School teaching women housework and obedience forced to close in China

The school claimed to help women learn 'women's virtues' such as household chores and the value of 'talking less and working more'. Photo / Getty

A school where Chinese men sent their wives to learn "women's virtues" such as household chores and the value of "talking less and working more" has been forced to close.

Tutors at the institute in northern China also chastised women for wearing make-up or having career ambitions, local reports said.

The women were also told they would die if they had sex with more than three men and that they would lose their virtue if they ordered takeaways.

The school was set up by Kang Jinsheng, who was imprisoned for murder almost 30 years ago before becoming inspired by teachings on "Chinese traditional cultural values".

He launched the Fushun Traditional Values Association in the northern Liaoning province in 2011 and has since established three other branches across China.

Tutors at the Fushun school order the women to begin eight hours of intense household chores at 4.30am, the Liaoshen Evening News reported.

There was also more sinister teachings for women, such as telling them not to hit back when they are hit by men.

The school came to the attention of authorities after videos of lectures at the school went viral on Chinese social media.

Fushun education department said in a social media posting that the teachings "went against socialist core values" and that it would "stop any phenomenon that violated the core value of socialism."

Chinese media reported that local officials had allowed the institute to be set up as an 'association' but it had not been given permission to teach students.

A number of schools teaching "traditional feminine virtues" have been established in China in recent years, the Global Times newspaper reported.

The newspaper said, citing domestic report, that "instead of promoting gender equality, these schools tell students that 'a woman should respect her father, husband and son unconditionally' and that 'women should be subordinate to men.'"

Some of the women were sent to the institute by their husbands while others were sent by their company bosses.

An employee told the Global Times employee that the video was a "misinterpretation" of what happened at the school.

"The school has been opened for seven or eight years, and is free of charge," the employee said.

"People who receive an education here are always grateful to us."