A Thousand Steps into Night

Confucianism has had a significant impact on the gender dynamics and politics of Japanese society through its promotion of patriarchal hierarchies. A philosophical and ethical ideology, Confucianism began in China between the sixth and fifth centuries BCE by Kongqiu (also known as Kongfuzi, Kongzi, or in Latinized romanization, Confucius). The movement made its way to Japan during the Tang Dynasty in China, analogous to the late Asuka period through to the Heian period in Japan (7th to 10th century). It became especially prominent during Japan’s Edo period (17th century-19th century), as samurai culture adopted Neo-Confucian morals and social structure, which influenced traditional gender dynamics by reinforcing a patriarchal family structure.

Within the social hierarchy of traditional Confucianism, men were placed as the head of the family, either through their role as father or husband, giving them complete authority over household members and the family’s social network. Men were deemed the primary financial providers, proprietors, and decision-makers for the family, while women were expected to offer total obedience and devotion, as well as express innate submission to the head of their family. Confucianism’s emphasis on filial piety also extended women’s obligations to other male members of their family, prioritizing patriarchal family unity and the social order over any desire or ambitions they were allowed.