Women of Ancient Japan

Women in early Japan seemed to have had the same rights as men, except for the fact that polygamy was common. With the introduction of Confucian ideas women rights seemed to erode. Woman in the 8th centry were however, guaranteed inheritance rights, and abandoned woman were allowed to divorce and remarry.

With the introduction of Buddhist teaching, women suffered religious discrimination. They were not allowed to visit holy sites of the Buddhist religion. This practice was protested and this resulted in a change that allowed women full access to Buddhist sancturies