The ancient empress dowager had high status and great power. Does it mean that ancient men were superior to women?

The ancient empress dowager had high status and great power. Does that mean that ancient men were superior to women? A few people or a small range of special phenomena can't explain the overall situation of society. Looking at the problem from point to area is bound to be a blind man touching the image, which is neither objective nor comprehensive.

The phenomenon that men are superior to women has a long history in China. This phenomenon has appeared since the Bronze Age.

The phrase "a woman without talent is virtue" proves us well.

How did this phenomenon come into being? Why is this happening? What are the specific manifestations of male superiority and female inferiority? Since men are superior to women, why are there so many powerful queens? Today I will explain these doubts to you.

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The transformation from "matriarchal society" to "paternal society"

In primitive society, probably in the late Paleolithic and early Neolithic, it was not a patriarchal society, but a matriarchal society.

At this time, the status of women is higher than that of men, and women occupy a dominant position in the clan commune, which is widely respected and worshipped by people.

There is a simple reason. At this time, the contribution of women to women's society is relatively higher than that of men. Because the society at that time mainly depended on picking for a living, and women had the ability that men did not have, that is, "fertility."

No matter from the perspective of labor contribution, or from the perspective of continuing and developing the whole clan commune. At that time, women were more important than men. So it was a matriarchal society for a long time before the Neolithic Age.

In the new era, labor production has changed, and men began to occupy the dominant position of labor with their physical advantages far exceeding those of women.

In addition, a series of wars broke out between tribes for turf and resources, which gave men more opportunities to express themselves. At this time, matriarchal society began to change to paternal society.

From ancient vulva worship to male root worship, the consciousness of "men are superior to women" began to form gradually.

By the time of the Yellow Emperor tribe, the patriarchal clan system was gradually formed in the society, and the status of men was increasing. Men can represent a family, while women gradually become the accessories of men.

In the Zhou Dynasty, the aristocratic class began to form, so there was a "concubine system". That is to say, "concubine" marries polygamy. And this will inevitably lead to the problem of property distribution in the future.

This formed the later division of official positions and commonness. "Concubine system" and "the distinction between local and ordinary" contributed to the feudal etiquette system based on Confucianism in the late Spring and Autumn Period, and began to restrain and restrict women's behavior.

In the Eastern Han Dynasty, Ban Zhao complied with the background of the times and wrote the Women's Commandments, which strictly stipulated a series of moral theories that deprived women of their rights, such as "three obedience and four virtues" and "the rules of husband and wife".

Since then, the phenomenon that men are superior to women has become concrete and "justified".

Why is there a phenomenon that men are superior to women?

When a phenomenon appears, what we need to do is to explore its historical roots. Now that he has appeared, it is relatively reasonable.

The reason why men are superior to women is that men's influence on society was much higher than that of women at that time. In other words, the natural differences brought by gender contribute to this phenomenon.

Since the Neolithic Age, labor has become more complicated than before. In the past, people's subsistence labor was basically picking and hunting.

After that, farming began to gradually move towards the historical stage. In contrast, men's inherent strength advantage makes it easier for them to occupy an advantageous position in labor.

The other is about war. When tribes develop to a certain extent, there will be wars between tribes around land and resources.

Compared with women, the advantages of men in the war are self-evident. The more wars there are, the more important men are, so men begin to occupy the dominant position in society.

After occupying the dominant position, men become the leaders of tribes and clans. Relatively rational men are more suitable for managing and promoting the development of a tribe than relatively emotional women.

Since then, men have occupied the dominant position in the whole society. With the passage of time, this leadership position has become more and more stable. From a country to a family, men have the final say.

In this way, the phenomenon of "men are superior to women" is naturally formed. And it will become more and more serious with the development of feudal etiquette and law system. This phenomenon cannot be changed unless the feudal etiquette system is fundamentally overthrown.

The concrete embodiment of "men are superior to women"

"Men are superior to women" covers almost all levels of ancient society. From the core of the country to the bottom people, from the social collective to a family, it is reflected. If it is impossible to give examples of everything, let's simply say a few points.

As far as the organs of state power are concerned, women should have the consciousness that "a woman without talent is virtue". Women don't even have to go to school and have no chance to take the imperial examinations.

The state deprives women of the right to study freely, but imposes another function on them, that is, intimacy.

In diplomacy, many dynasties will choose to strengthen diplomatic relations in an intimate way, or lift a temporary crisis. At this time, women have become diplomatic tools.

Moreover, this phenomenon will not only be reflected in temples, but also in the people.

The so-called "marry a chicken and follow a dog" is a kind of oppression of women's rights by the people. As long as it is a married daughter, no matter whether her husband is good or not, she must accept it.

If you flee to your mother's house because of the abuse of your husband's family, even your parents and brothers will think it is a shame.

The recognition of women in the whole society is also extremely low, which sets harsh moral shackles for women. It is often said that "it is a great shame to be exposed to clothes and sleeves", which is by no means an ancient joke.

In ancient times, women were strictly controlled in dressing up. Moreover, the compulsory requirement of restricting personal freedom, that is, "you can't go out this door, but you can't enter the second door", runs through the whole society.

No political status, no freedom of marriage or even personal freedom. This is the life state of women in ancient society. Feudal ethics firmly controlled women with shackles, which dehumanized women.

Why is the queen mother in power?

History often records people who have an influence on history. What we are familiar with has been vigorously promoted in history.

There are many influential women in the history of China, including Dou Taihou, Wang Zhaojun, Liu, Empress Dowager Cixi and the only empress Wu Zetian in the history of China.

But we must be soberly aware that the appearance of these people is only an individual phenomenon in society, not a group phenomenon. In the history of China, there are more queens without power, and they only have a so-called title.

For example, the mother of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, nephew Wang, has no power. What this woman can do is to benefit her relatives. Controlling Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty is a dream.

Including the mother, Empress Dowager Gao, as an opponent of the political reform, she did nothing in the times. She couldn't control the son who actively reformed at all, only the later dispatch of Zhezong. Although she later gained power, she also had to decide who was in power.

And Lou Zhaojun of Beiqi, the Empress Dowager, not only had no power, but was also beaten by her son Gao Yang, Emperor Wenxuan of Beiqi. It can be said that she is timid.

Say these, in fact, is to tell you one thing, empress dowager cixi was able to hold power, need a lot of conditions. Therefore, this may be just an example, and there is no social * * *.

What do these conditions include?

Almost all queens can take power without preconditions, that is, "having doubts about the country."

Because the emperor is young, or the emperor himself is weak and unable to control the situation of the court, this gives the empress dowager the opportunity to listen to political control.

The other is that the empress dowager herself has a strong desire for power. Women like Lv Zhi, Wu Zetian and Cixi have a strong desire for power.

Their desires are not lower than those of men. Even if the old emperor is here, these people will struggle for power and profit, let alone get a new emperor.

In addition to the two main roles of the emperor and the empress dowager, there are still some factors that we need to pay attention to.

Behind many powerful queens, there are her own interest groups supporting her.

This interest group is related to her, such as the Lushi family behind Lv Hou, or relying on Empress Dowager Cixi to make profits for herself, such as Xu and Pei Yan before Empress Wu Zetian became queen.

It can be found that even the powerful Empress Dowager is only the spokesperson of an interest group, and it is difficult for her to appear independently.

Emma Wu Zetian, if no one wants to rely on her and the Wu family behind her, it is impossible to sit on the throne of the queen.

The second is the checks and balances between the post-system and the officials. Many times, it is also a political need for Empress Dowager Cixi to take power. In the future, it is necessary to check and balance the ministers in power to prevent all power from being concentrated in the hands of ministers.

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The phenomenon of "men are superior to women" is a bad habit in feudal ethical code society. It deprives women of their rights and freedoms and has a far-reaching impact on China society. Even today, there is a phenomenon of son preference.

The emergence of the powerful Empress Dowager Cixi is only an individual phenomenon, which cannot prove that social groups are "men are superior to women".

Empress Dowager Cixi can hold the power, which is formed by multiple factors. From the main point of view, even these queens themselves have a stronger desire for power. And there are interest groups behind it that need support.

The other is that in order to maintain the balance of political power, some queens have to master the power and form a balanced relationship with ministers.