This paper is aimed at discussing three articles that are related to the experiences of women in Medieval Japan. To a great extent, these sources can throw light on the peculiarities of gender norms during this period. Overall, it is possible to say that during the period, the choices of women could be very limited because they lived in a patriarchic society.
Nevertheless, one should keep in mind that they had some opportunities for becoming more independent of males. For example, much attention should be paid to the financial resources that they could possess and manage. These are some of the main issues that should be discussed more closely.
In the article Gender in Asian History, Noriko Kurushima discusses such a question as to the functioning of, ie, or the household in medieval Japan. In this way, the author focuses on the experiences of women, especially such issues as inheritance and marriage. This scholar challenges a widely-held belief according to which women were entirely dependent on males. According to this author, there is some documentary evidence that can refute this idea.
For instance, records are showing that females could give donations to religious institutions1. Furthermore, they could be engaged in banking as well as commerce. This evidence indicates that they had an opportunity to make independent use of their property.
Therefore, their choices were not always limited. Nevertheless, one should not suppose that the rights of males and females were equal. For instance, the property was primarily passed through the male line2. These are the main arguments that Kurushima puts forward in the article. Overall, this author urges the readers not to overlook the complexities of this period.
Additionally, it is possible to speak about the article written by Rajyashree Pandey, who discusses the concept of desire in the Japanese culture. This author notes that women could not take full control of their bodies. Their sexuality was also perceived as something sinful3. Additionally, there was a specific dress code that women had to follow. Overall, Pandey’s discussion suggests that women had to comply with more rigid cultural norms.
This is one of the points that can be made. It is also possible to mention the article written by Hitomi Tonomura, who discusses gender relations in Japan during the Middle Ages. This author also shows that family relations during this period were based on the premise that a husband could perceive his wife as some form of property.
For instance, the primary sources suggest that adultery could be described mostly as a female sin, rather than a male one. Moreover, jealousy was considered to be inappropriate for females, but appropriate for males4. This textual evidence is also informative because they indicate that women could be marginalized or even discriminated. This is one of the points that can be made.
These sources suggest that one cannot speak about egalitarian relations between males and females in Japanese society during the Middle Ages. In particular, women were not encouraged to play a primary role in social or family life. Nevertheless, people should not have a stereotypical perception of this society since there are important exceptions.
For instance, females could take some control of their property. More importantly, one should not evaluate medieval Japan by the standards of the twenty-first century. Such an approach can give a person a distorted idea about this culture. These articles can be helpful for the study of gender in Japan. These are the reasons why these sources should be considered.
Bibliography
Kurushima, Noriko. “Gender in Asian History Women,Family and Inheritance. Marriage and Female Inheritance Medieval Japan.” International Journal of Asian Studies 1, no. 2 (2004): 223-243.
Pandey, Rajyashree. “Desire and Disgust Meditations on the Impure Body in Medieval Japanese Narratives.” Monumenta Nipponica 60, no. 2 (2005): 195-234.
Tonomura, Hitomi. “Black Hair and Red Trousers: Gendering the Flesh in Medieval Japan.” The American Historical Review 99, no. 1. (1994): 129-154.
Footnotes
1 Noriko Kurushima, “Gender in Asian History Women, Family, and Inheritance. Marriage and Female Inheritance Medieval Japan.” International Journal of Asian Studies 1, no. 2 (2004): 240
2 Ibid, 228.
3 Pandey Rajyashree, “Desire and Disgust Meditations on the Impure Body in Medieval Japanese Narratives.” Monumenta Nipponica 60, no. 2 (2005): 198.
4 Hitomi Tonomura, “Black Hair and Red Trousers: Gendering the Flesh in Medieval Japan.” The American Historical Review 99, no. 1. (1994): 129-154. 138.