Political Significance of Female Emperors in Ancient Japan

Women role in ancient Japan educe contradiction because of various manipulation, which was incorporated in different time period. Religion was the key factor that contributed to this inconsistence whereby; there was amalgamation between Buddhism with Shintoism (Shillony, 2008). The combination generated an absurdity on female gender individuality thus; a woman place was altered. Women were seen less important as compared to men thereby; only few of them were allowed to occupy political system. In ancient Japan the female gender was highly limited that, they were denied the freedom of choosing a marriage partner whereby; it was for the families to decide (Gelb & Palley, 2009). It was rare for the female to acquire a position in the political system whereby; in the ancient time only two women were give a chance to hold a position in government. Women role was considered as a backbone that cared and protected her family even though; men were highly valued as compared to them. In the ancient era some women were trained as warriors whereby; they were to fight with men in battles (Andaya, 2016).

According to the Advisory council report (Shillony, 2008), higher levels of social as well as economic development has favored the level of women in Japan. The report indicates that since the first exercise practice by the female for their right in politics, the ratio has increased whereby; Japanese women makes up to over 100% representations in politics (Andaya, 2016). On the other hand according to Tonomura, ancient Japan women possessed strong religious power whereby; they were allowed to rule over their own authorities. The traditions on Japanese women continued whereby they were obliged on performing religious tasks as well as production. Tonomura suggests that it was until the 17^th century when Japan adopted the Chinese system which, excluded female from ritual offices. It began with Suiko who served as the first Japanese female ruler and, six more female were positioned to occupying the imperial regions (Tonomura, 2012).  In accordance to the Japanese constitution, it is clear that the imperial Household Law requires that; based on hereditary the throne should be succeeded by the male decedent in the linage. However, women have been and are still excluded from the position of succession thus; supporting gender inequality (Shillony, 2008).

Female in Japan have been favored since they are highly subjected to education though; they are still under-represented in higher education as well as leadership positions after graduation. Most women have decided to enlarge their learning levels whereby; they continue at tertiary levels. Gender tracked the education condition whereby; the male are placed into various companies as well as business centers after graduation, unlike the female who has to continue with studies with no employment position. According to Yoshie (Yoshie, n.d), the history of women’s education in Japan as well as the crossroads of social policies is resistance to marginalization. Despite the global consideration on gender equality, education appears to be unconsidered whereby; the female gender still remain underrepresented on higher education as well as leadership positions in the society. After the Second World War, female education was not considered as essential in Japan thereby; they were enrolled in junior schools where they learnt skills on household chores as well as making a good wife plus a mother (Tonomura, 2012). Junior school is a level of education that every Japanese woman must enroll in even in recent days whereby; if a woman does not continues her higher education it is possible to do so at junior schools. According to Yoshi’s writing (Yoshie, n.d), higher education on women in Japan are recently taking place thus; improving the position of female in the nation (Andaya, 2016).

The education implication on the female gender made most of the Japanese individual become uneasy, on accepting the female consideration in the succession position. The ancient belief that women were not rulers generated a misinterpretation on the Japanese citizens. In accordance to the Household Law, gender equality should be practiced whereby; women are symbols of peace thus; should symbolize Peaceful State of Japan (Kobayashi, 2014). In reference to the Advisory council report (Shillony, 2008), the author indicates that women presentation in politics have been considered as essential. However, there is still the issue on feminist scholarship in Japan whereby; unlike in other nations, Japan seems to be behind in dealing with issues of gender inequality. On the other hand in accordance to Yoshie writings (Yoshie, n.d), the government has generated measures to consider circumstances which comply with the policies of gender equality. It is since 2003 that plans of gender equality have been raised. However, the average on women representation in the advisory council has been designated by the government to rise.  There is much difference between Tonomura issues on women and Yoshe especially considering the time they use (Kokusai Keizai Kōryū Zaidan, 2014).  

According to Tonomura (Kokusai Keizai Kōryū Zaidan, 2014) , she illustrates on the ancient time whereby women were powerful as compared to men. They held public authority over; economic strength as well as religious prestige. It was in the 18^th that the political structure encouraged the male ideology in the State. The ancient Japan had no hypothesis which proved that an emperor was a man thereby; the position was used with no consideration gender (Shillony, 2008).

In reference to the Advisory Council Report  (Shillony, 2008), the issue on women discrimination is being considered by the Japanese government whereby; despite the nation being one of the largest as well as most successful it generates higher level of gender inequality. Over 60% women (Yang, 2015) in Japan feel discriminated among men, especially inconsideration of employment as well as wage gap. It is an ironic situation considering that the ancient Japan was ruled by a female, who was highly expressed as their highest goddess (Gelb & Palley, 2009).

In reference to Piggott articles (Piggott, 2009), Japan was a matriarchal in the ancient time until the 16^th century whereby there was a slight change on religion. Buddhism introduction in Japan changed the existence of religious system as well as the shape and position on genders. It was Buddhism that generated division between genders whereby; an anti-feminine society was developed. The ancient Japan generates an interesting history of women as compared to the male. Piggott articles explains how the external forces were generated thus; influenced the gender-based ideologies which are responsible of what women have become today in Japan (Piggott, 2009). Combination of Buddhism with Shintoism generated an absurdity the female gender individuality thus; a woman place was altered (Kobayashi, 2014). Women were seen less important as compared to men thereby; only few of them were allowed to occupy political system. In ancient Japan the female gender was highly limited that, they were denied the freedom of choosing a marriage partner whereby; it was for the families to decide (Yoshie, n.d).

Women right and values were lowered after the male took control in the 18^th century (Piggott, 2009),  There were tougher conditions on the female gender whereby; according to Yoshie, education was highly encouraged on women though there were specific books for women written by the males (Yang, 2015). The report indicates that since the first exercise practice by the female for their right in politics, the ratio has increased whereby; Japanese women makes up to over 100% representations in politics (Tsutsui, 2009) On the other hand according to Tonomura, ancient Japan women possessed strong religious power whereby; they were allowed to rule over their own authorities. The traditions on Japanese women continued whereby they were obliged on performing religious tasks as well as production (Tonomura, 2012).

In reference to Nihon shoki (Yang, 2015) the image of woman changed during the religion movement whereby; there were regarded for equality. There were images of good wives and wise mothers thus; made them easily identified with the society. Gender tracked the education condition whereby; the male are placed into various companies as well as business centers after graduation, unlike the female who has to continue with studies with no employment position. According to Yoshie (Andaya, 2016), the history of women’s education in Japan as well as the crossroads of social policies is resistance to marginalization. The Japanese historic bias over gender generates an essential impact on children in recent days since it easily develops an understanding on political issues (Haruko, n.d.).  The education allegation on the female gender made most of the Japanese entity become uneasy, on accepting the female consideration in the succession position. The ancient belief that women were not rulers generated a misinterpretation on the Japanese citizens (Haruko, n.d.).

Conclusion

In Medieval Japan men were highly valued as compared to women whereby; the most essential role a female received in the society was entertainers as well wives and mothers. In the ancient era some women were trained as warriors whereby; they were to fight with men in battles. It was authority from the higher rank that women to be trained as worriers, in order to provide necessary safety of their families The only women who had little liberty in Medieval Japan were women of high class though; marriage for them was a major consideration (Haruko, n.d.).

Generally all female in the Medieval Japan had obligations in the society expected of them to fulfill whereby; they had to serve the entire family male individual for lifetime. In accordance to the Advisory Report (Shillony, 2008), women right of gender equality is considered though; it also suggests that when a child is born they should quit work and concentrate on nursing the young one. However, it is fair for mothers to devote themselves to children before returning to work. The change on gender obligations in Japan brought various changes especially on women whereby; they are made to feel neglected as well as discriminated from various social positions. In reference to Yoshie (Yoshie, n.d.) writings, the government has generated measures to consider circumstances which comply with the policies of gender equality. It is since 2003 that plans of gender equality have been raised (Yoshie, n.d.). The female gender has been essential in the success of Meiji re-establishment plus on the Japanese market sector. In the 19^th century women education has been considered whereby; most of them are trained and employed with ease (Andaya, 2016).

References

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Gelb, J., & Palley, M. L. (2009). Women and politics around the world: A comparative history and survey. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO

Haruko, W. (n.d.). Medieval household and gender roles within the imperial family, nobility, merchants, and commoners, in Women and Class in Japanese History.

Kokusai Keizai Kōryū Zaidan. (2014). Japan spotlight: Economy, culture & history. Tokyo, Japan: Japan Economic Foundation.

Kobayashi, A. (2014). Women, work and place. Montreal [u.a.: MacGill-Queen's Univ. Press.

 

 

Piggott Joan. (2009). Chieftain Pairs and Corulers:Female Sovereignty in Early Japan Ann Arbor: Worldwide archaeological approaches.

Shillony, B.-A. (2008). The emperors of modern Japan. Leiden: Brill.

Tsutsui, W. M. (2009). A companion to Japanese history. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

Tonomura Hitomi (2012). Royal Roles, Wider Changes: Understanding Japan’s Gender Relations from a Historical Perspective: Center for Japanese Studies, Univ. of Michigan.

Yoshie Akike( n.d..).Gendered Interpretations of Female Rule:The Case of Himiko, Ruler ofYamatai: Univ. of Michigan.

Yang, U. E. (2015). Women's and children's Chambers of Parliament: Democratizing representation centuries after Aristotle.