Monica Cable “Beyond the ‘Pattern of Heaven’: Gender, Kinship and the Family in China”

1. Confucianism

1.1. Origin from China

1.2. The founder was Kong Qui

1.3. Helped shape Chinese social relationships and moral thoughts

2. Han Culture

2.1. Han Dynasty was an age of great economic, technological, cultural, and society progress in China.

2.2. Nuclear family

2.3. Arranged marriages were the norm

3. Post 1949 Trends

3.1. One-child policy

3.2. Attempts to eliminate ancestor worships

3.3. Child marriage and concubinage prohibited

4. The Dai

4.1. Ethnic Group

4.2. Well-developed Agriculture

4.3. Subordinate area

4.4. Rice was their main crop

4.5. Religion is Buddaism

5. The Lahu

5.1. Mineral resources in the area include iron, copper, lead, aluminum, coal, silver, mica and tungsten.

5.2. The Lahu language belongs to the Chinese-Tibetan language family.

5.3. Most of the Lahus also speak Chinese and the language of the Dais.

5.4. Mongamy is practiced

6. The Mosuo

6.1. As soon as a Mosuo female grows old enough, she learns the tasks that she will perform for the rest of her life. Mosuo females do all the housework. This includes cleaning, tending the fire, cooking, gathering firewood, feeding the livestock, and spinning and weaving.

6.2. Mosuo women produced all their own household goods. Today, due to increased trade with surrounding villages and cities, it is easier to attain goods. Nevertheless, some Mosuo women, especially those of older generations, know how to use looms to produce cloth goods.

6.3. According to some, men have no responsibility in Mosuo society. They would have no jobs, rest all day, and conserve their strength for nighttime visits.

6.4. Mosuo males do have important roles in their society. They are in charge of livestock and fishing,which they learn from their uncles and older male family members as soon as they are old enough.

6.5. Males deal with the slaughter of livestock, in which women never participate. Slaughtered pigs, in particular, are kept whole and stored in a dry, airy place that keeps them edible for up to ten years. This is especially helpful when harsh winters make food scarce.