During the 18th Century women in China continued to be subordinated and subjected to men. Their status was maintained by laws, official policies, cultural traditions, as well as philosophical concepts. The Confucian ideology of "Thrice Following" identified to whom a women must show allegiance and loyalty as she progressed throughout her life-cycle: as a daughter she was to follow her father, as a wife she was to follow her husband, and as a widow she was to follow her sons. Moreover, in the Confucian perception of the distinction between inner and outer, women were consigned to the inner domestic realm and excluded from the outer realm of examinations, politics and public life. For the most part, this ideology determined the reality of a woman's live during China's "long eighteenth century?" This is especially true for upper class women.

The philosophical idea of yin and yang is found throughout Chinese culture, literature, and social structure. The idea is that the world is made up two opposite types of energy which must be kept in balance with one another. Neither is greater than the other, or more important than the other. In respect to gender, yin is female and yang is

behind courtyards and doorways deep in the recesses of the house offered

Ideally, women and men were to share in a partnership with the ultimate purpose

and cared for them when they grew old. When a man holding office faced devastating financial losses or difficult political decisions, only his wife's disinterested advice and frugal savings could save his career. Although

grievances to parents would merely magnify the suffering born of an

Some common words found in the essay are:
Hong Liangji, Moreover Confucian, Qing Jiangnan, Eighteenth Century, public life, eighteenth century, public life outside, women china, 18th century women, upper class women, life family, mann 62, life outside, class women, married women, elite women, century women,
Approximate Word count = 1235
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)