Three Essays on Chinese society during the Han Dynasty by Liu Hsiang, Feng Yen and Wang Fu will be evaluated and compared.
...iness. II. The two essays by Liu Hsaing and Yang Fu show how the ideal chinese society is supposed to be and how it really is. Michael P. Macklin Bruce A. Castleman, PhD. HIST 100 9/28/04 Source Analysis Essay #2 The Rules of Propriety “Woman’s duty is not to control or to take charge. Instead she must follow the ‘three submissions’. When she is young, she must submit to her parnets. After her marriage, she must submit to her husband. When she is widowed, she must submit to her son.” (The Mother of Mencius, Liu Hsiang) Mencius’s mother is the ideal, doing what is expected of her. Old Chinese historical writings tell of how she is so wise, knows just what to say and how to act. The second essay by Feng Yen shows that throughout history, women should not control the household Lest a disaster occur. (Letter to his Brother-in-law, Feng Yen) She does not have the manner of a good wife, nor does she posses the virtue of a good mother. (Feng Yen) So because the rules of Propriety have been broken, it is fair and just to end the relationship in divorce. Divorce is not socially acceptable, but even so Feng would rather sequester himself from his friends and lifestyle and become a hermit, farming a small patch of land to support his family than to continue living with his wife. The third essay by Wang Fu showed how people wanted friendship with powerful individuals, or with people who could further their own careers or improve their own social step in life. This is not how life is supposed to be. The Book of Poets outlined how it should be. People should always value their friendships and never forget their friends. They should make sacrifices for their friends. Wang Fu thought that the people of his time were corrupt in that they did not follow the Book of Poets. “Only those who have the heroic...