Taoism & Confucianism in China

To understand the development of courtesans, we need to first look at basic developments in China and their underlying philosophies.

Taoism
The idea of Taoism came up in the second part of the Chou dynasty (720-222 B.C.). Taoism centered on the idea of Yin and Yang. Men and women were seen as matching counterparts of a similar status and in the idea of Yin and Yang, the female Yin goes before the male Yang. Nature was the most important power in Taoism. Since women created and fostered new life in their womb, they were seen as closer to the natural forces and were therefore venerated.

Confucianism
Confucianism was developed by the Chinese officer Confucius (551-479 BC). He protested against the then unruly times and promoted an ordered family structure as a basis for the state.The keystone hereby was the relationship between a husband and his wife. According to Confucianism, a woman’s duties lay in the home, where she had absolute power. A man’s duties lay outside the home, and there women had no part at all.

Not much is known about Confucius' own ideas about women. However one remark has been handed over;

'Women and people of lowly status are difficult to deal with. If one is too friendly with them, they become obstreperous, and if one keeps them at a distance they become resentful.'

From this statement, Confucius' successors decided women were lower then men. Her most important duty was to serve and obey her husband and his parents. She had to look well after the household, and bear male children. Since chastity was important for an orderly family life and undisturbed continuation of the family lineage, great stress was laid on women leading a blameless life. To ensure this chastity, Confucianists promoted the complete separation of the sexes.

Taoism & Confucianism
Taoism was mostly an unworldly philosophy with a matriarchal orientation, and Confucianism was a practical philosophy based on a patriarchal state. Both philosophies formed a part of Chinese life and culture. They influenced each other and both principles could be followed at the same time. Together they formed the basis of Chinese society, defining the inside and the outside.

In later years as Confucianism slowly gained more importance, Chinese women became more defined to the inside; to their own world and role in the family.

It was in those years that only the women who did not fit into the Confuciust idea of the family life - the courtesans- could maintain their own important role.