Five Codes of Ethics
These rules suggested that are certain disciplines of behavior that are needed to be upheld in interaction between the king and vassals, fathers and sons, husband and wives, the young and the elderly, and among friends.
Virtues of Women in the Five codes of Ethics
The Confucian Ethics included many rules that discriminated women. The Virtues of "Samjongjido" required that women were supposed to be submissive to their father when they were young, and upon marriage to their husband and after their husband deceased then to their sons.
Joseon awarded women who dedicated their lives to their deceased husband, by building "Yeolnyeomun", a gate to commemorate the sacrifice of dedicated woman. Families that had such dedicated woman received numerous benefits from the government, including the reduction of taxes. However, such high demand upon women forced them to suffer unnecessary pains.