Women in Early Japan

The Role of Women in Early Japan

The role of women in Japan changed over time. Japanese women were both valued and villainized. In the earliest parts of the Middle Ages, Japanese women acted as rulers. As Buddhism spread, the status of women declined. Eventually, women were only seen as valuable if they were married.

Early Japan

Women in early Japan had the opportunity to act as ruler. Shinto, the common religion of the time, encouraged female rulers as women were assumed to be more peaceful than men. Pimiko, a third-century female ruler, and Iyo, her decedent, prove that women were able to inhabit the position.

Buddhism was introduced to Japan in the late 6th century. Japanese Buddhism had a negative view of women. It spread the belief that women were inherently evil. As this belief spread, the status of women declined.

The Heian Period (794-1185 CE)

The Heian period is known for its cultural achievements. Many historians who look back on this period call it a golden age, meaning that the people of this period took advantage of relatively good conditions to develop the cultural aspects of their society.

The Heian Period was technically first led by Emperor Kanmu, but the majority of the power really was help by the Fujiwara clan. The Fujiwara gained power by intentionally arranging marriages for their children to gain political strength.

During this time, a woman's social status really impacted the day-to-day of her life. Noblewomen wrote and created art. They were often educated and cultured. Common women worked in the rice fields and created textiles. Women of all economic backgrounds were expected to rise children and run a household.

During the Heian Period, Japanese women had an impactful place in the popular culture. Women at this time are credited with the development of a specific type of writing called hiragana.

The Kamakura Period (1192-1333)

The Kamakura period, which brought feudalism and a military dictatorship to Japan, also brought rights back to women. Women had access to education, even being exposed to the martial arts that were crucial for samurai training.

What caused this? One reason is the development of new divisions of Buddhism.

Overtime, the status of Japanese women began to revert to its previous state during the Heien period. The relationship between husband and wife began to look like the relationship between feudal lord and subject. Women were expected to be married to gain value and were often isolated from other women.

Fig. 2: Hangaku Gozen, Female Samurai

Gender Roles

Historically, traditional gender roles formed a large part of Japanese society. You are probably familiar with traditional gender roles already, but let's explore what they looked like in feudal Japan.

Expectations of Women

At the time, Japan's societal expectations for men and women were very traditional. Women were expected to be subservient to men. Women were responsible for maintaining and protecting the home. In public, women were to defer to their husbands. They were expected to be polite, respectful, and quiet.

Girls were taught martial arts, and women were expected to protect their homes. Some women trained to be samurai.

Fig. 3: The Tale of Genji.

Feudal Japan: Marriage

Japanese women were typically used by their families to create alliances or to raise a family's social status. Fathers may choose to marry their daughter off to a particular family, or a samurai warrior may select a wife. Within the marriage, women were generally expected to submit to their husbands. Women received martial arts training as young women to defend their homes. Women in medieval Japan were unable to get a divorce. There was nothing prohibiting husbands from committing adultery.

During the Heian period, marriage had one function: to produce children who would be able to inherit notable social or political positions from their parents. Courting during the Heian period look different as well-there were no apps, swiping, or set-ups involved. The men and women of the aristocracy would exchange letters and poems. They were legally considered married if they spent three nights together. Weddings looked a lot different from the modern version-the bride's parents would organize a banquet for the bridge and groom.

In the case of a high-ranking Heian noble man, he may have a wife and a concubine. A concubine was essentially a cross between a wife and an employee. While a concubine did not have the same status as a wife, she was still responsible for producing children. The Pillow Book and the Tale of Genji are literary representations of martial life in feudal Japan.

In the Edo period (1600-1868), marriage was a considerable part of the family that made up a basic unit of society. Family members were expected to embody the Confucian value of respecting one's elders.

Marriages were arranged by the head of the household. Marriages had to be of equal social standing. When women married, they married their husband's household. This strengthened the notion of marriage to further political alliances. Romantic love was not a consideration.

Fig. 4 Beauty with Dragon, an Edo Period Painting.

Summary: Women in Early Japanese Society

The role of women in Japan changed over time, with women being both valued and villainized. Women in early Japan were valued and some functioned as rulers. As various religious ideas spread, the idea that women were inherently evil, the status of women declined.

Japan's Heian period was a golden age known for its cultural achievements. A woman was her status-common women worked in fields and created textiles. Noblewomen created art. Literary works of art are a prime example of this; novels like the Tale of Genji were published.

The Kamakura period brought feudalism and a military dictatorship to Japan. This was also a time of rights for women. They had access to education again, and some women experienced a version of samurai training as young girls.

Gender roles were generally very traditional. Women were expected to be subservient to men and maintain and protect their homes. Women were typically used by their fathers or other male head of household. They were placed into arranged marriages to further political alliances or raise a family's social standing. Romantic love was not a consideration.