In a country where women are trained from birth to see themselves as lesser beings, there is at least one day of the year where they are allowed to celebrate womanhood. International Women’s Day. One way to spend this day in China is to travel to a local temple devoted to Guanyin, the goddess of mercy and to pray for womanly things, such as having the good fortune to give birth to a son…
Hmm.
I had a wonderful opportunity to participate in a little pilgrimage to my local Guanyin Temple, and while neither religious nor a woman with acceptable female ambitions, I did indeed engage in some of the temple rituals. I ended up ‘praying’ for female equality and safety, and appreciating and being thankful for being a woman and being included in this special slice of female Chinese life.
Below are some of my companions drinking from a spring said to offer eternal health and life.
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The traditions enforced upon Chinese females are hard to comprehend from a non-Chinese perspective. Thoguh in some cases it appears modern Chinese women are a little more liberated, but more so away from family and cultural traditions. These are some of the things we have had to deal with and overcome in our marriage (my wife is Bruneian Chinese)
Very true. I barely comprehend the traditions enforced upon Western women either
The question I ask myself is: can womanhood be celebrated outside of the traditions and roles that weigh us down, regardless of culture? I’d like to think so.
By forward thinking people who realise that the age old traditions of subservient women is not right and not how it should be! Men are not superior.
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Thank you both Good Villager and edgeledge!
And to you both
This is a wonderful and unique interpretation for this week’s challenge.
I imagine it will take years to fully process and integrate everything you experience during your time in China. There seem to be vast cultural differences between East and West and I thoroughly enjoy how your blog explores them.
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Thank you so much! It is so true, culture is rich and layered, and even when you think you’ve ‘dug deep’, you have only gotten the tiniest of slices.
Best analogy EVER. Anyone who thinks education isn’t worth the effort (or expense) need only read your blog. I really do love your way of thinking
You are truly kind
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That’s a good thing to wish for.
slowly, but surely, we are getting there
¸.•*¨*•.♪♫♫♪May your week ahead be filled with thankful moments! .♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸ ♥˜”*°•.˜”*°•.˜”*°•.★★.•°*”˜.•°*”˜.•°*”˜”
Thank you so much! I wish you the same
Learning so much about China through you Tara. I’m so glad I “met” you.
Thank you, Rosie! I’d like to extend the same thank you to you for introducing me to different parts of places I have been to, in addition to places I’ve wanted to go, but never have
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