Post by Ikura Shimakaze; Emperor on Mar 29, 2012 15:23:53 GMT -5
Women's roles would vary somewhat depending on social class. Most women would expect to marry and raise a family, but their lives would be very different depending on class. Women of the peasant class might work in the fields, look after animals, etc. Women married to tradesmen and craftsmen might help in the family business. Wives of upper class men would often be left to run the family estates while their husbands were away at war or at court. Some women became nuns. Many women would have worked as servants, and a great many would probably work in the textile trade, spinning and weaving are jobs that were traditionally done by women in most societies in the ancient and medieval worlds.
A select number of upper-class women would become ladies in waiting at court. These ladies were expected to be highly cultured. For a fascinating look at court life in feudal Japan I warmly recommend reading 'The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon' which is a fascinating book written by a lady in waiting at the imperial Japanese court in about 1000. Her book is full of fascinating details about her life at court, her likes and dislikes, and one thing you will notice is the great importance of poetry in the lives of upper class women. It is evident that court ladies were expected to be able to recite poems from memory, and to compose their own. Good handwriting was considered an important attribute in a woman.
Some exceptional women of the feudal period in Japan include:
Princess Nukata(638-690), a revered priestess and poet, considered the greatest woman poet of her time.
Empress Jito-tenno. She succeeded to the throne of Japan in 686, at the age of 42. During her reign she made important administrative reforms, encouraged the development of agriculture, and had the first silver coins struck. After a reign of eleven years she abdicated in favour of her nephew Mommu.
Ono no Komachi[b/](c850-mid800s). She was a great poet, named one of Japan's 'Six Immortals of Poetry'.
Lady Ise No Go(d. c. 939), another lady poet, counted among the 'thirty-six poet geniuses of japan.
Sei Shonagon (c 965-after 1010). Japanese lady in waiting, author of the fascinating 'Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon' about life at the Japanese court.
izimi Shikibu[b/] (c.974-1034). Considered one of the greatest poets of Japanese literature.
Lady Murasaki Shikibu. Author of the masterpiece of Japanese literature known as the Tale of Genji or The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu, considered to be the world's first novel.
Shikishi Naishinno, d.1201. One of the greatest women poets of the Heian Court.
Tomoe Gozan(12th century). Most famous of Japan's women samurai warriors, she fought in battle alongside her husband, Kiso Yoshinaka. In the Heike Mongatari, her skills are described 'she handled unbroken horses with superb skill: she rode unscathed down perilous descents. Whenever a battle was imminent her husband sent her out as his first captain equipped with strong armour, an oversized sword, and a mighty bow....she performed more deeds of valour than any of his other warriors."
Izumo No Okuni (b 1572) . Creator of Kabuki Theatre. Okuni had her own troop of women dancers who performed in the dry riverbeds of Kyoto.
Source(s):
The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon
Daughters of Time, 2000 Notable Women, antiquity to 1800 by Vivian Gould
Women Warriors, a History by David E. Jones
Women who Ruled by Guida M. Jackson
NOTE Although it is important to understand the history and traditions of the culture we in the TDF have chosen to portray it is neither required nor encouraged that our female members be subserviant to any other member. When OOC a player should expect and receive the same respect across the board. It takes some sacrifice of ego to portray a role as a lower cast citizen of Tokuno. As a woman I try to RP each of my alts according their rank in society and the dictates of custom. I also expect my alts to be treated accordingly when IC.
A select number of upper-class women would become ladies in waiting at court. These ladies were expected to be highly cultured. For a fascinating look at court life in feudal Japan I warmly recommend reading 'The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon' which is a fascinating book written by a lady in waiting at the imperial Japanese court in about 1000. Her book is full of fascinating details about her life at court, her likes and dislikes, and one thing you will notice is the great importance of poetry in the lives of upper class women. It is evident that court ladies were expected to be able to recite poems from memory, and to compose their own. Good handwriting was considered an important attribute in a woman.
Some exceptional women of the feudal period in Japan include:
Princess Nukata(638-690), a revered priestess and poet, considered the greatest woman poet of her time.
Empress Jito-tenno. She succeeded to the throne of Japan in 686, at the age of 42. During her reign she made important administrative reforms, encouraged the development of agriculture, and had the first silver coins struck. After a reign of eleven years she abdicated in favour of her nephew Mommu.
Ono no Komachi[b/](c850-mid800s). She was a great poet, named one of Japan's 'Six Immortals of Poetry'.
Lady Ise No Go(d. c. 939), another lady poet, counted among the 'thirty-six poet geniuses of japan.
Sei Shonagon (c 965-after 1010). Japanese lady in waiting, author of the fascinating 'Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon' about life at the Japanese court.
izimi Shikibu[b/] (c.974-1034). Considered one of the greatest poets of Japanese literature.
Lady Murasaki Shikibu. Author of the masterpiece of Japanese literature known as the Tale of Genji or The Diary of Murasaki Shikibu, considered to be the world's first novel.
Shikishi Naishinno, d.1201. One of the greatest women poets of the Heian Court.
Tomoe Gozan(12th century). Most famous of Japan's women samurai warriors, she fought in battle alongside her husband, Kiso Yoshinaka. In the Heike Mongatari, her skills are described 'she handled unbroken horses with superb skill: she rode unscathed down perilous descents. Whenever a battle was imminent her husband sent her out as his first captain equipped with strong armour, an oversized sword, and a mighty bow....she performed more deeds of valour than any of his other warriors."
Izumo No Okuni (b 1572) . Creator of Kabuki Theatre. Okuni had her own troop of women dancers who performed in the dry riverbeds of Kyoto.
Source(s):
The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon
Daughters of Time, 2000 Notable Women, antiquity to 1800 by Vivian Gould
Women Warriors, a History by David E. Jones
Women who Ruled by Guida M. Jackson
NOTE Although it is important to understand the history and traditions of the culture we in the TDF have chosen to portray it is neither required nor encouraged that our female members be subserviant to any other member. When OOC a player should expect and receive the same respect across the board. It takes some sacrifice of ego to portray a role as a lower cast citizen of Tokuno. As a woman I try to RP each of my alts according their rank in society and the dictates of custom. I also expect my alts to be treated accordingly when IC.
