Women had for long centuries lived under the strictures of a Confucian society. How did Confucian ideals in the Ming and Qing dyansties affect...

Confucian and Neo-Confucian beliefs had long imposed a patriarchal society on China. For example, before Confucianism, female ancestors were worshipped in China, but after Confucianism, only male ancestors were honored. Foot binding became a practice during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), mainly for women of aristocratic background to show that their families were wealthy enough not to need women to work, but it became a common practice in much of China to prepare girls for marriage....

Confucian and Neo-Confucian beliefs had long imposed a patriarchal society on China. For example, before Confucianism, female ancestors were worshipped in China, but after Confucianism, only male ancestors were honored. Foot binding became a practice during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), mainly for women of aristocratic background to show that their families were wealthy enough not to need women to work, but it became a common practice in much of China to prepare girls for marriage. The practice started in northern China and then spread. Eventually, it became difficult for women to find husbands if they did not engage in foot binding. In addition, while Confucianism provided a special place for scholars, women were not supposed to be educated.

During the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), the Mongols ruled China. The Mongols afforded their women better treatment than did traditional Chinese Confucian culture, but the Ming Dynasty ended Mongol rule in 1368 and returned China to traditional beliefs. Women in China had very traditional roles during the late imperial period, specifically during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. While women continued to participate in the production of textiles and porcelain and to grow cotton, their realm was limited mainly to the home. For example, widow chastity became a celebrated value, meaning that women who were widowed, even early in marriage, were discouraged from remarrying. In addition, foot binding was widely practiced, suggesting that women still followed traditional gender roles. It was finally outlawed when the Qing were overthrown in 1911.