1. Take out your notebook & copy this question down:
October 15th
TO DO:
Take out your notebook & copy this question down:
QUESTION #4:
How did women work within and break the confines of Confucianism to achieve success?

2. Eastern Han/Three Kingdoms
Women & Confucianism
These four women were renowned for their beauty in Chinese history.
They were the epitome of Confucian values of women – passive, submissive, beautiful
Their stories are also used to teach the idea that “Disorder is not sent down by Heaven, it is produced by women”
They lead to the downfall of kingdoms and rulers because it is said that they were so beautiful that kings will betray/give up their kingdoms/people to be with them
Xi Shi
Spring & Autumn Period
Wang Zhaojun
Western Han Dynasty
Diao Chan
Eastern Han/Three Kingdoms
Yang Guifei
Tang Dynasty
( CE)

3. Not all women throughout Chinese history conformed to Confucian ideals
Hua Mu Lan
Wu Zetian
“Empress Wu”
Dowager Empress Cixi
Mu Guiying

4. Each poster will need to have the following:
Name
Picture or visual representation of them (you will draw)
Year & Dynasty
2 interesting facts
How did they conform to Confucian ideals?
How did they break from Confucianism ideals?

5. Hua Mulan Empress Wu Mu Guiyang Dowager Empress Cixi
Years & Dynasty
420 CE – 596 CE
Northern Wei Dynasty
Interesting facts
How did they conform to Confucian ideal for women?
How did they break from Confucian ideals for women?

6. " A woman's duty is not to control or take charge
" A woman's duty is not to control or take charge." "Woman's greatest duty is to produce a son." "A woman ruler is like a hen crowing." "A husband can marry twice, but his wife must never remarry." "We should not be too familiar with the lower orders or with women." "The woman with no talent is the one who has merit." " It will be women neither to do wrong nor to do good. Only about the spirits and the food will they have to think." "Disorder is not sent down by Heaven, it is produced by women." "Those who cannot be taught, cannot be instructed. These are women and eunuchs." " Man is honored for strength; a woman is beautiful on account of her gentleness." "There are three un-filial acts: the greatest of these is the failure to produce sons." "Women are to be led and to follow others." "A husband may marry twice, but his wife must never remarry." "We should not be too familiar with the lower orders or with women." "Women's nature is passive." "A woman should look on her husband as if he were Heaven itself, and never weary of thinking how she may yield to him."

7. Synthesis
How did women work within and break the confines of Confucianism to achieve success?