51 pages • 1 hour read
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Confucianism has had a significant impact on the gender dynamics and politics of Japanese society through its promotion of patriarchal hierarchies. A philosophical and ethical ideology, Confucianism began in China between the sixth and fifth centuries BCE by Kongqiu (also known as Kongfuzi, Kongzi, or in Latinized romanization, Confucius). The movement made its way to Japan during the Tang Dynasty in China, analogous to the late Asuka period through to the Heian period in Japan (7th to 10th century). It became especially prominent during Japan’s Edo period (17th century-19th century), as samurai culture adopted Neo-Confucian morals and social structure, which influenced traditional gender dynamics by reinforcing a patriarchal family structure.
Within the social hierarchy of traditional Confucianism, men were placed as the head of the family, either through their role as father or husband, giving them complete authority over household members and the family’s social network. Men were deemed the primary financial providers, proprietors, and decision-makers for the family, while women were expected to offer total obedience and devotion, as well as express innate submission to the head of their family. Confucianism’s emphasis on filial piety also extended women’s obligations to other male members of their family, prioritizing patriarchal family unity and the social order over any desire or ambitions they were allowed. As women had limited access to property or means to generate revenue (inheritance was typically the only means to have property, though it would then be passed on to their husbands when they married or to their eldest son), they relied solely on the financial support from their male family members and were often left in a vulnerable position.
Since Confucianism also stressed the importance of family lineage, women were relegated to the roles of child bearers and nurturers, implementing the notion that a woman should be confined to work solely within the domestic sphere. As such, women’s access to education outside of domestic knowledge was heavily restricted. The educational system was designed purely for men of means, usually to pass civil service examinations and obtain government positions. Even if women somehow acquired the knowledge, they were generally not allowed to hold a position within the civil service. Their value within the family structure was measured by their capacity to marry and have children, as Traci Chee outlines for many of her female characters in A Thousand Steps into Night.
Since the Meiji era and through many subsequent reforms, women have had more opportunities and greater access to education and career paths in Japan. Yet, despite the progress, cultural norms rooted in Confucian values persist, which can translate into challenges, biases, and discrimination within and without the workplace. Though social change continues to improve toward a more equitable future, traditional ideas of gender roles influenced by Confucianism in matters of family and marriage expectations have yet to fully dissipate.
Plus, gain access to 8,800+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
9th-12th Grade Historical Fiction
View Collection
Action & Adventure
View Collection
Appearance Versus Reality
View Collection
Asian American & Pacific Islander...
View Collection
Beauty
View Collection
Books on Justice & Injustice
View Collection
Books that Feature the Theme of...
View Collection
Books that Feature the Theme of...
View Collection
Challenging Authority
View Collection
Class
View Collection
Class
View Collection
Daughters & Sons
View Collection
Diverse Voices (High School)
View Collection
Equality
View Collection
Family
View Collection
Fate
View Collection
Fathers
View Collection
Fear
View Collection
Feminist Reads
View Collection
Forgiveness
View Collection
Friendship
View Collection
Good & Evil
View Collection
Grief
View Collection
Hate & Anger
View Collection
Japanese Literature
View Collection
Loyalty & Betrayal
View Collection
Mythology
View Collection
Order & Chaos
View Collection
Power
View Collection
Pride Month Reads
View Collection
Pride & Shame
View Collection
Revenge
View Collection
Safety & Danger
View Collection
Teams & Gangs
View Collection
The Best of "Best Book" Lists
View Collection
Trust & Doubt
View Collection
Truth & Lies
View Collection
Valentine's Day Reads: The Theme of Love
View Collection