Onna Daigaku

**Onna Daigaku**

**Definition:**
*Onna Daigaku* (女大学), meaning „The Great Learning for Women,” is a Japanese educational text from the early Edo period that outlines the expected roles and virtues of women in traditional Japanese society.

—

**Onna Daigaku**

*Onna Daigaku* is a didactic work written in the early 18th century during Japan’s Edo period. It served as a guide for women, emphasizing Confucian ideals and the social expectations placed upon them. The text was widely used to instruct women on proper behavior, filial piety, obedience to their husbands, and the importance of maintaining household harmony.

### Historical Context
The Edo period (1603–1868) was characterized by a rigid social hierarchy and Confucian values that shaped gender roles. *Onna Daigaku* reflected and reinforced these norms, promoting the idea that women’s primary duties were domestic and supportive.

### Content and Themes
The text advocates virtues such as humility, chastity, and diligence. It instructs women to prioritize family welfare and to accept their subordinate position within the household. The work was influential in shaping the moral education of women for centuries in Japan.

### Legacy
While modern perspectives critique *Onna Daigaku* for its patriarchal views, it remains an important historical document illustrating gender ideology in pre-modern Japan.

—

**Meta Description:**
*Onna Daigaku* is an early Edo period Japanese text outlining traditional roles and virtues for women, reflecting Confucian ideals and societal expectations. It played a significant role in shaping gender norms in historical Japan.