Ancient women's concept of chastity Why did they choose to be silent and not resist in the face of flower thieves?
Where is the dignity of women? What is the nature of chastity?
When the flower thief arrived in the spring as promised, ancient women were faced with the terrifying moment of being trampled on their bodies and spirits, and their inner resistance and helplessness, and their external silence and shouts, seemed to indicate an indescribable doom. In this desperate situation, one can't help but ask: where is the dignity of women? What is the nature of chastity? Behind these seemingly insignificant words are the silent tears of thousands of ancient women.
In today's China, equality between men and women has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, and the status of women is also constantly improving. In ancient times, hundreds of years ago, the feudal hierarchy was strict, and women had a low status and could only submit to male authority. In this environment, the fate of women is full of shadows, and the appearance of flower thieves has deepened this tragedy. This tragic situation may seem far away, but in fact it is vivid. We need to delve into this old and real problem.
The shackles of the old idea of purity.
If there was one of the most important qualities in the lives of women in ancient times, it was"Purity"Two words. This code of ethics is imposed on women and becomes the sole criterion by which women's worth is judged. Once a woman loses her virginity, what awaits her will be the rejection of her family and society.
According to traditional Confucian texts, women are seen as appendages to men. Women's ordination rules"A woman's lack of talent is virtue"。This is the highest requirement for women in ancient times: first they must be handsome, and only then everything else. For ancient women who grew up in this environment, the idea of chastity was ingrained in their blood and became their lifelong faith.
This moral coercion limits women's independent personality and deprives them of the courage and will to defend themselves. When a woman is subjected to external aggression, the first thing that comes to mind is often"I can't lose my virginity", and not"I'm going to protect myself"。This leaves many women helpless in the face of flower thieves and victims.
This phenomenon is prevalent in Chinese history, from poems and songs to various wild historical records. Taking the famous ** "Love History" of Feng Menglong, a talented woman in the Ming Dynasty, as an example, the classic plot in the book is based on the fact that women should be chaste, and Xue Pan is attracted by the empty city plan"Melancholy returns", but Xue Pan doesn't know how to cherish his feelings. This seems to have become a deep historical and cultural imprint, affecting the words, deeds and fate of every ancient woman.
Patriarchal. In ancient patriarchal societies, women were subordinate to men from birth. Daughters are subordinate to their fathers and brothers, and when they are married, they are subordinate to their husbands. This immutable obedience deprives women of their independence.
In ancient China, feudal morality favored sons over women, and women had a low status and were bound by men all their lives. This deprives women of equal opportunities to participate in society and prevents them from claiming their rights. In the face of foreign aggression, women can only swallow their anger.
Take the historical King of Xuan as an example, he has 3,000 beauties in the harem, and there are several methods of forcible abduction. These women can only endure in silence and become victims in the game of kingship. Patriarchy guaranteed great privileges for men, but also led to the trampling of women's status. This was especially evident during the period when flower thieves were dominant.
Legal deficiencies and public bias.
Just and strong laws should be a strong shield to protect the weak. In the past, however, there were few laws relating to women, and even when they suffered misfortunes, it was difficult for them to receive the sanctions and compensation they deserved.
As the saying goes:"The ugliness of the family should not be publicized"。This proverb also reveals the erroneous tendency of ancient times to value reputation over truth. When a woman suffers a misfortune, she is more willing to blame the woman than the perpetrator. Family honors"It often serves as an excuse for perpetrators to exonerate themselves.
For example, in the Jin Dynasty, Bao Xi was a famous talented woman who, despite her extraordinary beauty, was included in the harem by the tyrant Sima Zhao. After Sima Zhao's death, Bao Xi was reincorporated into the harem by his son Sima Yan, who was eventually killed in a court struggle. Sima's power is tilted towards the government and the opposition, and no one can match Bo Si. From this point of view, in the absence of the law and bias, even if the woman of the previous dynasty stands up and complains, it is difficult to change her fate.
A poor man's tale cannot be heard. Women who grew up in an old environment seem docile, but they have a quality of perseverance hidden in their bones. But they are still ordinary women, with weak personal strength. When they encounter well-trained and skilled bullies, such as flower thieves, they suffer because they are unable to defend themselves.
Living in the shadow of fear for a long time has also led former women to suffer from a kind of apocalyptic syndrome, in which they lose hope in the outside world and develop a numb and hopeless mentality. Realizing that there is no point in resisting, they choose patience and compromise, burying their pain deep in their hearts. This negative coping mechanism has also become a fertile ground for flower thieves.
Historical example: The case of Xiangfei in the Ming Dynasty.
In Chinese history, really"Flower thief"Not uncommon, and the Ming Dynasty's"The case of the concubine"It fully reflects the misfortune of ancient women in such cases. This unsolved case is known as one of the eight unsolved mysteries of the Ming Dynasty and is still an unsolved case today.
Xiangfei's original name was Yuan Yue. Legend has it that she was beautiful and loved by Emperor Chenghua. However, one night in the spring three years ago, after Concubine Xiang mysteriously disappeared in the Forbidden City's incense garden, Chenghua has not found her so far. Yes"Flower thief"Trickstering behind your back? We don't know.
The incident caused a commotion in the courtroom. But the scandal eventually quickly dissipated. The fate of ordinary women in the face of power is always worrying. This is also a true portrayal of the totalitarian corruption and darkness of the feudal court, which makes people pay attention to the tragic fate of ordinary women under the wheel of history.
Take history as a mirror and reflect on our times.
In ancient times, the habit of picking flowers was caused by feudal hierarchies and decadent ideas. At that time, countless ancient women suffered varying degrees of physical and mental devastation. Women have a low status and have no rights or dignity.
Looking back at history, we cannot deliberately forget the unspeakable suffering of women. Because these seemingly personal misfortunes are in fact the end result of unbridled oppression and violence. Today, we must learn from history and strive for true equality between men and women, break stereotypes and give women an independent voice.
The feminist movement is making new historic progress. Let us work together to create a more just, inclusive and dignified environment for future generations. I believe that in the near future, the shadows of the past will dissipate and women will stand in the sun with their heads held high and embark on their own journey freely.