Comparative Study of Chinese Didactic Literature for Women

Nǚ Jiâ, Nâi Xùn,Nǚ Lúnyǔ, Nǚfàn Jiãlù and Their Thai Equivalents

Abstract

This article aims to compare four pieces of Chinese didactic literature for women, namely Nǚ Jiâ, Nâi Xùn, Nǚ Lúnyǔ, and Nǚfàn Jiãlù, to their Thai equivalents in order to analyze the similarities and differences in terms of respective contents. The result finds that both Chinese and Thai didactic literary works emphasized that women pay close attention to their physical appearance, as well as mannerisms in line with the ideals of women in each society. For parts of the didactic contents related to morals, ethics and behavioral practices of Chinese and Thai women, they can be divided into five topics, namely: 1) filial piety, 2) respect and obedience, 3) humility/modesty/tolerance for others, 4) honesty and royalty, and 5) preserving one’s purity and chastity. We found that most of the contents share a great deal of similarities. The distinctions found in certain didactic contents were due to the influence of ideas, beliefs, traditions, and values emanating from social and cultural contexts uniquely different between each society. As for the roles and duties of Chinese and Thai women in relation to their status, we found that most of them are quite similar as well.