Ancient China is often lauded as one of the longest lasting influences on modern civilization. Through the ages, China remained a stable driving force in the gradual culmination of our modern world. It would take thousands of years before the last Chinese dynasty would be destroyed. Clearly Ancient China was a civilization built upon structure and order, of regulation and rigidity. This would explain how while great empires alongside China would rise and fall, China itself retained its basic spirit, even through different rulers, philosophies and enemies. Of course this meant that roles in Ancient China were strictly defined, wary to change and ultimately designed to ensure the continued survival of the society.
[...] But in most of the rest of the cases, bankruptcy is what happens.” (Family and Property in Sung China, 1178) Women are given a very strict set of duties and those duties seem more designed to get them out of the way of the real responsibilities that the men of the family undertake than anything else. There seems to be a trend through most civilizations; the more complex and structured a society becomes, the wider the gap between men and women seems to grow. [...]
[...] He seems to genuinely want to convey useful tips to the women of his time, and heartedly tries to look out for their betterment. However though the words are written to aid, not insult or hinder, there is a underlying message beneath the words; women, whether wife or mother are utterly “helpless” (Family and Property in Sung China, 1178) and so need proper directions to be pruned and raised by, lest chaos reign over China. Women are expected to serve the men in their lives; that much is laid out in Tsai's essay, they are the handlers of the home, no more. [...]
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