PTI
 
Beijing, Jul 26: Descendants of Confucius in modern China have decided to include women in their family tree for the first time though their famous ancestor looked down upon females.

In the past women descendants were always excluded from the Confucius Genealogy. The spouses of male descendants, marked in small characters behind the names of their husbands, were almost hidden.

In the new 5th family tree, which was kicked off in 1996, women descendants will be written in the same size characters as men. Spouses of female descendants will be marked in small letters behind the names of their wives.

Head of the Confucius Genealogy editorial office, Kong Dewei said so far as the office knew, women descendants make up less than two lakh or approximately 20 per cent, of the total. The figure will change as the compilation work advances, Kong added.

Having women in Confucius' genealogy is the first for China's greatest teacher but also a rarity in the whole history of genealogy in China where a centuries-old mentality has traditionally valued men and belittled women.

The thoughts of Confucius (551-479 BC), a philosopher, educator and founder of Confucianism in the late Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC), are still very influential in Chinese society, urging people to have a positive attitude toward life and the world and respect for morality and virtue.