Despite the increased trend towards secularisation in state schooling, issues of religion and spirituality have remained important. Increased pluralism within societies through expanding migration patterns is changing the religious and cultural contours of many countries in Europe and North America, and is creating a need for a deeper…

Describes the contributions of three women educators to Japanese education and to the development of the modern Japanese empire. Criticizes Japanese historiography that ignores the role of conservative women. Discusses the educators' views of the importance of female education to help women raise children who could benefit the state. (DK)

Tells the story of Tanyangzi, a young visionary and religious teacher in Ming China. Discusses writings relating to her life and teachings. Emphasizes the concern with chastity, publicity, and fictionality as they relate to the male view of female virtue among men of the late Ming period. (DK)

Discusses the relationship between the prominence of themes of the literate gentry woman in Chinese fiction and the rise of women poets. Examines later Japanese fiction to find influences of the woman reader and of earlier Chinese works. Explores the scholar-beauty novels, women as warriors, female martyrdom, and the equating of virtue with…