The ways women and men are treated? Chapter 5 - Doc

I enjoy reading this document, especially the gender roles in different societies. In China the Confucius said very little about women. Confucius idea about men is that they should have all the power in the society and home. It's men dominated society when men have unlimited choices and women have very limited choices and opportunity. For example, men work out side the house, while women stay home do all house chores and make her husband and elders happy. I found it very interesting in Confucius philosophy that it is important for women to have an education not because they can be independent; women/girls get educated so they can serve/help their husband. It is sad how after women having an education, they have to stay under control by their husband.

Lesson for Women 
Ban Zhou wrote the Lesson for Women. Ban Zhou received an education and got married on early age. She had few children and her husband died. She did not remarried because it was a tradition for widow not to get married. When I was reading this, it reminded me of my society where if wife die than husband get to marry another women. However, in past if husband die than wife had to jump on the fire.Than it changed into if husband die than she don't have to jump on the fire, but society see her (wife) bad and she have to face lot of obstacles Moreover, she is seen as bad luck and she can't remarry. It is very bad and disturbing, but these tradition started changing into modern. In the Lesson for Women Ban talks about the custom when the girl born. For example, after 3 days of the birth of a girl there is three rituals. First, the baby girl place under the bed which mean she is weak and low. Second is to give her potsherd to play which mean that she will be doing labor(working in the house). Third, to announce her birth to ancestors by giving, which mean she will be fulfilling her primary duty.This is how they train when they were small which makes it harder to have change in this society.

This story reflect to many women in Confucius society as well as other women around the world. Not everything is fear in most of the societies and it's not perfect, but it's running from generation to generations. However, to bring change and move as a whole society or country both men and women should work together for equality.

In Rome husband was the held over family. Women opinion did not value much and men use to make public and private decisions. Everything was very restricted that women/wife had to ask the men what they want.
If I would ask to leave in one of these society, I would choose to live in India because as a women life is very hard and men take control over everything. But if you became Buddhist monk, than in India women have more freedom and respect than other society.

Culture and Religion in Eurasia/North Africa

This chapter was interesting and the same time it was confusing because there was lot of information from all different cultures, religions and the names.
During the heyday, people in China started to fixing and reopening thousands of destroyed temple. On the other hand, Christianity was growing constantly. In China, India, the Middle East and Greek, there culture spread widely. There was varieties of gods and sprite in the world. There was rituals and sacrificing men and women, but in second wave era there was new culture to define universe.

• India-Gautama was separate religion and later known as Buddhism. 
• Middle East- Distinctively monotheistic religion tradition appeared. 
• Israel: Judaism was separating.
• Greek:  A rational and humanistic tradition found expressing in writing.

China: In between 403 to 221 B.C.E, the violence and disharmony was growing. The Legalist solution of China's problems is enforce the rules and regulation and there was a system of reward or punishment. For example, if you follow every rules than you get reward and if you don't follow than there is consequences (punishment). However, Confucian answer of China problems was very different from Legalist. For example, Confucian answer was that there should be no law and punishment, but more superiors is the key of social harmony. "Superior person" or "gentleman" in Confucian terms, this development to involved serious personal reflection and a willingness for good character. These idea made a deep mark in Chinese culture. Ban Zhao was gave priority educate the young girls, not because girls were equal as boys, but to prepared to help their husband. However, boys were getting education to control wive and lead everything. Growing up in Nepal, lots of girls were not allow to get an education because women job was to do house chores and take care of husband. But this idea a of girls get education to server husband is new for me and it's very interesting. 

India: Indian civilization of cultural development was different from China. Hinduism had all different kind of spirit, speculation and gods belief and practice. Hinduism is very different from other religions. They believe on Karma. Karma means if you do good in this life than when you rebirth you will born in higher caste family or higher social position family. However, reading about Hinduism I find unfair if you born in untouchable caste family or as a female. For example, for untouchable caste you have low level job and if they touch Braman food than they don't eat them and they weren't allow to go to school. Similarly if you born as a female in this society than you have limited choices, you can't go to school, and you are burden in your family because they have to giver dowry. Moreover, there is child marriage were girl is (lot) more younger than men. Only upper caste and Braman have a good lives. 

Buddhism: Buddha teaching is similar to Hindu tradition. For example, but Hindu and Buddhist have same idea like rebirth and karma. Furthermore, Buddhist religion also have challenges in gender roles and caste system. However, when women became monks (nuns) they had more freedom and independence which were unavailable in both religions. By the common era, a modified form of Buddhism called Mahayana. Mahayana separate other part of Asia. 

Judaism: In the Middle East the small religion grew and it is called Hebrew. 

Confucius

Ancient civilization was during 300 BC and classical during 500 BC. Between ancient and classical civilizations there was Persian. Persian was one of the successful empires. There were seminal thinkers whose thinking and writing last for very long; we still use their ideas to make a successful nation. Mandate of Heaven: Belief that heaven is approval. If the empire or country is having problem than the leader not leading it right. Therefore, the top person gives advice. Superior Man: I did not quit understand the Superior Man. But I think Superior Man mean is a male who is a good leader. However, it is related to wide range of people.

Confucius means making a social harmony, having unequal relationship, and being very practical. For example, Husband should be kind with his wives and children to make social harmony. Confucius main goal of men was being superior, but it important for everyone to understand his position and cooperate together. Confucius did not believe in gods and spirits, but Confucius also didn't say that you believe in those things. Confucius believes that we didn't see our live beyond and it helps the development which involved personal reflection. In Confucius everyone should have an education. However, women had an education to serve their husband, and men have to control his wives. I found very interesting because when I read the first line I thought they really want women to stand on their or foot and be independent. However, I found sucking when I read that there was greater education for girls, not because they will be equally as boys, instead they could help her husband. Later I realized that at that time most part of the world women weren't able to get an education and they see lower than man. I thought the Confucius idea might influenced other people/women in the world; where women started fighting to get an education. After having an education, women started knowing that they are equal than men. Therefore, women started fighting for rights. In history many societies women were not allow to get an education and others had to serve their husband after having an education, but I think some impact of Confucius today is that many societies both men and women are getting an education to be independent and for their own (not for their husband).

Governing an Empires

From this reading, I understand that there is more human history than read in our text. For example, in being of human history ear there is more history than "states, empires, and the rulers." Empires is ruled by single highest power and hierarchy of states come and work together. Funeral government does not compete  with organizations of other. There is a law that protect social justice system. What I like about this reading is some ideas like "thinking before we act" (page 148). However, men have advantage living in this country. After reading funeral oration it seems like this country is rule and control by men. Rome empire in 155 C.E created their own kind of government after all types of governments. However, I did not like how a man could  "rules all far as is the course of the sun,"because I think everyone in the empire have to share the resources and work together. He was a scholar, so he had a good perspective about ruling the empire. Chinese Empire had a strong law because if the law is weak than the country will be weak as well. Therefore, law was a key for everything. There is no difference in law; meaning if you make the mistake than you have to face the consequences. In Indian empire the Ashoka was the leader of Mauryan Empire. Indian Empire was very different from other empires. He respect all religions and he was the first one to fight of animal rights. Ashoka was the "peaceful and tolerant" governing in  his biggest empire. But his policies were not successful. He believed that if some makes mistake and know his mistake than we have to forgave  

All empires were very different from each others. I want to live in Indian Empires.