Feng Menglong was one of the most versatile vernacular stories writers during Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Different from many other writers who focused on political, and ignored women’s role at the time, he was one of the few authors who used literature to elevate women’s position in society. Many heroines in Feng’s stories were intelligent, talented, and strong women, however, they struggled in a community in which women, especially women in lower class, or lower rank in the society, had little control over their life. One of the most significant works of Feng is “Du Tenth Sinks the Jewel Box in Anger” which is about the love and life of a strong, intelligent courtesan. Feng Menglong successfully used his talent to demonstrate his belief in…show more content… One of the core Confucianism values is filial piety in which sons and daughters have to submit to their parents. Parents have the decision on all their child’s significant matters such as education, marriage, career, finance, etc. Especially in marriage, the parents usually choose their child a partner that comes from the same class, or in the same rank in society. Being a Provincial Commissioner, Li’s family is considered educated, and elite class, thus having any kind of close contact with a lower class person is an insult. When knowing his son was having a relationship with a courtesan who is considered the least respectful group in society, Li Jia’s father was pissed off. He angrily demanded his son to return to hometown. Going home with her husband, Du Tenth have to agree to be Master Li’s concubine in order to protect Li’s filial piety. Furthermore, on their way back home, Master Li was easily manipulated by Fu Sun into trading his wife because he feared of his father’s anger. That detail illustrates the harsh reality of Chinese society under Confucianism. Children were raised to submit to their parents, so even when they grew old, they were still fear of their parents. In this case, Li loved Tenth, but the fear of his father was stronger. The extreme filial piety of Li erased all the effort Du Tenth made for her husband and their love, pushed the valuable woman to
