The Women In and Behind the Rhymes

An unusually large number of Chinese nursery rhymes provide realistic depiction of women’s life experiences over the long history of China. They tell about women’s fears and concerns as well as hopes and dreams and even sufferings. They reflect the Chinese traditional attitude toward women as influenced by Confucian teachings. Those rhymes could be divided into three categories that represent the three stages of a woman’s life: (1) childhood and before marriage, (2) the wedding, and (3) married life. These rhymes continue to provide enjoyment for children. More importantly, they are living history of Chinese women.