Hua Mulan, the hero of ancient China, the deeds of his father who defeated the invading nation in the army have been passed down to this day. In the long river of history, there are many heroes like Mulan, who have left the glory and splendor of a unique female in the history of China for 5,000 years.
In the bronze gold text, there are many female figures, such as women who gallop on the battlefield and preside over sacrifices, Wang Jiang accompanies the king on his expedition and performs the king's orders, and there are other female nobles, or sacrificed, or made instruments, or marriages, or rewards, or lord lawsuits, all of which interpret the roles and missions given to them by the ancient society in different ways, so let us take jin wen as the guide, approach the women of the Shang Zhou, to understand their marriage, social and political life.
First place: Shu Ji
Uncle Father's pot lid: Excavated in January 1976 from the No. 1 cellar of Yuntang Village, Huangdui Commune, Fufeng County, and is now in the Treasure Chicken Zhouyuan Museum.
This is a ceremonial vessel made by his uncle for his wife. The conjuring of the order of the family and the surname is one of the most common ways of referring women in the Zhou Dynasty, and Shu Ji is an example. Ji should be the father's surname of Shu Ji, and this way of calling reflects to a certain extent the dependence of women on male power under the patriarchal social form. Uncle Father's artifacts have been excavated in ZhouYuan, indicating that Uncle Gong was a prince who lived in Zhou Yuan in the late Western Zhou Dynasty, and the status of the family should not be underestimated, and the growth of his family was inseparable from the marriage with the nobles surnamed Ji.
Second place: Mao Zhongji
Shanfu Brigade Boding: In February 1975, the bronze cellar of No. 1 Dongjia Village in Qishan County was excavated and is now in the Qishan County Museum.
This is a ceremonial vessel made by Shanfu Lubo for his wife Mao Zhongji. Mao was given the name of the Guo clan, and his original title was King Wen of Zhou's son and Brother of King Wu, Mao's uncle Zheng. Uncle Mao Zheng once attended the ceremony side by side with Taigong Wang, Uncle Wei Kang, and Zhao Gongyi, and the respect for his status was evident. Mao's uncle Zheng's eldest grandson was known as Mao Gong (毛公), and was always a vassal of the Western Zhou Dynasty, one of whom was the maker of mao gongding, a heavy instrument of the Western Zhou Dynasty. Mao Zhongji in this inscription should be the daughter of Mao Gong or Mao Zhong. Shanfu Lubo was the grandson of Qiu Wei, and his clan was initiated between the wei and the mao clan, indicating that his family was quite powerful. The marriage should also have had a positive impact on the rapid rise of his family.
Third place: Bo Jiang
Wang Bo Jiang Ding: Excavated in August 1978 by Wujiazhuang of yangcun brigade in Qishan County, it is now in the Qishan County Museum.
Wang Bojiang is the queen of King Yi of Zhou, named Bo jiang, Bo is his family ranking, and Jiang is a surname. This bronze vessel is Wang Bojiang's dowry for Ji Ji. Ji Ji's mother may be the daughter of Bo Jiang, Ji is the family ranking, Ji is the surname, and mother is the word. Although the power of the Queen of Western Zhou was subordinate to the royal power, it still occupied an important position in the power structure of the Western Zhou, not only responsible for the internal affairs of the zhou king's palace, but also participating in state affairs such as royal ceremonies, the appointment of officials and the reward of courtiers, etc. Her power content included political, military and life etiquette and other major aspects of Western Zhou state affairs, which should not be underestimated.
After entering the patriarchal society, the gender differences between men and women in marriage, hierarchy, and social sense have become increasingly prominent. During the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, patriarchal society grew rapidly, with men gradually replacing the position of women's power centers and moving toward the forefront of social history, while women gradually relegated to a subordinate position, hidden behind male power, but still had a decisive impact.
Until today, in the subconscious of many people, women are still regarded as appendages of men, women not only face social prejudices, but also bear huge marital and family pressures, but they are tenacious and responsible, do not give up, do not compromise, although they may not be able to live a life like poetry, but also have their own wonderful, blooming out of the brilliance of life!
Baoji Bronze Museum