As one of the Four Books for Women, Lessons had wide circulation in the late Ming and Qing dynasties (i.e. 16th–early 20th centuries).
Ban Zhao made the "Admonitions for Women" for her daughters.
The book itself describes the status and position of women in society.
It is a small book and many women had the sections memorized.
[citation needed] The book contains only 7 chapters as outlined below.