Constructing his opinions and beliefs in a manner that is easy to understand aids in the better understanding of Ekken's context.
Ekken's beliefs about women could have been reflected in a majority of Japan with several thousands of others who also followed his work.
Classism focusing on the different genders were a huge part of how society functioned. Despite how controversial it seems today, it was generally normalized and encouraged at this point in time.
Historical significance questions relating to this specific primary source can also be elaborated on and researched.
These two questions go hand in hand as they both ask about what individuals and groups believed in about the topic of how males and females should function in society.
The transcription itself was written in response to how class systems and gender roles were fluxiating during a new era in Japan.
Many ideas and opinions are excluded from this topic, women's opinions and beliefs, ideas that focus on bettering women rather than discouraging them, etc.

Japan: Onna Daigaku

What does it look like?

A self-help transcript that teaches society how women should act and function as housewives.

How does the author communicate ideas?

Appearing as more of an instructional book, Ekken explains how the average housewife in Japan should and shouldn't behave.

What ideas are left out?

A lot of the excerpt focus on the negative traits women should learn to control, meanwhile good traits that women may already possessed weren't really elaborated on or talked about.

Whose perspectives are questioned/challenged?

While women would have almost certainly submitted to their male counterparts as lesser than them, the emotional outbursts described in the writing could have something to do with women's unhappiness with their treatment.

Did this result in change?

The writing of Onna Daigaku was inspired by the decline of women's influence in Japan when new class systems were in effect. This piece of writing would have been homage and a sort of guideline for citizens to live by back then.

Who wrote it and why?

Kaibara Ekken, a philosopher, neo-confucianist and botanist who was born into a family of advisors. He went on to study science and eventually wrote the Confucianist Onna Daigaku book.

What are the big ideas?

The big ideas were to spread the practice of teaching women to suppress their emotions and outwardly behavior in order to function obediently in what society would have been back then.

Whose perspective does it reflect?

Ekken's perspective is obviously expressed here. Most men in Japan would have agreed with his writing and maybe even some women would have felt it was their place to listen to his claims.

What questions can this help me answer?

Questions surrounding the topic of how different classes based off of gender functions, such as "how women were treated at this point in time".

Did it reveal beliefs/attitudes of this era?

It definitely revealed how classes of gender worked back then. Women were lesser counterparts of men at the time and it was essentially the norm for this era.