During the period of feudal rule, China's marriage system practiced polygamy, and the status of women was extremely low, and even the emperor's concubines could have dozens of people, not to mention ordinary people.
Children born to concubines are often not valued by the family. For example, the mother of the famous politician Tan Yanmin is a roommate.
In ancient societies, the position of the wife was not stable, she may have been just one of her husband's many concubines and concubines, and she may even be just a tool for inheritance. However, once the wife gives birth to excellent children, especially the prince, her status and life will be significantly improved, and she may even become the queen mother, enjoying endless power and glory.
Mothers are valued by their sons, and children are valued by their talents, and the fate of women in ancient societies often depends on the children they give birth to.
In large households, there are a large number of wives and concubines, and the girls who are responsible for passing on the lineage are also indispensable. The girls in the house not only need to undertake the trivial housework at home, but also need to serve the master's daily life, and their existence is like the backbone of the family.
At first, they may just be hired by the family, but through the appreciation and trust of the owner, they gradually become an indispensable member of the family. For example, Grandma Tan Yanmin appreciates a girl who takes care of the elderly at home, making her a roommate and a valuable asset to the family.
The Tan family was a large family that attracted much attention at the end of the Qing Dynasty and was known for its advanced family education. Father Tan is a well-known literary scholar, who has strict requirements for children's learning and cultural education, and often even inquires about their studies in person.
Among the brothers, Tan Yanmin is the most like his father, which is one of the reasons why he is strictly required by his father.
Tan Yanmin is studious and self-disciplined, and his love of knowledge drives him to constantly explore. His father also admired his studious spirit. As Tan Yanmin grew, he accumulated a wealth of knowledge, so he decided to prove his strength by taking the imperial examination.
Although lifting people is not a necessary glory for the lintel of the Tan family, it is undoubtedly an affirmation for this literary family. At the age of twenty-four, Tan Yanmin took the last imperial examination of the Qing Dynasty, and the imperial examination system was subsequently abolished.
Tan Yanmin's name is widely spread in the imperial court, everyone knows that he is the son of Tan Lao, and his mother is just a family girl, although she gave birth to a son, she has not changed her identity.
At home, her duty is to serve her family, especially when she eats, she never has the opportunity to eat at the table, but can only stand by and serve. However, now that Tan Yanmin has been admitted to the Jinshi, this is a remarkable achievement that makes his mother feel honored as well.
Tan Yanmin's mother, although her identity is only a roommate, she has won people's respect and love with her virtuous character and unique contributions, and is respectfully called Mrs. Li.
This fully reflects Mrs. Lee's extraordinary charm and personality. Father Tan's outdated thinking and insistence on the concept of respect and inferiority made Mrs. Li stand at the table for twenty-four years, which is his mistake and regret.
However, we should see that Tan Yanmin's mother, Mrs. Li, not only did not lose her dignity because of her low status, but won people's respect and love. Her story teaches us that the worth and dignity of human beings should not be limited by identity and status, but should be measured by their personal qualities and contributions.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty, many ministers in the court were looking for ways to reform, hoping to find a way out for the Qing ** who had fallen into corruption. Father Tan, however, was a typical royalist and resolutely opposed to reformism.
Although the reform of the Qing Dynasty ultimately failed, Tan Yanmin did not give up. During the ** period, he became a figure with great ambitions.
Tan Yanmin grew up in a feudal family and knew the grievances suffered by his mother, so he deeply respected women. In modern society, there has been a major shift in people's thinking, and the pursuit of equality between men and women has become a common goal.