A short outline for an article about
The woman in Japan
The woman in Japan
Cultural Background - Lots of western people think that women in Japan are considered as inferior human beings and they are “objects” belonging to their husbands.
But the real situation of Japanese women is very different, above all in the last years.
Woman in religion – In all ancient world religions the sun was personified in a male god, often a war divinity. Japanese religion is the only one in which the god of Sun, Amaterasu, is a goddess, so that a woman. And this is more important if we think about the importance of sun in Japanese culture, for example hinomaru (“sun circle”), the raising sun of Japan national flag, and the Emperor, who takes his power directly from the goddess Amaterasu.
Woman in literature – Japanese literature begins with two books written by two women: Genji monogatari (源氏物語, “The story of Genji”) by Murasaki Shikibu
, Japan national book, and Makura no Sōshi (枕草子, “The pillow book”) by Sei Shōnagon. In all Japanese modern and contemporary books of the 20th century, the most important character is a woman (for example in Tanizaki Jun’ichiro's books, in Kawabata Yasunari's tales, and also in Mishima Yukio's novels).
Woman in art – Ukiyo-e, Japanese woodprints, have, as one of the most important subjects, the portraits of the most beautiful women (above all geisha and prostitutes from the Yoshiwara district in Edo) of the period in which they were made. Think for example about the very famous Kitagawa Utamaro's female portraits (but also the works by Torii Kiyonaga, Suzuki Harunobu etc.).
The woman three ages:
Childhood – During this period it doesn't exist a strong difference between male and female children. The only difference is: children have different plays to play with, they get dressed in different ways, etc.
Adolescence – The differences between male and female teenagers become more and more evident.
Maturity, so that Wedding – Wedding in Japan: love affair or economic tie between two families? Japanese husbands are thought to be more important than wives but in the real life, especially in the last years, wives are stronger than their husbands and lead families.
Conclusions – Japanese society is driven by women who apparently are choosen by men but they are the real choosers in life, in love, and actually in job.
But the real situation of Japanese women is very different, above all in the last years.Woman in religion – In all ancient world religions the sun was personified in a male god, often a war divinity. Japanese religion is the only one in which the god of Sun, Amaterasu, is a goddess, so that a woman. And this is more important if we think about the importance of sun in Japanese culture, for example hinomaru (“sun circle”), the raising sun of Japan national flag, and the Emperor, who takes his power directly from the goddess Amaterasu.
Woman in literature – Japanese literature begins with two books written by two women: Genji monogatari (源氏物語, “The story of Genji”) by Murasaki Shikibu
, Japan national book, and Makura no Sōshi (枕草子, “The pillow book”) by Sei Shōnagon. In all Japanese modern and contemporary books of the 20th century, the most important character is a woman (for example in Tanizaki Jun’ichiro's books, in Kawabata Yasunari's tales, and also in Mishima Yukio's novels).Woman in art – Ukiyo-e, Japanese woodprints, have, as one of the most important subjects, the portraits of the most beautiful women (above all geisha and prostitutes from the Yoshiwara district in Edo) of the period in which they were made. Think for example about the very famous Kitagawa Utamaro's female portraits (but also the works by Torii Kiyonaga, Suzuki Harunobu etc.).
The woman three ages:
Childhood – During this period it doesn't exist a strong difference between male and female children. The only difference is: children have different plays to play with, they get dressed in different ways, etc.Adolescence – The differences between male and female teenagers become more and more evident.
Maturity, so that Wedding – Wedding in Japan: love affair or economic tie between two families? Japanese husbands are thought to be more important than wives but in the real life, especially in the last years, wives are stronger than their husbands and lead families.
Conclusions – Japanese society is driven by women who apparently are choosen by men but they are the real choosers in life, in love, and actually in job.
Floriano Terrano
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