Chinese History

1
Chinese History
Women and Festivals
2
Traditional views of Chinese Women

• Noodles are not real food and women are not
  real human beings- Chinese Proverb
• The quote above sums up the traditional views of
  women in the Chinese community. Although most
  people in China do not think this way today,
  there are still a few who do.

3
Foot binding

• Starting as early as the tenth century young
  girls, were forced to bind their feet to stop
  growth.
• The foot binding process is painful and damaging,
  causing permanent damage which forces the women
  to sit more then stand and often confined them to
  their homes.
• Desirable foot sizes is between 3 and 4 inches.
• Gold lotus 3 inch feet
• Silver 4 inch feet
• Thats about half the size of a natural womans
  foot.

4
Traditional Views on Women

• Until the 1950s, Chinese women were often
  confined to their homes, the outside world was
  only for men.
• Inside the home there were often separate living
  areas for men and women.
• Women were expected to obey their fathers when
  they were young and husbands when after they were
  married.
• Husbands were chosen by the womens father.
• Women often dealt with abuse and unfaithful
  husbands.
• Women were given almost no respect and were often
  overworked.
• It was believed that women did nothing good,
  except have sons.

5
Changing views on women

• Over time the views of women have slowly
  progressed.
• Today many women hold professional jobs, and are
  not forced to merry.
• Divorce has become more common happening in about
  10 percent of marriages. 70 percent of these
  divorces are enunciated by women.
• Although it is said that sometimes professional
  women are looked down on by men, even today.
• Today fewer women are illiterate and most hold
  jobs outside of the house. Many of these jobs are
  in factories with little pay and harsh
  conditions.
• Each year China reduces illiteracy by 3 million,
  65 of these are women.
• 21 of women in China are illiterate, but only
  7 of women between the ages of 15 and 45 are
  illiterate.
• On average women over 15 have attended 6 and 1/5
  years of school.
• In 2002 99.07 of primary aged girls were
  enrolled in school.
• Today there are 65 womens only colleges, as well
  as thousands of co-ed colleges and universities.
• In 2002 102.684 million women were enrolled in
  school.
• Education in China is a growing priority today
  and Chinese women have one of the fastest
  lowering illiteracy rates in the world.

6
One child Law

• In 1980 Chinese officials began to fear
  overpopulation which would lead to uncontrollable
  poverty. So the one child law was created.
• Since only one child is allowed most families
  want a son, to carry on the family name and help
  support their family.
• This has lead to many unwanted daughters and
  negative view points on women.

7
Holiday Traditions
8
Lunar Month
Festivals

• Jan. Feb. Chinese New Year
• Mar Apr. Qing Ming
• May June Duan Yang
• August Chung Yuan
• Sep Oct Zhong Qui
• Oct Nov. Chong Yang
• Nov - Dec Dong Zhi

9
Chinese New Year

• The Chinese New year is a celebration which
  happens between January and February of each
  year.
• The Chinese New Year is also the day everyone
  celebrates their birthday.
• The day is celebrated with close family and
  friends, new clothes, parades and fireworks.
• The Chinese New Year and most Chinese festivals
  are celebrated with dragon or lion dances.
• The Lion dance has two dancers while the dragon
  dance can have a long line of dancers.
• On New Years day the dragon dance begins and
  lasts for 15 days. It is accompanied by drums,
  horns, and celebrating a happy new year.
• Each year is represented by one of thirteen
  animals.
• Rat Ox Tiger hare
• Dragon Snake Horse Ram
• Monkey Rooster Dog Pig

10
Qing Ming
Moon Festival

• Festival signals the beginning of spring.
• Celebrated by enjoying the beauty of nature.
• Qing Ming means pure brightness.
• It is also a day to pay respect to the dead.
• By cleaning the grave sites, lighting candles and
  burning incense.

• This festival is to celebrate the moon.
• It is more commonly celebrated by women.
• Alters are set up displaying a rabbit which is
  seen in the moon or a picture of the moon palace.
• 13 moon cakes are displayed to represent the 13
  lunar months of the year.
• The holiday is spent relaxing with friends an
  family enjoying moon cakes and admiring the moon.

11
Chong Yang
Miao Festivals

• This festival is based on the old belief that
  disasters can be avoided by climbing a mountain
  on this day.
• Today this holiday is celebrated by enjoying the
  outdoors and admiring the in bloom chrysanthemum.
• The government also encourages that time be spent
  with the elderly.

• These festivals are conducted by the Miao.
• There are approximately seven million Miao in
  China.
• These festivals are mainly help to give young
  people an opportunity to mingle.
• Girls perform dances to the music of bamboo pipes
  and drums.
• Women wear beautifully embroidered outfits.

12
Questions

• Chinese women bound their feet for beauty, what
  did early American women do for beauty?
• How are the past views of women in China similar
  to those of American women in the past?
• The Chinese greatly respect their elders, often
  living with and taking care of them. How is this
  different from America?
• Today Professional Chinese women are sometimes
  looked down upon, are professional American women
  looked down upon?
• What are some similarities of the history of
  women in America and China?
• Chinas one child law, do you think it frees
  women to have lives of their own or takes away
  their rights as a women?
• Do you know of any other cultures which have laws
  limiting the number of children a family can
  have?
• What are some of the big changes Chinese women
  have experienced?

13
Questions

• How are Chinese birthdays different from the
  birthdays we celebrate?
• Each Chinese year is represented by a different
  symbol what are they?
• Are any Chinese holidays similar to those
  Americans celebrate?
• In the Chinese holiday Qing Ming the deceased are
  celebrated, do you know of any other culture
  which has a day to celebrate the dead.
• What holiday do Americans celebrate which is
  similar to Qing Ming?
• How is a Chinese New Year different from the New
  Years celebration in America? How are they
  similar?
• Do any of you celebrate Chinese Holidays?
• If so what are they like?

14
Websites about China

• www.chinapage.com/learnchinese.html - This
  website is full of links to sound clips of the
  spoken Chinese language, pictures of the
  alphabet, translations of basic words, and
  interactive activities to help learn the Chinese
  language.
• www.historyforkids.org/learn/china/ - This
  website contains traditional Chinese recipes, art
  examples, fun projects, information on science,
  clothing, history, everyday life, and maps of the
  country.
• www.atozkidsstuff.com/china.html - This website
  has a variety of activities for children such as
  games, information, pictures, and arts and crafts
  ideas.
• www.kiddyhouse.com/sstudies/countries/china -
  This website contains lots of interesting
  information about Chinese culture such as
  religion, mythology, travel, health, education,
  dancing, clothes and much more.
• www.international.ucla.edu/asia - This website is
  set up in a lesson form, it was created for
  teachers and students and is real easy to
  explore. It contains lots of pictures with
  captions, lots of information on the Chinese
  culture and history.
• www.enchantedlearning.com/asia/china - This
  website is filled with coloring sheets, worksheet
  activities, games, and projects.

15
Sources

• Dawson, S. China A portrait of the country
  through its festivals and traditions. (1999)
  Danbury Marshall Cavendish Books.
• Wilkinson, P. Feasts and Festivals. (1999)
  Surrey Dragons World Ltd.
• Dudley, M. Women in the world of China. (2005)
  Broomal Mason Crest.
• Winchester, F. Asian Holidays. (1996) Mankato
  Bridgestone Books.
• Schaefer, L. Chinese New Year. (2001) Mankato
  Capstone Press.
• Demi. Happy New Year, Kung-His- Fa-Ts Ai. (1997)
  New York Random House.
• Behrens, J. Gung Hay Fat Choy. (1982) New York
  Regensteiner Enterprises.
• Keeler, S. Passport to China. (1987) New York
  Franklin Watts Limited.
• Erlbach, A. Happy Birthday Everywhere. (1997)
  Brookfield Millbrook Press.