Women in the Song Dynasty

The Song Dynasty: A Period of Cultural Flourishing and Social Restriction

The Song Dynasty, which lasted from 960 to 1279 CE, is renowned for its cultural and economic advancements in Chinese history. Founded by Emperor Taizu, born Zhou Kuangyin, the dynasty experienced a commercial revolution that spurred agricultural and technological progress. However, the era also saw a regression in the status of women, who faced more constraints than during the preceding Tang Dynasty. The Song period's advancements in various fields were thus juxtaposed with a decline in women's social freedoms and rights.

The Reinforcement of Confucian Ideals and Their Effects on Women

The Song Dynasty's societal fabric was heavily influenced by a revival of Confucianism, which reinforced traditional gender roles and patriarchal authority. Confucian teachings prescribed a rigid social order, with women expected to be obedient and subservient to their male counterparts. This resulted in women being largely relegated to domestic spheres, where their primary duties revolved around childbirth, household management, and upholding family honor through seclusion and modesty.

Tang vs. Song: The Shift in Women's Status

The contrast between women's status in the Tang and Song dynasties is stark. During the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), women enjoyed relative autonomy, participating in commerce, politics, and even military endeavors. Some women held significant positions of power and influence. In contrast, the Song Dynasty's conservative social ethos confined women to the domestic realm, with their societal value often linked to their ability to produce male heirs.

Foot Binding: A Symbol of Beauty and Oppression

The Song Dynasty saw the widespread adoption of foot binding among the elite, a practice that became a symbol of beauty, virtue, and status. This brutal custom involved breaking and tightly binding young girls' feet to keep them small, a process that caused immense suffering and lifelong disabilities. Known as "lotus feet," these deformed feet signified a woman's conformity to Neo-Confucian ideals and her family's affluence, as it indicated she was not required to perform manual labor.

Divergent Lifestyles of Women in Different Social Strata

The daily lives of Song women varied greatly depending on their social class. Women from noble families often had access to some level of education and were responsible for managing household affairs and servants. In contrast, peasant women, who constituted the bulk of the population, typically lacked formal education and worked alongside men in agricultural tasks. Unlike their elite counterparts, these women did not practice foot binding, as their labor required them to be mobile.

Property Rights and Inheritance for Women in the Song Dynasty

In the Song legal system, women were viewed as dependents of their male relatives, and their social status was derived from their father or husband. While women's rights were generally limited, Song law did allow women to inherit property, which was relatively progressive compared to contemporary European practices. However, widows were subject to stringent societal norms that discouraged remarriage, often leaving them vulnerable if they lacked familial support.

The Central Role of Women in Song Family and Society

Despite the restrictions imposed on them, women in the Song Dynasty played a vital role in the family and society at large. Marriage typically involved a woman integrating into her husband's family, where she was expected to care for his relatives and manage domestic affairs. The birth of sons could enhance a woman's standing within her household, and in some cases, elder women could exert influence over family matters. The contribution of women to the continuity of the family lineage and the preservation of social customs was an essential aspect of life during the Song Dynasty.