일본의‘이에(家)’와 여성 - 중세 장군의 정실에 대한 검토를 통해서 -

Abstract

Japanese society is called ‘Ie society’. Using traditional ‘Ie’, Meiji Government institutionalized ‘Ie’ system for the efficient governing of the people. This means the institutionalization of gender inequality toward thoroughgoing male chauvinism. Even though ‘Ie’ system was legally abolished under the post-war reformation, it has influenced family norms and been an important cause to maintain gender inequality within a family. Then it can be questioned whether ‘Ie’ was originally generated on thoroughgoing male chauvinism. ‘Ie’ in Japan is considered to originate in the 10th century. In this dissertation, using the legitimate first wife of Shogun since 12th century in Kamakura era as an object of study, I examine the role and the status of women in ‘Ie’ system. For the wives of the shogun of Kamakura shogunate, the birth and rearing of children and assistance to husband are the important roles. For the legitimate first wife, however, unique political function was recognized. She administered rituals of the Shogunate, and, after her husband's death, she inherited the rights of the head of household and exerted political power. This is understood that women had the status of co-manager of a household. We can understand the traditional conception of ‘Ie’ to be formed since the modern era through the middle age.