Discover the overlooked half of Chinese history

Chinese Women’s History—
The Lives of Women Across Five Thousand Years of Chinese Civilization

From the Neolithic era to the 20th century: emperors, nuns, poets, mothers, rebels, and ordinary women whose lives shaped Chinese history.

Comprehensive Online Course, just ~~$299~~ $199 until 13 April!

Outlier products are used and recommended at:

What it is

Was Stone Age China really a matriarchy?

How did China’s only female emperor seize the throne?

What roles did women play in Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism—and how did those traditions shape their lives?

Women in Chinese History is an 8-week culture course exploring the lives and experiences of women across five thousand years of Chinese civilization—from the Neolithic era to the transformations of the 20th century.

You’ll examine historical records, religious texts, poetry, inscriptions, and other primary sources that reveal how women actually lived in different periods of Chinese history, with guided explanations of:

the political, social, and family structures that shaped women’s lives
what Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism said about women—and how women engaged with these traditions
the lives of both elite and non-elite women, whenever sources allow us to see them
how ethnicity, dynasty, and historical change affected women differently across time

It’s a course about understanding women in Chinese history through the historical sources themselves, with the context needed to see how their lives fit into the broader story of Chinese civilization.

Who is it for?

Learners wanting more cultural context

You’ve spent years learning Mandarin—but the deeper historical world behind the language can still feel distant.

This course explores the lives of women across Chinese history through historical texts, religious writings, and other primary sources, helping you better understand the society and ideas that shaped Chinese civilization.

Curious readers who love history and culture

You don’t need to be a historian or sinologist to enjoy this course.

If you’re fascinated by Chinese history—and want to explore it through the lives of the women who lived it—this course will give you the context, stories, and sources that bring the past to life.

Anyone interested in women’s history

Women are half of history—but they’re often missing from traditional historical narratives.

This course examines both famous figures and ordinary women whenever the sources allow us to see them, offering a fuller picture of Chinese history across five thousand years.

Curriculum

This course follows women’s lives across five thousand years of Chinese history, from early societies to the modern era. Along the way, we’ll explore how religion, family structure, politics, and ethnicity shaped women’s experiences in different periods.

Week 1 — Foundations & Early Forms

Lesson 1: Neolithic & Shang China (~5000–1046 BCE)

What do archaeology and early sources reveal about women in the earliest Chinese societies? Were early communities truly matriarchal?

Lesson 2: The Zhou World (1046–481 BCE)

Early Chinese philosophy and social structure—Confucianism, ritual order, and the evolving role of women in family and society.

Week 2 — Empire and Transformation

Lesson 3: Qin–Han China (221 BCE–226 CE)

The rise of imperial bureaucracy, family hierarchy, and the ideals that shaped women’s roles in early imperial China.

Lesson 4: The Age of Division (226–581)

A fractured political landscape—and new opportunities for women in religion, literature, and elite society.

Week 3 — Religion, Power, and Cultural Flourishing

Lesson 5: Sui–Tang China (581–907)

One of the most dynamic periods in Chinese history—including the rise of China’s only female emperor.

Lesson 6: Women in Buddhism and Daoism

How religious life created new roles and spaces for women outside traditional family structures.

Week 4 — New Ideals of Womanhood

Lesson 7: Song China (960–1279)

Neo-Confucian philosophy, shifting gender norms, and the changing expectations placed on women.

Lesson 8: Liao China (907–1125)

How women’s lives differed in non-Han societies—and what ethnicity meant for gender roles in Chinese history.

Week 5 — Empires of Conquest

Lesson 9: Jin China (1115–1234)

Jurchen rule and the interaction between steppe traditions and Chinese social systems.

Lesson 10: Yuan China (1271–1368)

The Mongol empire and how women’s roles could differ dramatically under foreign rule.

Week 6 — Moral Order and Social Constraint

Lesson 11: Neo-Confucianism and Women

How philosophical movements reshaped expectations for women’s behavior, virtue, and family roles.

Lesson 12: Ming China (1368–1644)

Widow chastity, family hierarchy, and the social ideals that shaped late imperial womanhood.

Week 7 — Tradition Meets Change

Lesson 13: Early Qing China (1644–1800)

Continuity and transformation under Manchu rule.

Lesson 14: Late Qing China (1800–1911)

Reform movements, social change, and debates about women’s roles.

Week 8 — Revolution and the Modern Era

Lesson 15: Republican China (1911–1949)

Education, reform, and new visions of womanhood in a rapidly changing society.

Lesson 16: The Mao Era (1949–1976)

Communist ideology and the dramatic transformation of gender roles in modern China.

Ready to explore five thousand years of Chinese history?

Join Women in Chinese History and discover how women lived across the major dynasties of Chinese civilization—from the Neolithic world to the transformations of the 20th century.

Through guided lectures and primary sources, you’ll explore political power, religion, family life, and the everyday realities that shaped women’s experiences across time.

100% risk free - 30 day money back guarantee

Here's what you get:

8 weeks of live lectures + recordings
16 lessons covering 5,000 years of history
Primary sources from historical texts, poetry, inscriptions, and more
Guided explanations of religion, society, and gender roles
Historical context across major dynasties
Weekly office hours for questions and discussion

Usually $299, now just $199

What you get with this course

5000 years of history

From the Neolithic world to the 20th century, tracing how women’s lives changed across China’s major historical periods.

Primary sources

Biographies, poetry, religious texts, inscriptions, letters, and other historical materials that reveal women’s lives in their own time.

Religion & women’s lives

How Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism shaped expectations, opportunities, and roles for women.

Elite and everyday lives

Empresses, poets, and religious figures—alongside the experiences of ordinary women whenever the sources allow us to see them.

Ethnicity & frontier societies

How women’s lives differed in Han and non-Han societies across China’s diverse dynasties.

Live Q&A Sessions

Ask questions directly and discuss the material with the instructor and other students.

See why learners can’t get enough

We’ve helped hundreds of students learn Classical Chinese and other aspects of traditional Chinese culture and history.

Here’s what they say:

These classical Chinese courses were right up my alley as I'm more interested in older Chinese culture vs. modern-day (and reading vs speaking), but incidentally force me to learn some modern Chinese along the way!

Peter W.

Margreet B.

Chris L.

I did learn to read some 古文 and 文言文 in the Taiwanese education system growing up. However, the method of teaching is purely chalk and talk. The teacher read the text, read out the translation in 白話 and we copy it down. The teacher would point out a sentence that is a 倒裝句 and the meaning of a peculiar or unusual vocabulary for us to memorise. That is the extent of teaching and learning of 古文/文言文 in my time. Consequently, I would have a hard time trying to understand a new 古文/文言文 text on my own for years until I took the Intro to CC course. Thank you John Renfroe and Ash Henson. I am very grateful for the courses as well as the teaching and expert knowledge provided.

Susan C. (native Mandarin speaker)

Meet Your Teacher

Dr. Jennifer Bussio

Associate Professor, Brigham Young University

Jennifer J. Bussio holds a doctorate in East Asian Languages and Civilizations (Chinese) from Arizona State University with a focus on Chinese history and religion. Her research examines how Chinese religions, particularly Daoism, responded to the political and social turmoil caused by war and foreign conquest. Other research interests include ethnic identity and its construction, and non-Han peoples' experiences in China between the fourth and fourteenth centuries. Since 2018, she has taught history courses at a large, private university in the U.S.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I go at my own pace? Will I be able to access the course once I've finished it?

Yes! You get lifetime access, so we'll keep everything available online so that you can go through it at your own pace and review it whenever you want to!

How much Chinese do I need to know to take this course?

You can take this course regardless of your level of Chinese—or even if you don't know any Chinese at all! All texts will be read in English translation (though originals can be provided if you want them!).

How long does the course take to complete?

There are 16 lessons over the course of 8 weeks. We'll be doing 2 lessons per week while the course is live, but you can go at whatever pace suits you!

How much time will it require per lesson?

You'll need to spend 30-60 minutes on the reading, and each video lesson will be about an hour in length. The course is structured like a university course, so that should give you a guideline as to how much time you'll need.

You'll also get access to weekly "office hours" on Zoom, so you can pop in and ask questions if you'd like. There's also a discussion forum, so if you can't make it to the office hours, you can still get your questions answered.

Will I need anything (apps, etc.) in order to take the course?

You'll need access to a copy of the Routledge Handbook of Imperial Chinese History. The main readings for the course will be taken from that book. Any other readings will be provided to you on the course platform.

What does "lifetime access" mean?

In practical terms, it means the course materials will be available online for as long as Outlier is in business. If we do ever go out of business or otherwise need to remove the course for any reason, we'll make the material available for you to download for a period of at least 6 months.

Can I get a refund if I decide the course isn't for me?

Yes! We have a 30-day, no questions asked refund policy. If you decide you don't like the course for whatever reason, just reach out by then and I'll be happy to give you a full refund. For those who sign up before the course goes live, the rule is "30 days from the start of the course."

Will there be other students at my level? Can we collaborate with other students or form study groups?

Definitely! There are always plenty of students at all levels in these "culture" courses. Most of them (including this one) are meant for people with any level of Chinese (or none)!

And sure, working together is no problem! You'll get access to a private online community where you can work together, ask questions, share notes, etc.