9.5.2
The role of women
As in many feudal societies, women in important families had little power in Classical Japan. It was a very male-dominated society, with women often having control taken from them. There may have been up to eight empresses who ruled without a husband, but it was the exception rather than a common occurrence. However, women of lower classes were far more able to take an active role in the family business and make choices alongside men. Marriages were usually arranged between families. Husbands often had more than one wife and lived with a wife’s family, although this custom later changed when wives moved to their husband’s family.
SOURCE4 Women Looking at the Maple Trees at Takao, near Kyoto . Illustration by Kano Hideyori (Muromachi period, sixteenth century).
Girls from rich families spent many hours copying famous poetry and practising handwriting. In this way, they learned to read and write the Japanese characters called kana at home. Beautiful writing was a mark of good taste and high social class. Boys went on to study the Chinese characters, but such learning was discouraged for girls. The vast majority of people (60 per cent of men and over 80 per cent of women) were illiterate.
SkillBuilder discussion Historical significance 1. What was the significance of heavy makeup for Japanese noblewomen? 2. What would you expect
SOURCE5 Japanese noblewomen often wore heavy makeup and elaborate clothing.
the makeup was made from? Think about the white, red and black colours.
230 Jacaranda Humanities Alive 8 Victorian Curriculum Third Edition
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