Book Puts Women in Their Place

Traditionally, the roles of men and women in Chinese society have been clearly defined: Men were expected to be physically strong and verbally direct and take an active role in political and military affairs. Women were expected to be submissive, charming and tactful; their place was in the home, where they ran the household and took care of the children.

But throughout Chinese history, there have been women who exceeded their traditional roles, or, as the Chinese-born, Santa Ana author of a new book puts it, they “excelled while breaking territory untrodden by female feet.”

Consider:

* Fu Hou (circa 1300 BC), the wife of a Shang Dynasty ruler, who was known not only as a writer, orator and organizer but also as an aggressive field commander and military strategist who, in one offensive, controlled an army of more than 50,000 troops.

* Ch’in Liang-Yu (1574-1648), who became commanding general of her late husband’s army and, in a series of crucial battles, saved the Ming Dynasty by driving back invaders and overcoming rebel efforts.

* Ban Chao (49-120), author of one of the most recognized books on women’s ethics and the first female historian in Chinese history.

In “Small Footsteps, Giant Shadows” (Press-Tige Publishing; $14.95), Y.N. Chang provides biographical sketches of 50 “outstanding” Chinese women from different historical periods who contributed to the society in which they lived.

Chang, whose book includes a brief survey of Chinese history and the cultural constraints over women’s behavior, categorizes the 50 as wives and mothers of leaders, rulers and diplomats, female warriors, women of superb beauty, scientists and literary geniuses.

Their stories, he writes, “tell how each woman overcame traditional constraints, moved beyond the standards of the time and made dramatic accomplishments.”

These women have much to teach us about life, says Chang, 78, a retired business consultant and former professor of Chinese history and political science at Chapman University.

“If you read the story about every one of those people, you’re learning so many different lessons from them,” he said. “For example, to be a good mother, how do you do that? Women have to have vision, to see their kids into the future. Especially in the United States, we have so many opportunities. We should encourage the kids to go forward, to do what they really want to do and go after it.”

One mother’s profound influence is illustrated by the story of Men Mu, whose son, Mencius (372-289 BC), was the most famous follower of Confucius. In fact, says Chang, Mencius exercised more influence on Chinese culture and tradition than did Confucius himself.

Widowed when her son was 3, the self-educated Men Mu and her son lived in poverty on the outskirts of a village where she earned a meager living as a weaver. The boy did not take his studies seriously, but Men Mu was determined to help him become educated and rise out of poverty.

Believing that environment, not the person alone, affected one’s desire to learn, Men Mu and her son moved to the town’s trading area. But instead of being motivated to learn, Mencius merely imitated the merchants.

So they moved again, closer to a government-run research and learning institution, and Men Mu began to see a change in her son. Working harder herself, to make more money, she was able to send Mencius to school when he was 8. Still, while he was initially excited about his studies, Mencius’ interest gradually declined.

When Mencius told his mother that he wanted to quit school, Men Mu shocked her son by slashing in half the silk she had been weaving.

The silk, she explained, “had been made one thread after another. Knowledge, also, is gained one step at a time. Learning builds slowly up to the point of scholarship.” Quitting school, she said, “makes just as much sense as my cutting the unfinished silk material in two. The silk is now a waste--and so are you. How can you grow to be a respectable human being when you do not complete your schooling?”

Historians, according to Chang, say Men Mu’s demonstration had a profound effect on her son.

Mencius later became fascinated with the teachings of Confucius; at 23, Mencius started his own school. The teaching of Confucianism today, according to Chang, is a combination of the teachings of Confucius and Mencius--a philosophy that has become an integral part of the culture in China, Korea and Japan.

The story of Mencius’ mother, Chang says, “has historical meaning that is never-changing, for it demonstrates the rewards gained by respecting the teachings of one’s mother and reminds women around the world that they make a unique and significant contribution to mankind in their role as mother.”

Chang, who came to the United States from China in 1950, has written four business books, two of which are university textbooks. His next book, “Dragon’s Tale: A Fresh Look at 5,000 Years of Chinese History,” will be published this spring. Another book, on modern China, is making the rounds of publishers.

“I want Americans to understand the Chinese,” Chang said. “The two countries are both big countries; I think we should work together.”

Y.N. Chang will speak and sign at 7 p.m. Feb. 18 at Barnes & Noble, 13712 Jamboree Road, Irvine.

O.C. BOOK EVENTS

* Daniel Rothenberg will discuss and sign “With These Hands: The Hidden World of Migrant Farm Workers Today” at 7:30 p.m. today at Barnes & Noble in the Irvine Spectrum, 31 Fortune Drive.

* Barbara DeMarco Barrett will interview literary agent Sandra Dijkstra at 6 p.m. today on KUCI-FM (88.9) in Irvine.

* Marilyn Roy will speak and sign “EyeRobics: How to Improve Your Vision” at 7 p.m. Thursday at Barnes & Noble, 26751 Aliso Creek Road, Aliso Viejo.

* Marne Davis Kellogg will speak and sign “Nothing but Gossip” at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster.

* Martha Lawrence will speak and sign “Aquarius Descending” at 1 p.m. Saturday at Coffee, Tea & Mystery, 13232 Springdale St., Westminster. Lawrence also will sign at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* Barbara Seranella will sign “No Offense Intended” at 1 p.m. Saturday at Book Carnival, 348 S. Tustin Ave., Orange.

* John Reitano and illustrator William Haines will read and sign “What if the Zebras Lost Their Stripes?” at 11 a.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble in the Huntington Beach Mall, 7777 Edinger Ave.

* Poet Lob will read at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Factory Readings at the Gypsy Den Cafe and Reading Room in the Lab, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa.

Send information about book-related events at least 10 days before event to: Dennis McLellan, O.C. Books & Authors, Southern California Living, The Times, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626.