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Frontiers of Philosophy in China

ISSN 1673-3436

ISSN 1673-355X(Online)

CN 11-5743/B

Postal Subscription Code 80-983

Front. Philos. China    2020, Vol. 15 Issue (2) : 198-222    https://doi.org/10.3868/s030-009-020-0012-1
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Roles and Representations of Women in Early Chinese Philosophy: A Survey
Sarah Craddock1, John Preston2()
1. Department of Philosophy, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6UD, UK
2. Department of Philosophy, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6UD, UK
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Abstract

An understanding of the roles and representations of women in classical Chinese philosophy is here derived from central texts such as the Analects, the Lienü Zhuan, and the I Ching. We argue that the roles of women during the classical period of Chinese philosophy tended to be as part of the “inner,” working domestically as a housewife and mother. This will be shown from three passages from the Analects. Women were represented as submissive and passive, as with the qualities ascribed to yin energy, and therefore as rightfully subordinate to men. However, despite representations of women in philosophy being thus at this time, there were exceptions, specific women who could take a male “outer” political role. The story of Jing Jiang from the Lienü Zhuan suggests that although women being involved in “outer” affairs were looked down on, there were still women who would be and who would occasionally get praised for doing so. This shows that it was realized, explicitly or otherwise, that women were capable of taking those roles, but also that they were not allowed to take such roles at that time.

Keywords women, roles      yin-yang      early Chinese philosophy      distinctions     
Issue Date: 09 July 2020
 Cite this article:   
Sarah Craddock,John Preston. Roles and Representations of Women in Early Chinese Philosophy: A Survey[J]. Front. Philos. China, 2020, 15(2): 198-222.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fpc/EN/10.3868/s030-009-020-0012-1
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fpc/EN/Y2020/V15/I2/198
[1] GUO Qiyong, CUI Tao. The Values of Confucian Benevolence and the Universality of the Confucian Way of Extending Love[J]. Front Phil Chin, 2012, 7(1): 20-54.
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