Clues to Marriage in Ancient China A Qing
- Slides: 10
Clues to Marriage in Ancient China
A Qing Dynasty wedding. The two parents are seated. The bride is wearing the blue hat, presenting tea to the mother. The groom usually wears a cross forming an "X" in front of him. Sometimes the "X" includes a giant bow or flower, though not in this picture, http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Image: Everyday_Life_in_Old_China_06. jpg
Ban Zhao’s “Lessons for a Woman” http: //journeyeast. tripod. com/ban_zhao. html • Why would she give this kind of advice to her daughters? • What evidence do you find in her essay to support your answers?
• From reading Ban Zhao’s advice for women, what do you think she sees as the purpose of marriage?
• What is the one issue on which Ban Zhao disagrees with her culture’s traditional expectations for women?
“Woman” by Fu Hsüan • What view of marriage does this poem give? http: //www. theepochtimes. com/n 2/content/view/1711/
Comparing the two writings • How are the two writings similar? • How are they different?
• Which of the two do you think are more contented in life – Ban Zhao or the character in Fu Hsüan’s poem? • Give evidence from the writings to support your answer(s).
• Why, in your opinion, do these two sources present somewhat different views on the male-dominated society and marriage structures of the Han period?
“Woman” by Fu Hsüan • Would it change your opinion of the poem “Woman” if you knew that Fu Hsüan (the author) was male? • The author was, in fact, a man. • Does that affect your response to the poem in any way?
