'為夫之道': 清代家訓所呈現的男性性別角色認知

Studies viewing Chinese society as patrilineal and patriarchal are commonly observed in the previous scholarship. However, recent studies concerning men are no longer limited to these perspectives. In a patriarchal society, what were the self-expectations of being men? In this paper, I will use jiaxun (household instructions) as a major source in exploring how men managed their families and expressed their awareness of gender roles. The scope of my study will focus mainly on the Qing dynasty, which was a crucial period for the transition from long-standing, conservative schools of thought to comparatively enlightened ones through the course of modernization. This study will highlight the highly diverse social backgrounds of jiaxun writers during the Qing period, among which were emperors and scholar-officials. Another feature of jiaxun to be explored is the significant changes in modes of education during this era. Last but not least, it is expected that my research will contribute to a deeper understanding of relations between husband and wife during the Qing period by thorough analysis that shall contribute in the field of men’s studies, especially about imperial Chinese society.