The Sinicization of Manchu Women in the Qing Dynasty

Evaluating from Marriage Custom, Chaste Widow, and Manchu Clothing

Abstract

As Manchu women accompanied the Qing into China Proper, they unavoidably encountered and integrated into Han Culture. As cultural assimilation took place, some traditional Manchu practices gradually faded from the lives of Manchu women, making way for adopting a new Han Chinese way of life. This article will explore three key aspects—alterations in marriage customs, the emergence of the concept of chaste widows, and changes in Manchu clothing—to uncover the stories behind the Sinicization of Manchu women’s lives during the last Chinese dynasty.