Misconceptions about Confucius’ views on the role of women and their impact on the modern women’s liberation movement

Geng Biao, Alekseev-Apraksin Anatoly Mikhailovich

The article examines in detail the relationship between the thoughts of Confucius and the social status of women. By analyzing the views of "yin" and "yang" in Confucianism and rethinking various ideas in the Confucian classics, Confucius's view of the equal status of men and women is revised. At the same time, it also talks about the influence of historical and political factors on various ideas developed by Confucianism in the process of communication, which once again confirmed Confucius's statement about the status of women. Confucianism claims that a woman is absolutely and unconditionally inferior to a man. Her first and foremost duty is to obey her husband and parents, maintain order in the house and give birth to healthy boys. The emphasis was on her biological function, and her emotional life was relegated to the background. The author says that misinterpretations of Confucius's teachings about the role of women have become a serious obstacle to the study of Confucianism by some foreign scholars, since it is very difficult for foreign scholars to truly understand Confucian thoughts through the existing translation, and this has seriously affected the spread of Confucianism in the world. The result of the analysis can provide theoretical support for the modern women's liberation movement. Based on the long-term trust of the Chinese people in Confucianism, this material may also have some reference value for the future development of China's social structure.

Keywords:Confucius, China, status of a woman, Yin 阴 and Yang 阳, inferior person, female virtue.