vo Tac Thien to be an outstanding female
politician and strategist, contributing to the prosperous economic, political and
cultural development of the Tang Dynasty.
- Entering the palace at the age of 14, Vo Tac Thien came from a slave, then proclaimed
herself "Tac Thien great holy emperor". She made her mark in history by stabilizing the
border, contributing to the economy as well as the government at that time.
- The emperor promoted agriculture to develop, taught farmers to plant and manage land,
made it easier for farmers to cultivate, prospered merchants and crafts, stable society,
stable security. The average economic growth of China under Vo Tac Thien was 0.7%, a
high figure in ancient times..
- People also appreciate Vo Tac Thien for using people and contributing to the culture of
the Tang dynasty. However, she also left a lot of bad reputation among the people for
committing and killing innocent people.
- To take power, Vo Tac Thien is said to have defied to killed her own child. Legend has it
that, at the palace, Vo Tac Thien acknowledged that she was the one who squeezed the
nose, causing Princess An Dinh to die prematurely.
=> She is the most famous woman in Chinese history with her cruelty.
* Empress Dowager Cixi (1835 -1908) ( Từ Hi Thái Hậu) is one of the most powerful
women in Chinese history.
- She assisted the next three emperors, her husband and son, and held and controlled the
Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 until her death in 1908.
* Empress Ma Tu Anh (1332-1382).
- she was born during a period when a woman had to binding-foot to become a beautiful
woman, but she resolutely refused, so the next generation called her "Big Foot".

- She is kind, honest and simple. The queen's actions made the emperor respectful. After
her death, Chu Nguyen Chuong set up no more queens to pay respect and miss.

- The Book of Minh history, called her "Mother of Rights, from the famous virtues.

Where customary binding-foot from?

There are many theories about the origin of the custom. One of the many mentioned
theories is the story of an Emperor Han Cheng's concubine named Zhao Phi Yen. She
wrapped ribbons around her feet and danced. Emperor Han Cheng, impressed by
Trieu Phi Yen's pose when dancing on his slim legs, called it the lotus three inches
and ordered other concubines to follow suit.

https://www.ancient.eu/article/1136/women-in-ancient-china/

https://www.toptenz.net/10-remarkable-women-in-chinese-history.php

https://keatschinese.com/china-culture-resources/general-standards-of-ancient-chinese-
marriage-age/

A dynasty is a line of rulers from the same family. Each ruler is a

direct descendent from the last ruler. Ancient China Dynasties

The Chinese would say the Han. Many Chinese still call themselves
the Han people. Many exciting things happened in Han times,
including the introduction of the government exam. Others might
say the Tang. The Tang Dynasty is often called the Golden Age of
Ancient China. Han Dynasty and Tang Dynasty