Essay on Tang Dynasty Women’s Rights

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Essay on Tang Dynasty Women’s Rights

After the Han Dynasty fell, there was a period of shifting rule which made life in China very chaotic. This is known as the period of disunion. When this was happening, the Sui Dynasty took over. The Sui Dynasty flourished at the start but near the end of their time (618 AD) their ruler only wanted power to benefit himself. Many rebellions were happening and a short civil war took place, and the emperor of the Sui Dynasty was assassinated. Eventually, Li Yuan and the Duke of Tang formed a rebellion against the Sui. The leader of the rebellion (Li Yuan) claimed that the Mandate of Heaven was passed down to him. As a result, he became the first emperor of the Tang Dynasty. He is now known as Emperor Gaozu and he had the title from 618 AD-626 AD. His son, Li Shimin, had come and forced the power from his father. Emperor Gaozu allowed his son to take the throne. Li Shimin was then given the title of Emperor Taizong. He is known to be a phenomenal ruler and was very sagacious. During the beginning of the Tang Empire’s existence, multiple emperors arose after another, including a woman. The height of the Tang Empire now transpired. 

The Tang Empire government was very organized. The system they used was a monarchy. The first emperor or founder of the Tang was Emperor Gaozu, and his son came next. The most influential emperors of this time were Emperor Taizong, Emperor Xuan-Zong, and Empress Wu Zetian. Zetian was the only female ruler of the Tang dynasty, and in ancient times that was not very common. The other part of the government the Tang had were the three departments that created laws operated by six ministries. Government officials who were a part of these ministries and departments are chosen through Civil Service Exams. Their places in government depended on their scores on these exams. An educated society was extremely important to the Tang, so they had a system of government-run schools where people would take on the study of Confucianism. These students will also be led to take the Civil Service Exams. The Tang Empire was able to hold together very well over a long period of time. This is because along with society being so educated, they also had a code of laws that were put to use. This in-depth code of laws showed people what they could and could not do, and punishments for their crimes. The government of the Tang Empire created a stable, flourishing empire.

Though the empire did not have a Caste System, it still had a social structure. The Tang social structure consists of eight classes. At the top was the emperor and his family, secondly was the aristocracy, next was the bureaucracy (which was divided into two separate parts), then the eunuchs, and lastly the slaves. Slaves arrived in China through trade and they were called the Kunlun. To some people of the Tang Dynasty, slaves were not the ideal people. They thought of them as hazardous and unknowledgeable. But on the other hand, some thought of them as mighty and wondrous. Slaves in the empire worked for the higher classes or were artists. In slight contrast, women were very well respected in the Tang Dynasty. Since the Tang people were accepting of many views and ideas, women could do almost everything men could. They could own property and businesses, have an education, learn about politics and the military, and have fair marriages. There was also an Empress who ruled over the Tang for over fifty years. Women of the Tang Dynasty were fortunate (Writers of All-China Womens Federation) to live during such a time.

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