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Women and Confucian China
November 2008
Four capital cities (Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, & Jinan in Shandong), sacred Tai Shan & Mt. Tai, Qu Fu, Shanghai and sacred Pu Tuo Shan (Kuan Yin worship)
Fully escorted and inclusive* from Los Angeles from $2,995
Read detailed itinerary
Beijing has been China’s capital city for more than 600 years; Dowager Empress Cixi ruled here in the 1800s and one of her nephews was the last emperor.
Xi’an (Zheng Zhou) is a former capital of several dynasties, including that of Emperor Wu (actually a female, the only one in China’s long history to reign as emperor, 1500 years ago. The Dowager Empress from the Han Dynasty ruled from this region 2,000 years ago. But more than 6,000 years ago some Chinese archaeologists assert that the farming villages here may have had female equality if not domination.
Hangzhou is the capital we know so well from writings attributed to Marco Polo in the late 1200s; far earlier during the Tang Dynasty, when society was more open, a famous poetess wrote from beautiful West Lake.
Shandong Peninsula is known in the West for the port city of Yantai (misnamed by the West Chefoo, after the modern island of Zhifu). Confucius was born to the west in the town of Qu Fu, then the state of Lai (later Qi), about midway between Beijing and Shanghai. Here we find some of the oldest and finest Neolithic remains. The emergence of lineages and clans, and their ranking, appear more than 5,000 years ago. The early bronze age Shang Dynasty emerged here 4,000 years ago and powerful states existed until consolidation 2,200 years ago.
Jinan is the capital of the historic eastern province of Shandong where the 6,000 year old farming villages most certainly housed male lineage groups. Jinan is the capital of Shandong Province, but not its largest city. It governs an area of 5,000 square miles and 6 million. Beginning 1,700 years ago Jinan was the center of Buddhism for the area and it remained an important trading center during the 14th-19th Centuries; it was industrializing until the Japanese invasion in the early 1930s. Agriculture, fisheries and forestry have grown over the last 30 years; Jinan itself has service-related industry (social insurance, telecommunications, information technology, and tourism). [Jinan is a tourist destination in the province with Baotu Spring Park, Daming Lake, Qian Fo Shan (Thousand Buddha Mountain), the Provincial Museum, Pearl, Black Tiger, and Baimai Springs, Shandong University (more than 100 years old).]
Tai Shan (Mt. Tai) has received sacrifices by emperors and kings for millennia. In west central Shandong are the historic cities of Jinan and Qufu, with Sacred Mount Tai between. These three locations form our travel route. Mount Tai has a history of more than 2,000 years hosting Chinese emperors and receiving their offerings. Indeed, during the Han Dynasty palaces were built at its foot. Mount Tai is nearly 5,000 feet with numerous temples and pavilions along its slopes. Today, you may walk up the 5-6 mile mountain path and stairs or ride a gondola.
Qu Fu is the hometown of Confucius [Kang in Chinese] (and therefore, well over 2,500 years old) and the Kang family home is there, along with his “temple” and ancestral burial ground. Confucius’ ideas about society and governance codified the status of women in China as below that of men.Qu Fu is a town 80 miles south of Jinan 60,000 inhabitants (there are 650,000 in the local area). It was the capital of the State of Lu between 2,550 and 2,220 years ago but is best known as the home of Confucius (family name Kong) who lived 2,486-2,558 years ago. He was from a poor immigrant noble family and was raised in poverty by his single mother. He was part of the class known as “shi” or educated but poor scholars. As a young man he was a minor administrator in the Lu government but became disillusioned with his king and journeyed around north-central China trying to convince other rulers to employ his political philosophy, unsuccessfully.
 Confucius sought institutions that would bring peace and prosperity to the people—the selection of rulers based on merit and who held the interests of the people in highest esteem. “Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself” he said. His principles gain(ed) acceptance because they are based in common opinion—strong family loyalty; ancestor worship; respect for elders by their children and of husbands by their wives; and the family as the basis for ideal government. His views do not extol the role of women in the greater scheme of life. We will learn much about Confucius’ theory of ethics and ideas about politics during the course of our travel. He is thought to have spent his last years back in Qu Fu teaching disciples and transmitting his and older wisdom in the Five Classics. So revered was he that his descendants took the title Duke of Yansheng through 1935 (the title was abolished by the Nationalists). Today there is a renewed interest in the ethics of Confucius.
Shanghai has grown in importance over the last 150 years, and particularly in the last 25 it has overshadowed Hong Kong as the financial center for the region.
Finally, Pu Tuo Shan (Mt. Pu Tuo) is an island dedicated to temples extolling Kuan Yin, the Chinese Buddhist “Goddess of Mercy.” Our trip will enlighten you about Confucius, his importance during his life and after, his vilification during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) and the resurgence of interest in his philosophy and teachings in China today. We will visit Confucian temples, colleges, and family buildings in Qufu, Jinan, sacred Mount Tai, and Shanghai, China.
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Costs
This CCE China guided trip includes international airfare from LAX, airline taxes, fees and fuel surcharges, tour guides and drivers, nights in 4 star hotel and lesser ranked comfortable hotels(double occupancy), all meals and sightseeing as indicated. You may arrange your own airfare (deduct $650 from the total price). We can secure business class for you but it has become pricey (group rate plus $2,700). If you make your own arrangements, you'll need to find your own transport to our hotel in Beijing on November 2 (rooms available after 4 PM).
* Notes
- Meals and Lodging -- Note that all meals are included; rooms are doubles, train a quad.
- Single supplement is $475. For a single on the train to Xi’an, add $150; for 2/compartment, add $50 each.
- We may make alterations to the itinerary should travel conditions require it. There are several optional sites listed which have low cost entry fees.
- Be prepared to tip our driver $1-2/day and our guide $2.59-3.50/day for their services (that is 8-28 Chinese Yuan/day) or more if you wish. Normally, don’t trip the taxi driver.
- Water will be available on the bus ($1/3 bottles - it is cheaper at the local convenience stores). You may boil and drink water in your room (we advise 3-4 boils). Beer is excellent and offered as a meal beverage (one gratis drink only with lunch and dinner); wine isn’t great nor offered with meals except for purchase.
- If you carry a U.S. passport, your visa is $75 (which we will arrange in Los Angeles); Canadian citizens must obtain their own visas.
- If you plan to stay longer in China, you must inform us early; you are free to make your own post trip hotel and tour arrangements. If you do not fly with the group from LAX, you are responsible for all your travel and for meeting the group in Beijing at the airport or hotel.
- Tipping is not included nor is it mandatory—however, it is expected: local guides $2-$3/full day; tips for baggage transfers ($.50-$1/event) may be extra.
- The total program cost of $2,299 is for a group of 10 or more participants. If fewer than 10, the price is $2,550.
Applications
Please complete the application for and return it to CCE China.
Your application must be accompanied by a valid passport (good through 2009).
We urge you to submit a Visa application (and picture), and $75 check for the visa (made out to Council on China Exchange as part of or in addition to your payment for the travel seminar), at the same time.
We recommend you send us all your materials via Certified Mail to ensure timely delivery.
Download Application Form
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Our Mission
Council on China Exchange (CCE China) specializes in bilateral cultural and educational programs in China and the United States. We provide high quality cultural and educational experiences to the interested public, students and teachers from the U.S. as well as from China.
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