Abstract:
This thesis will mainly research for the political status of women during the early period of Tang dynasty (618-754). This research is based on the analysis from the historical books and the data from the primary sources which are related to the political status of women during the early period of Tang dynasty. For example, the old Tang historical books which were written in the period of division called five dynasties and ten kingdoms and the new Tang historical books which were written in the Northern Song Dynasty time. In conclusion, this thesis will research the political status of women during the early Tang dynasty by the historical books and secondly sources. In ancient Chinese society, male chauvinism prevails and women were inferior, which lead to the result that the rights to participate in politics are for the male-only and women have no right to do so. This research will focus on the political status of women in the early Tang dynasty. As the result, the research indicated that the status of women in the early Tang dynasty were obviously outstanding compared with other periods in Chinese history. However, due to the opened society and the diverse culture of Tang Dynasty, and due to the free trade on the Silk Road. Consequently, there are the cultural exchanges between countries. As the result, women have more social right comparing to Confucius culture in the past, which is the foundation of ancient Chinese which the men have more social right that women. Women's rights grow and even can be equal to men. Due to the following two reasons that on the one hand, aristocratic women who as the empress and women who take positions in the royal palace have the access to the emperor and the center of power. On the other hand, the regulations of the palace are not strict. Thus women have the opportunity to intervene in politics and play a very important role in it, which also affects the ordinary women, offering them the opportunity to join politics.
