Amaterasu In Shintoism

The Heian Period, spanning from 794 AD to 1185 AD in Japan is largely highlighted by the leisurely lifestyles of the aristocratic class. Calligraphy, poetry, and writing among other art forms entered a renaissance during this Heian Period allowing aristocrats to express themselves during a time in which emotion was a big part of society. The prominent societal changes in Heian Japan were also subject to influence from newly introduced Chinese ideologies that challenged traditional Japanese views. While the prominence of the female god Amaterasu in Shintoism and the rule of Queen Himiko over ancient Japan show that women were highly respected in traditional Japanese culture, the introduction of Confucian and Buddhist principles, reflected
Confucianism, founded by Confucius in China during the Warring State Period, is centralized on the concept of virtue and a trust in human nature’s desire to do good. Under Confucianism a ruler exists not to command laws but rather to be a role model of virtue for the people he is ruling. Furthermore, the idea of relationships between a ruler and ruled people is expanded upon in the idea of the five relationships. The five relationships are based on a superior-inferior power dynamic and are: ruler to ruled, father to son, elder brother to younger brother, friend to friend, and husband to wife. These five relationships reveal that in a Confucian society, the only place a woman can exist is as an inferior to her husband. Ban Zhao, expands upon the idea that women were inferior to men in her book Lessons for Women. The book was written in China during the Han Dynasty when Han Confucianism was the official ideology, giving an accurate representation of the Confucian view on women from a woman’s point of view. Zhao’s book explains that from an early age women need to be taught that they are low, weak, and must do whatever needs to be done to serve their husbands. Furthermore, a wife must be worthy and willing to serve her husband otherwise she does not deserve to be a wife. This power dynamic which viewed men as higher
Completed in 1002 AD, Shonagon’s book gives her perspective on many topical concepts like beauty, illness, and social interactions. Entry number 79 in the book entitled Shameful Things, gives examines the power dynamic between men and women during the Heian period. Shonagon explains that a man’s heart is shameful for making women he doesn’t like trust him. Additionally, a man is shameful for giving the impression of kindness and sincerity to influences a girl but speak badly about her to other women. In other words, Shonagon sees the potential for men to be selfish, manipulative, and cold hearted because they do not feel any sort of remorse for their effects on women’s emotions. Further, Entry 79 reveals that the aristocratic class during the Heian period hold emotions very highly. Shonagon therefore feels that women are oppressed by their male counterparts. This is not to say that women had no freedoms, but rather that their freedoms were bounded by the freedoms of men in a way that resembled Ban Zhao’s explanation in Han Confucianism. Shonagon questions Ban Zhao’s idea that women must serve men in another entry titled “When I make myself imagine.” Shonagon accounts what she imagines it is like to be one of the women who serve their husbands in accordance to Confucian doctrine. While