Ban Zhao

In the patriarchal, Confucian influenced, Han dynasty, a woman’s role and social status was far from equal to that of a man. In Ban Zhao’s work Lessons for a woman she depicted the role of a woman, as a lower-class member of society. Hidden beneath the stereotypes of what a woman was supposed to be, Ban Zhao was a rarity of her time as she excelled as a historian and teacher. Ban Zhao was born into a well renowned family. Her father Ban Biao was an honored writer and administrator and while still under her father’s roof, she received her elementary education form literate mother before she got married away (Andrea). Ban Zhao was born in ca 45 BC in Angling during the peak of the Han dynasty, the ancient Chinese golden age. Her older brother

She composed her work during the period in which Confucian scholar set the standard for relationships between ruler and ruled as well as husband and wife. Confucianism rose during the Zhou dynasty, centuries before the rise of the Han empire. The reoccurring theme in Confucianism are the five cardinal relationships, which existed with the goal of restoring social and political order. When looking at the relationships a common theme is found of them being of subordinate fashion, with elders and men especially being of higher ranks (Harding 03/01/2017). Although the harmony of human relationships was well established, little existed on women’s standing in society. By writing Lessons for a Woman, Ban Zhao looked to fill the void of the female role in the male focused Confucian literature. However, she knew her place as a woman, which she depicts in the beginning of her work by saying, “I, the unworthy writer, am unsophisticated, unenlightened, and by nature unintelligent” (Andrea). Interestingly, Ban Zhao was considered the most educated woman of her time, yet she portrayed her role as being at the bottom of the social hierarchy, which portrays the significant impact the Confucian scholar had on every-day