Women Under Feudalism

Lecture 19 Women Under Feudalism Giri vs. ninjo: Giri: duty/obligation to one’s family, class, society; general sense of honor But society can’t be based entirely on obligations; there must be room for feelings. Obligations alone don’t create an orderly, harmonious society; must be tempered by human feeling and expression. So, giri and ninjo balance each other out, somewhat, in creating a relatively harmonious human society. Women’s status evolved over different periods – Kamakura, Muramachi/Sengoku, and Tokugawa eras. Kamakura Women had rights to own property. Marriages are slightly less political than later (more prominent in the era between Muromachi and Tokugawa); there’s more freedom, though they’re still fairly strict. Divorce was allowed if there was a basis in the law. Muromachi Feudal relationships highly emphasized: lord-vassal, parent-children, husband-wife. Lord-vassal becomes predominant; determines many things, including interpersonal things like marriages. (between periods) political marriages more prevalent Men almost always determined divorces. A widow or a divorced woman was highly stigmatized. Tokugawa Strict moral codes for women Major function: having children/heirs. After they’ve had kids, they’re pretty disposable. What are the big differences you’ve found between samurai woman and merchant/courtesan women? - samurai women are much less outspoken, because their world is more governed by the strict Confucian relationships. Merchant/courtesan women can be more outspoken because their social structure is not organized in the same way. [film – Samurai Rebellion]