1
魏崔覽妻封氏封卓妻劉氏魏溥妻房氏胡長命妻張氏平原女子孫氏房愛親妻崔氏涇州貞女兒氏姚氏婦楊氏張洪祁妻劉氏董景起妻張氏陽尼妻高氏史映周妻耿氏任城國太妃孟氏苟金龍妻劉氏貞孝女宗河東姚氏女刁思遵妻魯氏西魏孫道溫妻趙氏孫神妻陳氏隋蘭陵公主南陽公主襄城王恪妃華陽王楷妃譙國夫人洗氏鄭善果母崔氏孝女王舜韓覬妻于氏陸讓母馮氏劉昶女鐘士雄母蔣氏孝婦覃氏元務光母盧氏裴倫妻柳氏趙元楷妻崔氏
Feng, wife of Cui Lan of Wei; Liu, wife of Feng Zhuo; Fang, wife of Wei Pu; Zhang, wife of Hu Changming; the woman Sun of Pingyuan; Cui, wife of Fang Aiqin; Er, the chaste woman of Jingzhou; Yao; Yang the daughter-in-law; Liu, wife of Zhang Hongqi; Zhang, wife of Dong Jingqi; Gao, wife of Yang Ni; Geng, wife of Shi Yingzhou; Meng, Grand Consort of the State of Rencheng; Liu, wife of Gou Jinlong; Zong the chaste and filial maiden; the Yao maiden of Hedong; Lu, wife of Diao Sizun; Zhao, wife of Sun Daowen of Western Wei; Chen, wife of Sun Shen; Princess Lanling of Sui; Princess Nanyang; the consort of Prince Xiangcheng Ke; the consort of Prince Huayang Kai; Lady Xian of Qiao; Cui, mother of Zheng Shanguo; Wang Shun the filial daughter; Yu, wife of Han Xi; Feng, mother of Lu Rang; the daughter of Liu Chang; Jiang, mother of Zhong Shixiong; Tan the filial daughter-in-law; Lu, mother of Yuan Wuguang; Liu, wife of Pei Lun; and Cui, wife of Zhao Yuankai
2
蓋婦人之德，雖在於溫柔，立節垂名，咸資於貞烈。 溫柔仁之本也，貞烈義之資也。 非溫柔無以成其仁，非貞烈無以顯其義。 是以《詩書》所記，風俗所存，圖像丹青，流聲竹素。 莫不守約以居正，殺身以成仁者也。 若文伯、王陵之母，白公、杞殖之妻，魯之義姑，梁之高行，衛君靈王之妾，夏侯文寧之女，或抱信以會真，或蹈忠而踐義，不以存亡易心，不以盛衰改節，其佳名彰於既沒，徽音傳於不朽，不亦休乎！ 或有王公大人之妃，偶肆情於淫僻之俗，雖衣文衣，食珍膳，坐金屋，乘玉輦，不入彤管之書，不沾青史之筆，將草木以俱落，與麋鹿而同死者，可勝道哉！ 永言載思，實庶姬之恥也。
A woman's virtue may rest in gentleness, yet to establish her integrity and win lasting renown she must draw on chastity and fortitude. Gentleness is the foundation of benevolence, and chastity and fortitude are what give righteousness its force. Without gentleness benevolence cannot be fulfilled; without chastity and fortitude righteousness cannot be made manifest. What the Odes and Documents record, what custom preserves, what painters set down in color, and what fame carries on bamboo and silk— all alike are women who kept their vows and lived uprightly, who gave their lives to fulfill the demands of righteousness. Think of the mothers of Wen Bo and Wang Ling, the wives of Duke Bai and Qi Zhi, the righteous aunt of Lu, the woman of lofty conduct in Liang, the concubine of Duke Ling of Wei, and the daughter of Xiahou Wenning: some clung to faith until truth was fulfilled, others walked loyalty into the practice of righteousness. None of them shifted heart with life or death, or changed integrity with fortune's rise and fall. Their fine names blaze after they are gone; their worthy fame lives on undying—is that not glorious? Then there are the consorts of princes and great men who give themselves to corrupt and licentious ways. Though they wear brocade, dine on delicacies, dwell in gilded chambers, and ride in jade carriages, they win no place in the court historians' books and no line in the blue annals. They will wither away with the grass and trees and perish no better than elk in the wild—who could count them all? To ponder this at length is to grasp the disgrace that awaits any woman who lacks such virtue.
3
《魏》、《隋》二書，並有《列女傳》，《齊》、《周》並無此篇。 今又得武孫道溫妻趙氏、河北孫神妻陳氏，附《魏》、《隋》二傳，以備《列女篇》云。
The histories of Wei and Sui both include a 'Biographies of Exemplary Women,' whereas those of Qi and Zhou do not. Here we add Zhao, wife of Sun Daowen of Wu, and Chen, wife of Sun Shen of Hebei, to the Wei and Sui accounts so that the chapter on exemplary women may be complete.
4
魏中書侍郎清河崔覽妻封氏者，勃海人，散騎常侍封愷女也。 有才識，聰辯強記，多所究知。 時李敷、公孫文叔雖已貴重，近世故事有所不達者，皆就而諮請焉。
Feng, wife of Cui Lan, Attendant Gentleman of the Secretariat of Wei from Qinghe, came from Bohai. She was the daughter of Feng Kai, Regular Attendant at the Imperial Secretariat. She was gifted and discerning, quick in debate and retentive of memory, and had mastered a wide range of learning. Even Li Fu and Gongsun Wenshu, eminent as they were, would come to her whenever they were uncertain about recent precedents.
5
勃海封卓妻劉氏者，彭城人也。 成婚一夕，卓官於京師，後以事伏法。 劉氏在家，忽然夢想，知卓已死，哀泣，嫂喻之不止。 經旬，凶問果至，遂憤歎而死。 時人比之秦嘉妻。 中書令高允念其義高而名不著，為之詩曰：
Liu, wife of Feng Zhuo of Bohai, was from Pengcheng. They had been married only one night when Zhuo took office in the capital; later he was executed for his involvement in a case. At home Liu was suddenly visited in a dream and knew Zhuo was dead. She wept in grief, and though her sister-in-law tried to comfort her, she would not be consoled. Within ten days the report of his death arrived, and she died of grief and despair. People of the time compared her to the wife of Qin Jia. Chief Minister Gao Yun, reflecting that her righteousness was lofty yet her name little known, composed a poem for her:
6
兩儀正位，人倫肇甄。 爰制夫婦，統業承先。 雖曰異族，氣猶自然。 生則同室，終契黃泉。 其一
Heaven and earth took their stations; human relations were first ordained. Then husband and wife were ordained to carry on the line and honor those who came before. Though called different in kind, their spirits are bound as one by nature. In life they share one room; in death they are pledged in the Yellow Springs below. I
7
封生令達，卓為時彥，內協黃中，外兼三變。 誰能作配，克應其選，實有華宗，挺生淑媛。 其二
Master Feng was bright and accomplished; Zhuo was a leading man of the age, inwardly centered in virtue, outwardly versed in the three classic changes. Who could be his match? One worthy of him was found: a noble house had produced this virtuous lady. II
8
京野勢殊，山川乖互，乃奉王命，載馳在路。 公務既弘，私義獲著，因媒致幣，遘止一幕。 其三
Capital and countryside lay far apart; mountains and rivers divided them. He received the king's command and hurried on his way. His public duty was heavy, yet private obligation was honored: through a matchmaker betrothal gifts were sent, and they shared one roof as husband and wife. III
9
率我初冠，眷彼弱笄，形由禮比，情以趣諧。 忻願難常，影跡易乖，悠悠言邁，戚戚長懷。 其四
He had just come of age; she was still a young maiden. Form was joined by ritual, and hearts were drawn together by affection. Joy is hard to hold; shadow and footprint soon part. Far he travels on his errand, and long sorrow fills her heart. IV
10
時遇險迍，橫罹塵綱，伏質就刑，身分土壤。 千里雖遐，應如影響，良嬪洞感，發於夢想。 其五
The times turned cruel; he was caught in the dust of the law. He offered his body to execution, and flesh and self returned to earth. Though a thousand li lay between them, her response came like an echo to a sound. The good wife felt it in her depths, and it came to her in a dream. V
11
仰惟親命，俯尋嘉好，誰謂會淺，義深情到。 畢志守窮，誓不二醮，何以驗之？ 殞身是效。 其六
She honored her parents' charge and held fast to their pledged affection. Who would call their meeting brief? Her righteousness ran deep, and her devotion knew no limit. She fulfilled her resolve and clung to widowhood, vowing never to take another husband. How was this proved? She gave her life as proof. VI
12
人之處世，孰不厚生？ 必存於義，所重則輕。 結憤鐘心，甘就幽冥，永捐堂宇，長辭母兄。 其七
Who among the living does not cherish life? She held to righteousness, and what others valued she held light. Grief knotted in her heart, she willingly entered the dark realm, forever leaving her home and taking final leave of mother and brothers. VII
13
芒芒中野，翳翳孤丘，葛蕾冥蒙，荊棘四周，理苟不昧，神必俱遊。 異哉貞婦，曠世靡儔。 其八
Vast lies the open wild; dim rises the lonely mound. Vines and brambles shroud it, thorns ring it round—yet if truth is not obscured, their spirits must wander together still. How extraordinary this chaste wife—through the ages without equal! VIII
14
钜鹿魏溥妻房氏者，慕容垂貴鄉太守常山房湛女也。 幼有烈操。 年十六而溥遇疾，且卒，顧謂之曰：「死不足恨，但痛母老家貧，赤子蒙眇，抱怨於黃壚耳！」 房垂泣而對曰：「幸承先人餘訓，出事君子，義在偕老，有志不從，蓋其命也。 今夫人在堂，弱子衤強褓，顧當以身少相感，永深長往之恨。」 俄而溥卒。 及將大斂，房氏操刀割左耳，投之棺中，仍曰：「鬼神有知，相期泉壤。」 流血滂然，助喪者哀懼。 姑劉氏輟哭謂曰：「新婦何至於此？」 對曰：「新婦少年，不幸早寡，實慮父母未量至情，覬持此自誓耳。」 聞知者莫不感愴。
Fang, wife of Wei Pu of Julu, was the daughter of Fang Zhan, Governor of Guixiang under Murong Chui, from Changshan. From childhood she possessed a resolute integrity. At sixteen Pu fell gravely ill and, near death, turned to her and said, 'Death itself is no great regret, but it pains me that my mother is old, our household poor, and our infant blind—my only grievance is what I leave behind in the grave!' Fang wept and answered, 'I have been fortunate to receive my ancestors' teaching and to serve a gentleman. Righteousness demands that we grow old together; if that will cannot be fulfilled, it must be fate. Your mother is still alive, and our child is still in swaddling clothes. I must live on a little longer for their sake, though the grief of your going will never leave me.' Soon after, Pu died. When the time came for the encoffining, Fang took a knife, cut off her left ear, and cast it into the coffin, saying, 'If the spirits have knowledge, let us meet in the realm below.' Blood poured forth, and those assisting at the funeral were stricken with grief and fear. Her mother-in-law Liu stopped weeping and said, 'Daughter-in-law, why go so far?' She answered, 'I am young and have been widowed too soon. I feared my own parents would not grasp the depth of my devotion, and I wished to pledge myself in this way.' All who heard of it were deeply moved.
15
於時，子緝生未十旬，鞠育於後房之內，未嘗出門。 遂終身不聽絲竹，不預座席。 緝年十二，房父母仍存，於是歸甯，父兄尚有異議。 緝竊聞之，以啟其母。 房命駕，紿雲他行，因而遂歸。 其家弗之知也。 行數十里，方覺，兄弟來追，房哀歎而不反。 其執意如此。 訓導一子，有母儀法度。 緝所交遊，有名勝者，則身具酒饌； 有不及己者，輒屏臥不飧，須其悔謝，乃食。 善誘嚴訓，類皆如是。 年六十五而終。
At that time her son Ji was not yet ten days old. She nursed and raised him within the inner quarters and never went outside the gate. For the rest of her life she would not listen to music or take part in banquets. When Ji was twelve, Fang's parents were still alive, and she went home for a visit. Her father and brothers still had reservations about her widowhood. Ji overheard this and told his mother. Fang ordered the carriage, claiming she was going elsewhere, and returned to her husband's home. Her own family did not know she had left. After they had gone several tens of li her family realized what had happened. Her brothers came in pursuit, but Fang wept and would not turn back. Such was the firmness of her resolve. She raised and instructed her son with the dignity and discipline of a true mother. When Ji's companions were men of distinction, she personally prepared wine and food for them; if any were beneath his station, she would withdraw to bed and refuse to eat until he repented and apologized—only then would she take food again. In gentle persuasion and strict instruction she was always thus. She died at the age of sixty-five.
16
緝子悅後為濟陰太守，吏民立碑頌德。 金紫光祿大夫高閭為其文曰：「爰及處士，遘疾夙凋，伉儷秉志，識茂行高，殘形顯操，誓敦久要。」 溥未仕而卒，故云處士焉。
Ji's son Yue later became Governor of Jiyin, and officials and common people erected a stele in praise of her virtue. Grand Master of the Golden Gate and Imperial Household Gao Lu composed its inscription: 'Reaching to the retired gentleman, early stricken and cut down; husband and wife held one resolve, wisdom rich and conduct lofty; she maimed her body to display her integrity and pledged an enduring bond.' Pu died without ever taking office, hence he is called a retired gentleman.
17
樂部郎胡長命妻張氏者，不知何許人也。 事姑王氏甚謹。 太安中，京師禁酒。 張以姑老且患，私為醖之，為有司所糾。 王氏詣曹自首，由己私釀。 張氏曰：「姑老抱患，張主家事，姑不知釀。」 主司不知所處。 平原王陸麗以狀奏，文成義而赦之。
Zhang, wife of Hu Changming of the Music Bureau, was of unknown origin. She served her mother-in-law Lady Wang with great devotion. During the Tai'an era wine was forbidden in the capital. Because her mother-in-law was old and ill, Zhang secretly brewed wine for her and was reported by the authorities. Lady Wang went to the authorities and confessed that she herself had brewed the wine in secret. Zhang said, 'My mother-in-law is old and ill. I manage the household affairs, and she knew nothing of the brewing.' The presiding official did not know how to decide the case. Prince of Pingyuan Lu Li reported the matter to the throne, and Emperor Wencheng, moved by their righteousness, pardoned them both.
18
平原鄃縣女子孫氏男玉者，夫為零陵縣人所殺。 男玉追執仇人，欲自殺之。 其弟止而不聽。 男玉曰：「女人出適，以夫為天，當親自復雪，云何假人之手？」 遂以杖毆殺之。 有司處死，以聞。 獻文詔曰：「男玉重節輕身，以義犯法，緣情定罪，理在可原，其特恕之。」
Nanyu, daughter of the Sun family of Shuxian in Pingyuan, had a husband who was murdered by a man from Lingling County. Nanyu pursued and seized the murderer, intending to kill him herself. Her younger brother tried to stop her, but she would not listen. Nanyu said, 'When a woman marries, her husband is her heaven. I must avenge him myself—how could I leave it to another's hand?' She then beat him to death with a staff. The authorities sentenced her to death and reported the case to the throne. Emperor Xianwen decreed, 'Nanyu valued integrity above her own life and broke the law for righteousness' sake. When feeling is weighed in judgment, she may be pardoned. Let her be specially forgiven.'
19
清河房愛親妻崔氏者，同郡崔元孫之女也。 性嚴明，有高節，歷覽書傳，多所聞知。 親授子景伯、景光《九經》義，學行修明，並當世名士。 景伯為清河太守，每有疑獄，常先請焉。 貝丘人列子不孝，吏欲案之，景伯為之悲傷，入白其母。 母曰：「吾聞聞名不如見面，小人未見禮教，何足責哉！ 但呼其母來，吾與之同居，其子置汝左右，令其見汝事吾，或應自改。」 景伯遂召其母，崔氏處之於榻，與之共食。 景伯為之溫凊。 其子侍立堂下，未及旬日，悔過求還。 崔氏曰：「此雖顏慚，未知心愧，且可置之。」 凡經二十餘日，其子叩頭流血，其母涕泣乞還，然後聽之，終以孝聞。 其識度勵物如此。 竟以壽終。
Cui, wife of Fang Aiqin of Qinghe, was the daughter of Cui Yuansun of the same commandery. She was stern and principled, possessed of lofty integrity, and had read widely in the classics and histories. She personally taught her sons Jingbo and Jingguang the meaning of the Nine Classics. Both became men of cultivated learning and conduct, eminent in their generation. Jingbo served as Governor of Qinghe, and whenever a case was doubtful he would consult her first. A man of Beiqiu named Liezi was unfilial, and the clerks wished to prosecute him. Jingbo was moved to pity and went to tell his mother. His mother said, 'They say that hearing of someone is not like meeting him face to face. A petty man who has never been taught ritual propriety—how can he be blamed? Summon his mother here and let me live with her. Place his son at your side and let him watch how you serve me—perhaps he will reform himself.' Jingbo summoned the mother, and Cui received her on a couch and shared meals with her. Jingbo himself saw to her comfort in heat and cold. The son stood waiting in the hall below. Before ten days had passed, he repented and asked to return home. Cui said, 'His face may show shame, but we do not yet know whether his heart feels remorse. For now let it be set aside.' After more than twenty days the son knocked his head until it bled, and his mother wept and begged to return home. Only then did she allow it. In the end he became renowned for filial piety. Such was her insight and her power to move others to reform. She lived out her full span of years.
20
涇州貞女兒氏者，許嫁彭老生為妻。 聘幣既畢，未及成禮。 兒氏率行貞淑，居貧，常自舂汲，以養父母。 老生輒往逼之，女曰：「與君聘命雖畢，二門多故，未及相見，何由不稟父母，擅見陵辱！ 若苟行非禮，正可身死耳！」 遂不肯從。 老生怒而刺殺之，取其衣服。 女尚能言，臨死謂老生曰：「生身何罪，與君相遇！ 我所以執節自固者，寧更有所邀，正欲奉給君耳。 今反為君所殺，若魂靈有知，自當相報。」 言終而絕。 老生持女衣服珠纓，至其叔宅，以告。 叔曰：「此是汝婦，奈何殺之，天不祐汝！」 遂執送官。 太和七年，有司劾以死罪。 詔曰：「老生不仁，侵陵貞淑，原其強暴，便可戮之，而女守禮履節，沒身不改，雖處草莽，行合古跡。 宜賜美名，以顯風操，其標墓旌善，號曰『貞女』」。
Er, the chaste woman of Jingzhou, had been betrothed to Peng Laosheng. The betrothal gifts had been exchanged, but the wedding had not yet been held. Er was chaste and virtuous in her conduct. Though poor, she often pounded grain and drew water herself to support her parents. Laosheng repeatedly came to force her. The girl said, 'Though our betrothal is complete, both our families have many affairs and we have not yet even met. How can you fail to inform our parents and come on your own to insult and violate me? If you insist on violating propriety, I can only die!' She refused to submit. Laosheng in anger stabbed her to death and took her clothes. The girl could still speak. On the point of death she said to Laosheng, 'What crime did I commit in this life to meet you! I held to my integrity not because I sought anything else, but because I wished to give myself to you alone. Now you have killed me instead. If spirits have knowledge, they will surely repay you.' With these words she died. Laosheng took the girl's clothes and pearl ornaments to her uncle's house and told him what had happened. The uncle said, 'This was your betrothed wife—how could you kill her? Heaven will not protect you!' He seized him and handed him over to the authorities. In the seventh year of Taihe the authorities impeached him for a capital offense. An edict said, 'Laosheng was cruel and violated a chaste and virtuous woman. Considering his violence, he may be executed. The girl kept ritual and practiced integrity to the end of her life. Though she lived in humble circumstances, her conduct matched the deeds of antiquity. Grant her a fine name to display her moral conduct. Mark her tomb and praise her virtue, and give her the title Chaste Woman.'
21
姚氏婦楊氏者，閹人苻承祖姨也。 家貧。 及承祖為文明太后所寵貴，親姻皆求利潤，唯楊獨不欲。 常謂其姊曰：「姊雖有一時之榮，不若妹有無憂之樂。」 姊每遺其衣服，多不受。 強與之，則云：「我夫家世貧，好衣美服則使人不安。」 與之奴婢，云：「我家無食，不能供給。」 終不肯受。 常著破衣，自執勞事。 時受其衣服，多不著，密埋之。 設有著者，汙之而後服。 承祖每見其寒悴，深恨其家，謂不供給之。 乃啟其母曰：「今承祖一身，何所乏少，而使姨如是？」 母具以語之。 承祖乃遣人乘車往迎之，則厲志不起。 遣人強輦於車上，則大哭言：「爾欲殺我也！」 由是苻家內外，皆號為癡姨。 及承祖敗，有司執其二姨至殿庭致法，以姚氏婦衣裳弊陋，特免其罪。 其識機，雖呂嬃亦不如也。
Yang, wife of the Yao family, was the aunt of the eunuch Fu Chengzu. Her family was poor. When Chengzu was favored and ennobled by Empress Dowager Wenming, all his kin by marriage sought profit from his rise—only Yang wanted none of it. She often said to her elder sister, 'Sister, you may have glory for a time, but that is not like the joy I have in living without worry.' Whenever her sister sent her clothing, she mostly refused to accept it. If they forced them on her, she would say, 'My husband's family has been poor for generations. Fine clothes would make people uneasy.' When given maidservants, she said, 'My household has no food and cannot support them.' In the end she would not accept them. She always wore tattered clothes and performed labor with her own hands. When she did accept clothing, she mostly did not wear it and secretly buried it away. If she did wear any, she would soil it first before putting it on. Whenever Chengzu saw her cold and emaciated, he deeply resented her family, believing they did not provide for her. He told his mother, 'Now that Chengzu alone lacks for nothing, why is my aunt in such a state?' His mother told him the full story. Chengzu then sent men in a carriage to fetch her, but with stern resolve she would not go. When men were sent to force her into the carriage, she wept loudly and cried, 'You wish to kill me!' From this, everyone inside and outside the Fu household called her the mad aunt. When Chengzu fell, the authorities seized his two aunts to the palace court for punishment. Because the Yao family's wife wore worn and shabby clothes, her crime was specially pardoned. Her discernment of the times—even Lü Wei could not match her.
22
滎陽京縣人張洪祁妻劉氏者，年十七夫亡。 遺腹生一子，三歲又沒。 其舅姑年老，朝夕奉養，率禮無違。 兄矜其少寡，欲奪嫁之，劉自誓不許，以終其身。
Liu, wife of Zhang Hongqi of Jing County in Xingyang, was seventeen when her husband died. She bore a posthumous son, who died at the age of three. Her parents-in-law were elderly. Morning and evening she served them, observing ritual without fail. Her elder brother pitied her young widowhood and wished to force her to remarry. Liu vowed she would not consent and remained a widow for life.
23
陳留董景起妻張氏者，景起早亡，張時年十六，，痛夫少喪，哀傷過禮，蔬食長齋。 又無兒息，獨守貞操，期以闔棺。 鄉曲高之，終見標異。
Zhang, wife of Dong Jingqi of Chenliu: Jingqi died early when Zhang was sixteen. Grieving that her husband had died so young, she mourned beyond what ritual required, ate only vegetables, and kept long fasts. She had no children and alone kept her chaste integrity, resolved to share his coffin at the end. Neighbors honored her, and in the end she was publicly recognized for her virtue.
24
漁陽太守陽尼妻高氏者，勃海人也。 學識有文翰，孝文敕令入侍後宮。 幽後表啟，悉其辭也。
Gao, wife of Yang Ni, Governor of Yuyang, was from Bohai. She was learned and skilled in literary composition. Emperor Xiaowen ordered her to enter and serve in the rear palace. The memorials and reports of Empress You were all composed in her words.
25
滎陽史映周妻耿氏者，同郡耿氏女也。 年十七，適於映周。 太和二十三年，映周卒，耿氏恐父母奪其志，因葬映周，哀哭而殞。 見者莫不悲歎。 屬大使觀風，以狀具上，詔標門閭。
Geng, wife of Shi Yingzhou of Xingyang, was the daughter of the Geng family of the same commandery. At seventeen she married Yingzhou. In the twenty-third year of Taihe Yingzhou died. Geng feared her parents would force her to remarry. At his burial she wailed in grief and died. All who witnessed it were moved to grief. When an envoy came to observe local customs, the matter was fully reported to the throne, and an edict marked her gate and lane with honor.
26
任城國太妃孟氏者，钜鹿人，尚書、任城王澄之母也。 澄為揚州之日，率眾出討。 於後賊帥姜慶真陰結逆黨，襲陷羅城。 長史韋纘倉卒，孟乃勒兵登陴，激厲文武，喻之逆順。 於是咸有奮志，賊不能克，卒以全城。 靈太后後敕有司樹碑旌美。
Meng, Grand Consort of the State of Rencheng, was from Julu and was the mother of Minister of Works and Prince of Rencheng Cheng. When Cheng was serving in Yangzhou, he led troops out on campaign. Afterward the rebel leader Jiang Qingzhen secretly joined with traitors and in a surprise attack seized Luocheng. Chief Administrator Wei Zuan was caught off guard. Meng then marshaled the troops, mounted the battlements, roused the civil and military officials, and explained to them the difference between loyalty and treason. Thereupon all took heart for the fight. The rebels could not overcome them, and in the end the whole city was preserved. Empress Dowager Ling later ordered the authorities to erect a stele in praise of her excellence.
27
梓潼太守苟金龍妻劉氏者，平原人也，廷尉少卿劉叔宗之姊也。 宣武時，金龍為郡，帶關城戍主。 梁人攻圍，會金龍疾病，不堪部分，劉遂厲城人修理戰具，夜悉登城拒戰，百有餘日，兵士死傷過半。 戍副高景陰圖叛逆，劉與城人斬景及其黨與數十人。 自餘將士，分衣減食，勞逸必同，莫不畏而懷之。 井在外城，尋為賊陷，城中絕水，渴死者多。 劉乃集諸長幼，喻以忠節，遂相率告訴於天，俱時號叫，俄而澍雨。 劉命出公私布絹及至衣服，懸之城內，絞而取水，所有雜器，悉儲之。 於是人心益固。 會益州刺史傅豎眼將至，梁人乃退。 豎眼歎異之，具狀奏聞。 宣武嘉之。 正光中，賞其子慶珍平昌縣子，又得二子出身。
Liu, wife of Gou Jinlong, Governor of Zitong, was from Pingyuan and was the elder sister of Liu Shuzong, Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review. During the reign of Emperor Xuanwu, Jinlong served as governor of the commandery and concurrently as commander of the Guancheng garrison. Liang forces besieged the city. Jinlong fell ill and could not command. Liu then urged the townspeople to repair weapons, and at night all mounted the walls to resist. For more than a hundred days the fighting continued, and more than half the soldiers were killed or wounded. Deputy garrison commander Gao Jing secretly plotted rebellion. Liu and the townspeople beheaded Jing and several dozen of his associates. She shared clothing and reduced rations with the remaining officers and soldiers, sharing their toil and rest alike. All feared and revered her. The wells lay in the outer city and soon fell to the enemy. Within the city water was cut off, and many died of thirst. Liu then gathered young and old, explained loyalty and integrity to them, and together they appealed to Heaven, all crying out at once. Shortly afterward a soaking rain fell. Liu ordered public and private cloth, silk, and even clothing brought out, hung within the city, and wrung to draw water. Every vessel was put to use. Thereupon the people's resolve grew firmer still. When Governor of Yizhou Fu Shuyan was about to arrive, the Liang forces withdrew. Shuyan marveled at her deeds and fully reported them to the throne. Emperor Xuanwu commended her. In the Zhengguang era her son Qingzhen was ennobled as Marquis of Pingchang County, and two more sons received initial appointment to office.
28
貞孝女宗者，趙郡柏人人，趙郡太守李叔胤之女，范陽盧元禮之妻也。 性至孝，父卒，號慟幾絕者數四，賴母崔氏慰勉之，得全。 三年之中，形骸銷瘠，非人不起。 及歸夫氏，與母分隔，便飲食日損，涕泣不絕，日就羸篤。 盧氏闔家慰喻，不解。 因遣歸寧還家，乃復故。 如此者八九焉。 及元禮卒，李追亡撫遺，事姑以孝謹著。 母崔終於洛陽，凶問初到，舉聲慟絕，一宿乃蘇，水漿不入口者六日。 其姑慮其不濟，親送奔喪，而氣力危殆，自范陽向都，八旬方達。 攀櫬號踴，遂卒。 有司以狀聞，詔追號貞孝女宗，易其裏為孝德里，樹李、盧二門，以惇風俗。
Zong, the chaste and filial daughter, was from Bo in Zhao Commandery, the daughter of Li Shuyin, Governor of Zhao Commandery, and the wife of Lu Yuanli of Fanyang. She was utterly filial by nature. When her father died she wailed until she nearly expired four times, and only through her mother Lady Cui's comfort and encouragement did she survive. Within three years her body wasted away, and she would not rise unless someone came to her. When she returned to her husband's family and was separated from her mother, her food and drink daily diminished, tears flowed without cease, and day by day she grew frail and grave. The whole Lu household comforted and admonished her, but she would not be consoled. They therefore sent her home for a visit, and only then did she recover. This happened eight or nine times. When Yuanli died, Li mourned the departed and nurtured the survivors, serving her mother-in-law with filial devotion and becoming renowned for it. Her mother Cui died in Luoyang. When the news first arrived, she raised her voice in grief and fainted, reviving only after a night had passed. For six days she took no water or food. Her mother-in-law feared she would not survive and personally escorted her to the funeral. Her strength was perilously weak—from Fanyang to the capital it took eighty days before she arrived. Clinging to the coffin she wailed and stamped in grief, and then she died. The authorities reported the facts to the throne. An edict posthumously gave her the title Chaste and Filial Daughter Zong, changed her lane to Lane of Filial Virtue, and erected markers at the Li and Lu gates to encourage moral conduct.
29
河東姚氏女者，字女勝。 少喪父，無兄弟，母憐而守養。 年六七歲，便有孝性，人言其父者，聞輒垂泣，鄰伍異之。 正光中母死，勝年十五，哭泣不絕聲，水漿不入口者數日，不勝哀，遂死。 太守崔游申請為營墓立碑，自為制文，表其門閭，比之曹娥，改其裏曰上虞裏。 墓在都城東六里，大道北，至今名為孝女塚。
The daughter of the Yao family of Hedong had the courtesy name Nüsheng. She lost her father young, had no brothers, and her mother pitied and raised her alone. At six or seven she already showed filial nature. Whenever people spoke of her father, she would weep at once. Her neighbors marveled at this. In the Zhengguang era her mother died. Sheng was fifteen. She wept without cease and took no water or food for several days. Unable to bear her grief, she died. Governor Cui You petitioned to build her tomb and erect a stele, composed the inscription himself, marked her gate and lane with honor, compared her to Cao E, and changed her lane to Shangyu Lane. Her tomb lies six li east of the capital, north of the great road. To this day it is called the Tomb of the Filial Daughter.
30
滎陽刁思遵妻者，魯氏女也。 始笄為思遵所聘，未逾月而思遵亡。 其家矜其少寡，許嫁已定。 魯聞之，以死自誓。 父母不達其志，遂經郡訴，稱刁氏吝護寡女，不使歸寧。 魯乃與老姑徒步詣司徒府，自告情狀。 普泰初，有司聞奏，節閔詔本司依式標榜。
The wife of Diao Sizun of Xingyang was a daughter of the Lu family. At her coming of age she was betrothed to Sizun, but before a month had passed he died. Her family pitied her young widowhood, and a betrothal for remarriage was already settled. When Lu heard of it, she vowed she would rather die. Her parents did not understand her intent and appealed to the commandery, charging the Diao family with stingily guarding the widow and not allowing her to visit her own home. Lu then went on foot with her aged mother-in-law to the Secretariat and reported her situation herself. At the beginning of Putai the authorities heard and memorialized. Emperor Jiemin decreed that the relevant office mark her gate with honor according to regulation.
31
西魏武功縣孫道溫妻趙氏者，安平人也。 万俟醜奴之反，圍岐州，久之無援。 趙乃謂城中婦女曰：「今州城方陷，義在同憂。」 遂相率負土，晝夜培城，城竟免賊。 大統六年，贈夫岐州刺史，贈趙安平縣君。
Zhao, wife of Sun Daowen of Wugong County in Western Wei, was from Anping. When Moqi Chounu rebelled, he besieged Qizhou, and after a long time no relief arrived. Zhao then said to the women in the city, "The prefectural city is on the verge of falling—we ought to share the same anxiety. They then led one another in carrying earth, reinforcing the walls day and night, and the city was ultimately spared from the rebels. In the sixth year of Datong, her husband was posthumously appointed Prefect of Qizhou, and Zhao was posthumously ennobled as Lady of Anping County.
32
河北孫神妻陳氏者，河北郡人也。 神當遠戍，主吏配在夏州，意難其遠。 有孤兄子，欲以自代。 陳曰：「為國征戍，道路遼遠，何容身不肯行，以孤侄自代！ 天下物議，誰其相許？」 神感其言，乃自行。 在戍未幾，便喪。 忄彗柩至，陳望而哀慟，一哭而卒。 文帝詔表其閭。
Chen, wife of Sun Shen of Hebei, was from Hebei commandery. Shen was to serve on a distant frontier posting; the chief clerk assigned him to Xiazhou, and he found the distance hard to accept. He had an orphaned nephew and wanted to send him in his stead. Chen said, "To go on campaign for the state—the road is vast and far. How could you refuse to go yourself and send an orphaned nephew in your place! What man under heaven would countenance such a thing in the court of public opinion? Moved by her words, Shen went himself. At the garrison he died before long. When the coffin arrived, Chen gazed at it and wailed in grief; with a single cry she died. Emperor Wen decreed that her neighborhood be publicly honored.
33
隋蘭陵公主字阿五，文帝第五女也。 美姿容，性婉順，帝於諸女中，特所鍾愛。 初嫁儀同王奉孝。 奉孝卒，適河東柳述，時年十八。 諸姊並驕踞，主獨折節遵婦道，事舅姑甚謹，遇疾必親奉湯藥。 帝聞之大悅，由是述漸見寵遇。 初，晉王廣欲以主配其妃弟蕭瑒，文帝將許之，後遂適述，晉王因不悅。 及述用事，彌惡之。 文帝崩，述徙嶺表。 煬帝令主與述離絕，將改嫁之。 公主以死自誓，不復朝謁，表求免主號，與述同徙。 帝大怒曰：「天下豈無男子，欲與述同徙邪？」 主曰：「先帝以妾適柳家，今其有罪，妾當從坐。」 帝不悅。 主憂憤卒，時年三十二。 臨終上表：生不得從夫死，乞葬柳氏。 帝覽表愈怒，竟不哭，葬主於洪瀆川，資送甚薄。 朝野傷之。
Princess Lanling of Sui, whose courtesy name was A-Wu, was Emperor Wen's fifth daughter. She was beautiful in appearance and gentle in temperament; among all his daughters the Emperor cherished her above the rest. She was first married to Wang Fengxiao, a gentleman of parallel rank. After Fengxiao died, she was remarried to Liu Shu of Hedong at the age of eighteen. All her elder sisters were proud and domineering, but the princess alone humbled herself and observed a wife's duties, serving her parents-in-law with scrupulous care and always personally bringing them medicine when they fell ill. The Emperor was greatly pleased to hear of this, and from then on Liu Shu gradually won favor. At first Prince of Jin Yang Guang wanted to marry the princess to Xiao Chang, younger brother of his consort; Emperor Wen was about to consent, but in the end she was given to Liu Shu instead, and the Prince of Jin was displeased. When Liu Shu came into power, the prince hated him all the more. When Emperor Wen died, Liu Shu was exiled to the far south beyond the mountains. Emperor Yang ordered the princess to break with Liu Shu and planned to marry her to someone else. The princess vowed she would rather die, stopped attending court, and submitted a memorial asking to be stripped of her princess title and exiled together with Liu Shu. The Emperor flew into a rage and said, "Are there no men under heaven that you wish to go into exile with Liu Shu? The princess replied, "The late Emperor gave me in marriage to the Liu family. Now that he has committed a crime, I ought to share his punishment." The Emperor was displeased. The princess died of grief and indignation at the age of thirty-two. On her deathbed she submitted a memorial: unable to follow her husband in life, she begged to be buried with the Liu family. The Emperor read the memorial and grew still angrier; he did not weep at all, and buried the princess at Hongdu River with very meager funeral provisions. All through court and countryside, people mourned her.
34
南陽公主者，煬帝長女也。 美風儀，有志節。 十四嫁於許國公宇文述子士及，以謹厚聞。 述病且卒，主親調飲食，手自奉上，世以此稱之。 及宇文化及弑逆，公主隨至聊城，而化及為竇建德所敗，士及自濟北西歸大唐。 時隋代衣冠引見建德，莫不惶懼失常，唯主神色自若。 建德與語，主自陳國破家亡，不能報怨雪恥，淚上盈襟，聲辭不輟，情理切至。 建德及觀聽者，莫不為之動容隕涕，咸敬異焉。 及建德誅化及，時主有一子名禪師，年且十歲。 建德遣武賁郎將於士證謂主曰：「宇文化及躬行弑逆，今將族滅其宗。 公主之子，法當從坐，若不能割愛，亦聽留之。」 主泣曰：「武賁既是隋室貴臣，此事何須見問？」 建德竟殺之。 公主尋請建德，剃髮為尼。 及建德敗，將歸西京，復與士及遇於東都。 主不與相見。 士及就之，請復為夫妻。 主拒曰：「我與君仇家，今恨不能手刃君者，以謀逆之際，君不預知耳。」 固與告絕。 士及固請，主怒曰：「必就死，可相見也！」 士及知不可屈，乃拜辭而去。
Princess Nanyang was the eldest daughter of Emperor Yang. She was graceful in bearing and possessed firm resolve. At fourteen she married Yu Shiji, son of Duke of Xu Yuwen Shu, and was known for her careful and steadfast character. When Shu fell ill and was near death, the princess personally prepared his food and drink and served it with her own hands; people praised her for this. When Yuwen Huaji committed regicide, the princess accompanied him to Liaocheng; Huaji was defeated by Dou Jiande, and Shiji returned west from Jibei to the Tang. When the gentry of the Sui court were presented to Jiande, none failed to panic and lose composure—only the princess remained calm and self-possessed. Jiande spoke with her, and the princess declared that with her state destroyed and her family ruined she could not avenge her wrongs and wipe away her shame; tears brimmed on her collar, her words never ceased, and her reasoning was utterly earnest. Jiande and all who looked on were moved to tears; everyone admired and marveled at her. When Jiande executed Huaji, the princess had a son named Chanshi who was nearly ten years old. Jiande sent the martial guard general Yu Shizheng to tell the princess, "Yuwen Huaji personally committed regicide, and now his entire clan is to be exterminated. Your son, by law, ought to share their punishment; if you cannot bring yourself to part with him, you may keep him. The princess wept and said, "As a martial guard you are a distinguished minister of the Sui house—why need you ask me about a matter like this?" Jiande killed the boy in the end. Before long the princess asked Jiande's permission and had her head shaved to become a nun. When Jiande was defeated and she was about to return to the Western Capital, she again encountered Shiji at the Eastern Capital. The princess refused to see him. Shiji went to her and asked to resume their marriage. The princess refused and said, "Your family and mine are enemies. The only reason I do not regret that I cannot kill you with my own hand is that you did not know of the plot when it was made. She firmly broke off all relations with him. Shiji pressed her again, and the princess raged, "Only if you are about to die may you see me! Shiji knew she could not be moved, bowed in farewell, and left.
35
襄城王恪妃者，循州刺史柳旦女也。 妃姿貌端麗，年十餘，以良家子合相，見聘為妃。 未幾而恪被廢，妃修婦道，事之愈敬。 煬帝嗣位，復徙邊，帝令使者殺之於道。 恪與辭決，妃曰：「若王死，妾誓不獨生。」 於是相對慟哭。 恪死，棺斂訖，妃謂使者曰：「妾誓與楊氏同穴，若身死得不別埋，君之惠也。」 遂撫棺號慟，自經而卒。 見者莫不流涕。
The consort of Prince Xiangcheng Ke was the daughter of Liu Dan, Prefect of Xunzhou. The consort was elegant and beautiful in appearance; in her teens, as a daughter of a good family whose features were deemed auspicious, she was chosen and betrothed as consort. Before long Ke was deposed, but the consort observed a wife's duties and served him with even greater respect. When Emperor Yang succeeded to the throne, Ke was again banished to the frontier, and the Emperor ordered an envoy to kill him on the road. Ke took his leave of her, and the consort said, "If the prince dies, I vow not to live alone. They then wept together face to face. After Ke died and the coffin had been prepared, the consort told the envoy, "I vowed to share a grave with the Yang clan. If when I die I am not buried separately, that will be your kindness. She then stroked the coffin and wailed in grief, and hanged herself to death. All who witnessed it shed tears.
36
華陽王楷妃者，黃門侍郎、龍涸縣公河南元岩女也。 岩明敏有器幹，煬帝嗣位，坐與柳述連事，除外徙南海。 後會赦還長安，有人譖岩逃歸，收殺之。 妃有姿色，性婉順，初以選為妃，未幾而楷被幽廢。 妃事楷愈謹，每見楷有憂懼色，輒陳義理以慰諭之，楷甚敬焉。 及江都之亂，楷遇害，宇文化及以妃賜其党元武達。 初以宗族禮之，置之別舍。 後因醉而逼之，妃自誓不屈。 武達怒，撻之百餘，詞色彌厲。 元自毀其面，血淚俱下，武達釋之。 妃謂其徒曰：「我不能早死致命，將見侵辱，我之罪也。」 因不食而卒。
The consort of Prince Huayang Kai was the daughter of Yuan Yan of Henan, Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and Duke of Longhu County. Yan was bright and capable; when Emperor Yang succeeded to the throne, he was punished for his association with Liu Shu, removed from office, and exiled to Nanhai. Later, when an amnesty allowed him to return to Chang'an, someone slandered him as having fled back without permission; he was arrested and executed. The consort was beautiful and gentle in temperament; she was first chosen as consort, but before long Kai was imprisoned and deposed. The consort served Kai with even greater care; whenever she saw worry and fear on his face, she would set forth moral principle to comfort and instruct him, and Kai held her in deep respect. At the upheaval at Jiangdu, Kai was killed; Yuwen Huaji gave the consort as a reward to his follower Yuan Wuda. At first he treated her with the courtesy due a clanswoman and housed her in a separate residence. Later, while drunk, he forced himself on her, but the consort vowed she would not yield. Wuda flew into a rage and flogged her more than a hundred times, but her words and bearing grew fiercer still. Lady Yuan disfigured her own face; blood and tears streamed down together, and Wuda let her go. The consort said to her attendants, "That I could not die earlier and give my life—I am about to suffer disgrace, and that is my own fault. She then stopped eating and died.
37
譙國夫人洗氏者，高涼人也。 世為南越首領，部落十餘萬家。 夫人幼賢明，在父母家，撫循部眾，能行軍用師，壓服諸越。 每勸宗族為善，由是信義結於本鄉。 越人俗好相攻擊，夫人兄南梁州刺史挺恃其富強，侵掠傍郡，嶺表苦之。 夫人多所規諫，由是怨隙止息，海南儋耳歸附者千餘洞。
Lady Xian of Qiao was from Gaoliang. For generations her family had been chieftains of the Southern Yue, with tribes numbering more than a hundred thousand households. From childhood the lady was wise and clear-sighted; while still in her parents' home she soothed and guided the tribes, could command troops in battle, and subdued the various Yue peoples. She always urged her clansmen to do good, and thus trust and righteousness took root in her homeland. The Yue custom favored attacking one another; the lady's elder brother Ting, Governor of Southern Liangzhou, relied on his wealth and strength to raid neighboring commanderies, and the region beyond the mountains suffered for it. The lady admonished him repeatedly, and enmity and strife ceased; more than a thousand settlements in Hainan and Dan'er submitted to her.
38
梁大同初，羅州刺史馮融聞夫人有志行，為其子高涼太守寶聘以為妻。 融本北燕苗裔也。 初，馮弘之南投，遣融大父業以三百人浮海歸宋，因留於新會。 自業及融，三世為守牧，他鄉羈旅，號令不行。 至夫人誡約本宗，使從百姓禮。 每與夫寶，參決辭訟，首領有犯法者，雖是親族，無所縱舍。 自此，政令有序，人莫敢違。 後遇候景反，廣州都督蕭勃徵兵援台，高州刺史李遷仕據大皋口，遣召寶。 寶欲往，夫人疑其反，止之。 數日，遷仕果反，遣主帥杜平虜率兵入灨石。 寶以告，夫人曰：「平虜入灨，與官兵相拒，勢未得還，遷仕在州，無能為也。 宜遣使詐之，云：『身未敢出，欲遣婦往參。』 彼必無防慮。 我將千餘人，步擔雜物，唱言輸賧，得至柵下，賊變可圖。」 從之。 遷仕果大喜，覘夫人眾皆提物，不設備。 夫人擊之，大捷。 因總兵與長城侯陳霸先會於灨石。 還謂寶曰：「陳都督極得眾心，必能平賊，君厚資給之。」
At the beginning of Datong in Liang, Feng Rong, Prefect of Luozhou, heard that the lady possessed resolve and integrity, and betrothed her as wife to his son Bao, Prefect of Gaoliang. Rong was originally descended from Northern Yan. When Feng Hong fled south, he sent Rong's great-grandfather Ye with three hundred men to cross the sea and return to Song, and they settled at Xinhui. From Ye down to Rong, for three generations they served as prefects and governors, yet as sojourners in a foreign land their orders went unheeded. When the lady arrived, she admonished and restrained her own clan, making them follow the customs of the common people. Together with her husband Feng Bao she adjudicated lawsuits; when chieftains broke the law, even if they were kin, she showed no leniency. From then on government and orders were well ordered, and no one dared defy them. Later, when Hou Jing rebelled, Xiao Bo, Governor of Guangzhou, levied troops to aid the capital; Li Qianshi, Prefect of Gaozhou, seized Dagao Pass and sent to summon Feng Bao. Feng Bao wished to go, but the lady suspected treachery and stopped him. Within a few days Qianshi did rebel and sent his commander Du Pinglu to lead troops into Zhan Stone. Feng Bao told her, and the lady said, "Pinglu has entered Zhan and is locked in stalemate with the government troops—he cannot return yet; Qianshi is at the prefectural seat and can do nothing. We should send an envoy to deceive him, saying, 'I myself dare not go out; I wish to send my wife to call on you. They will surely be off their guard. I will take more than a thousand men, carrying goods on shoulder poles and loudly proclaiming that we come to pay tribute; once we reach the stockade gate, the rebels can be taken by surprise. They followed her plan. Qianshi was indeed greatly pleased; seeing that the lady's followers all carried goods, he made no preparations. The lady attacked them and won a great victory. She then mustered her troops and joined Marquis of the Great Wall Chen Baxian at Zhan Stone. On returning she told Feng Bao, "Governor Chen has thoroughly won the people's hearts; he is sure to be able to pacify the rebels—you should supply him generously."
39
及寶卒，嶺表大亂，夫人懷集百越，數州晏然。 陳永定二年，其子僕年九歲，遣帥諸首領朝於丹陽，拜陽春郡守。 後廣州刺史歐陽紇謀反，召僕至南海，誘與為亂。 僕遣使歸告夫人，夫人曰：「我為忠貞，經今兩代，不能惜汝負國。」 遂發兵拒境，紇徒潰散。 僕以夫人之功，封信都侯，加平越中郎將，轉石龍太守。 詔使持節冊夫人為高涼郡太夫人，齎繡晄憲油絡駟馬安車一乘，給鼓吹一部，並麾幢旌節，一如刺史之儀。 至德中，僕卒。
When Feng Bao died, great disorder broke out beyond the mountains; the lady gathered the Bai Yue, and several prefectures remained tranquil. In the second year of Yongding of Chen, her son Pu was nine years old; she sent him leading the chieftains to court at Danyang, where he was appointed Prefect of Yangchun commandery. Later Ouyang He, Prefect of Guangzhou, plotted rebellion; he summoned Feng Pu to Nanhai and tried to entice him into joining the revolt. Pu sent a messenger back to report to the Lady; the Lady said, "I have been loyal and steadfast through two dynasties now; I cannot spare you if you betray the state. She then raised troops to hold the border; Ouyang He's followers scattered and fled. Because of the Lady's achievement, Pu was enfeoffed as Marquis of Xindu, promoted to General of the Central Guard for Pacifying the Yue, and transferred to Prefect of Shilong. An imperial envoy bearing the staff of office was sent to invest the Lady as Grand Lady of Gaoliang commandery, with one four-horse escort carriage trimmed with embroidered canopy and oiled netting, a set of ceremonial music, and banners, flags, and tokens of authority—all with the ceremonial dignity of a prefect. In the Zhide era, Pu died.
40
後陳國亡，嶺南未有所附，數郡共奉夫人，號為聖母。 隋文帝遣總管韋洸安撫嶺外，陳將徐璒以南康拒守，洸不敢進。 初，夫人以扶南犀杖獻陳主，至此，晉王廣遣陳主遺夫人書，諭以國亡，命其歸化，並以犀杖及兵符為信。 夫人見杖，驗知陳亡，集首領數千人，盡日慟哭。 遣其孫魂，帥人迎洸。 洸至廣州，嶺南悉定。 表魂為儀同三司，冊夫人為宋康郡夫人。
Later Chen fell; the region south of the mountains had no lord to attach itself to, and several commanderies jointly submitted to the Lady, calling her the Holy Mother. Emperor Wen of Sui sent Chief Administrator Wei Guang to pacify the lands beyond the mountains; the Chen general Xu Peng held Nankang in defense, and Wei Guang did not dare advance. Earlier the Lady had presented to the Chen emperor a rhinoceros-horn staff from Funan; at this point Prince of Jin Guang sent the former Chen emperor to write to the Lady, informing her that the state had fallen and ordering her to submit, and sent the rhinoceros-horn staff and military tally as tokens of good faith. When the Lady saw the staff, she verified that Chen had perished; she gathered several thousand chieftains and wept in mourning all day long. She sent her grandson Hun leading men to welcome Wei Guang. When Wei Guang reached Guangzhou, all of Lingnan was pacified. He memorialized that Hun be made Third-rank Commissioner-in-chief, and invested the Lady as Lady of Songkang commandery.
41
未幾，悉禺人王仲宣反，圍洸，進兵屯衡嶺。 夫人遣其孫暄帥師援洸。 時暄與逆党陳佛智素相友，故遲留不進。 夫人大怒，遣使執暄系州獄，又遣孫盎討佛智斬之。 進兵至南海，與鹿願軍會，共敗仲宣。 夫人親被甲，乘介馬，張錦傘，領彀騎，衛詔使裴矩巡撫諸州。 其蒼梧首領陳坦、罔州馮岑翁、梁化鄧馬頭、藤州李光略、羅州龐靖等皆來參謁。 還令統其部落，嶺南悉定。 帝拜盎為高州刺史，仍赦出暄，拜羅州刺史。 追贈寶為廣州總管，封譙國。 夫人幕府署長史已下官屬，給印章，聽發部落、六州兵馬，若有機急，便宜行事。 降敕書褒美，賜物五千段。 皇后以首飾及宴服一襲賜之。 夫人並盛於金篋，並梁、陳賜物，各藏於一庫。 每歲時大會，皆陳於庭，以示子孫曰：「汝等宜盡赤心向天子。 我事三代主，唯用一好心。 今賜物具存，此忠孝之報。」
Before long, Wang Zhongxuan of Xiyu rebelled, besieged Wei Guang, and advanced troops to encamp at Hengling. The Lady sent her grandson Xuan leading troops to rescue Wei Guang. At the time Xuan had long been friendly with the rebel Chen Fozhi, so he delayed and did not advance. The Lady was greatly angered; she sent an envoy to seize Xuan and imprison him in the provincial prison, and also sent her grandson Ang to attack Chen Fozhi and behead him. They advanced to Nanhai, joined forces with Lu Yuan's army, and together defeated Wang Zhongxuan. The Lady personally donned armor, mounted an armored horse, opened a brocade parasol, led armored cavalry, and escorted the imperial envoy Pei Ju on his tour to pacify the various prefectures. Chieftains such as Chen Tan of Cangwu, Feng Cenweng of Gangzhou, Deng Matou of Lianghua, Li Guanglue of Tengzhou, and Pang Jing of Luozhou all came to pay their respects. She then had them continue to govern their tribes, and all of Lingnan was settled. The emperor appointed Ang Prefect of Gaozhou, and pardoned and released Xuan, appointing him Prefect of Luozhou. Feng Bao was posthumously made Chief Administrator of Guangzhou and enfeoffed as Duke of Qiao. Officials of the Lady's staff from Chief Administrator downward were appointed and given seals; she was permitted to mobilize tribal and six-prefecture forces, and in urgent circumstances to act at her discretion. An imperial edict of commendation was issued, and five thousand bolts of goods were bestowed. The empress bestowed upon her jeweled head ornaments and one set of banquet robes. The Lady stored them all in golden boxes, together with gifts from Liang and Chen, each kept in a separate storehouse. At each year's great assembly she would display them in the courtyard and show them to her descendants, saying, "You should devote your utmost loyalty to the Son of Heaven. I have served three generations of rulers with nothing but a single loyal heart. Now these gifts remain intact—this is the reward of loyalty and filial piety."
42
時番州總管趙訥貪虐，諸俚獠多有亡叛。 夫人遣長史張融上封事，論安撫之宜，並言訥罪狀。 上遣推訥，得其贓，竟致於法。 敕委夫人招慰亡叛。 夫人親載詔書，自稱使者，歷十餘州，宣述上意，諭諸俚獠，所至皆降。 文帝賜夫人臨振縣湯沐邑一千五百戶，贈僕為崖州總管，平原郡公。 仁壽初，卒，諡為誠敬夫人。
At the time Zhao Ne, Chief Administrator of Fanzhou, was greedy and cruel; many of the Li and Liao peoples fled and rebelled. The Lady sent her Chief Administrator Zhang Rong to submit a sealed memorial discussing measures for pacification and reporting Zhao Ne's crimes. The emperor sent investigators after Zhao Ne; his embezzlements were found and he was put to death according to law. An edict entrusted the Lady with winning back the fugitives and rebels. The Lady personally carried the imperial edict, styled herself an envoy, traveled through more than ten prefectures, proclaimed the emperor's intent, and instructed the Li and Liao peoples; wherever she went, all submitted. Emperor Wen granted the Lady a maintenance fief of one thousand five hundred households at Linzhen county, and posthumously enfeoffed Pu as Chief Administrator of Yazhou and Duke of Pingyuan commandery. At the beginning of Renshou, she died and was given the posthumous title Madame Sincere and Respectful.
43
鄭善果母崔氏者，清河人也。 年十三，適滎陽鄭誠，生善果。 周末，誠討尉遲迥，力戰死於陣。 母年二十而寡，父彥穆欲奪其志，母抱善果曰：「婦人無再男子之義。 且鄭君雖死，幸有此兒，棄兒為不慈，背死夫為無禮。 寧當割耳剪發，以明素心。 違禮滅慈，非敢聞命。」
Cui, mother of Zheng Shanguo, was a native of Qinghe. At age thirteen she married Zheng Cheng of Xingyang and bore Shanguo. At the end of Northern Zhou, Cheng campaigned against Yuwen Jiong and fought fiercely until he died in battle. The mother was widowed at twenty; her father Yanmu wished to force her to remarry; she held Shanguo and said, "A woman has no justification for taking a second husband. Although Lord Zheng is dead, fortunately I have this child; to abandon the child would be unkind, and to turn my back on my dead husband would be unrighteous. I would rather cut off my ears and shear my hair to make clear my pure heart. To violate ritual and extinguish kindness—such a command I dare not obey."
44
善果以父死王事，年數歲，拜使持節、大將軍，襲爵開封縣公。 開皇初，進封武德郡公。 年十四，授沂州刺史。 轉景州刺史，尋為魯郡太守。 母性賢明，有節操，博涉書史，通曉政事。 每善果出聽事，母輒坐胡床，於鄣後察之。 聞其剖斷合理，歸則大悅，即賜之坐，相對談笑； 若行事不允，或妄嗔怒，母乃還堂，蒙袂而泣，終日不食。 善果伏於床前，不敢起。 母方起謂之曰：「吾非怒汝，乃愧汝家耳。 吾為汝家婦，獲奉灑掃，知汝先君忠勤之士也，守官清恪，未嘗問私，以身徇國，繼之以死。 吾亦望汝，副其此心。 汝既年小而孤，吾寡婦耳，有慈無威，使汝不知禮訓，何可負荷忠臣之業乎！ 汝自童子襲茅土，汝今位至方嶽，豈汝身致之邪？ 不思此事，而妄加嗔怒，心緣驕樂，墮於公政。 內則墜爾家風，或失亡官爵； 外則虧天下法，以取罪戾。 吾死日何面目見汝先人於地下乎！」
Because his father died in service to the throne, when Shanguo was only several years old he was appointed Bearer of the Staff of Office and Grand General and inherited the title Duke of Kaifeng county. At the beginning of Kaihuang, he was advanced to Duke of Wude commandery. At age fourteen he was appointed Prefect of Yizhou. He was transferred to Prefect of Jingzhou, and soon became Grand Administrator of Lu commandery. The mother was wise and principled, with integrity; she read widely in books and histories and was thoroughly versed in affairs of government. Whenever Shanguo went out to conduct court business, the mother would sit on a folding chair behind a screen and observe. When she heard that his decisions were reasonable, upon returning she would be greatly pleased, immediately give him a seat, and talk and laugh together; If his conduct was improper or he recklessly showed anger, the mother would return to her hall, cover her sleeves and weep, and go the whole day without eating. Shanguo would prostrate himself before her bed and not dare rise. When she finally got up she told him, "It is not that I am angry with you—I am ashamed for your family. I became a daughter-in-law in your house and received the duties of serving and sweeping; I know your late father was a man loyal and diligent, who served his office with pure integrity, never inquiring into private matters, who gave his body for the state and was succeeded in death. I also hoped that you would live up to that heart. You are young and fatherless, and I am only a widow—kind without authority—so that you do not know ritual and training; how could you bear the work of a loyal minister! From childhood you inherited your fief; now your position has risen to govern a province—is that something you achieved by your own efforts? Instead of reflecting on this, you recklessly show anger; your heart follows arrogance and pleasure, and you fall away from public duty. Within, you would ruin your family's reputation, or lose your office and title; Without, you would violate the law of the realm and incur guilt and punishment. On the day I die, with what face could I meet your ancestors underground!"
45
母恆自紡績，每自夜分而寢。 善果曰：「兒封侯開國，位居三品，秩俸幸足，母何自勤如此？」 答曰：「籲！ 汝年已長，吾謂汝知天下理，今聞此言，公事何由濟乎？ 今秩俸乃天子報汝先人殉命也，當散贍六姻，為先君之惠，妻子奈何獨擅其利以為貴乎！ 又絲枲紡績，婦人之務，上自王后，下及大夫士妻，各有所制。 若墮業者，是為驕逸。 吾雖不知禮，其可自敗名乎！」
The mother constantly spun and wove herself, each night sleeping only after midnight. Shanguo said, "Your son has been enfeoffed and founded a state, holds third-rank position, and his salary and stipend are surely sufficient—why do you toil yourself like this? She replied, "Alas! You are already grown; I thought you understood the principles of the world—now that I hear these words, how can public business ever succeed? Today's salary and stipend are the Son of Heaven's recompense for your late father's death in service; it should be distributed to nourish the six branches of kin as your late father's grace—how can wife and children alone monopolize the benefit and consider themselves noble! Moreover, spinning hemp and silk is a woman's duty; from the queen above down to the wives of grandees and officials, each has her proper measure. To abandon this work is to indulge in pride and idleness. Though I may not know ritual, how can I ruin my own reputation!"
46
自初寡便不禦脂粉，常服大練。 性又節儉，非祭祀賓客之事，酒肉不妄陳其前。 靜室端居，未嘗輒出門閭。 內外姻戚有吉凶事，但厚加贈遺，皆不詣其門。 非自手作及莊園祿賜所得，雖親族禮遺，悉不許入門。 善果歷任州郡，內自出饌於衙中食之。 公廨所供，皆不許受，悉用修理公宇，及分僚佐。 善果亦由此克己，號為清吏。 煬帝遣御史大夫張衡勞之，考為天下最。 征授光祿卿。 其母卒後，善果為大理卿，漸驕恣，公清平允，遂不如疇昔焉。
From the time she first became a widow she never used rouge or powder, and always wore plain white silk. By nature she was also frugal; except for sacrifices and entertaining guests, wine and meat were never casually set before her. She lived quietly in her chamber and never casually went beyond the gate or lane. When relatives within and outside the family had occasions of joy or mourning, she only sent generous gifts and never visited their doors. Unless something came from her own handiwork or from her estate and salary grants, even if kinsmen sent ceremonial gifts, she would not allow them to enter her door. Throughout Shanguo's appointments in prefectures and commanderies, meals were prepared inside and eaten within the yamen. Nothing supplied from the government offices was permitted to be accepted; everything was used to repair public buildings and to distribute among subordinate officials. Shanguo also from this restrained himself and was known as an incorrupt official. Emperor Yang sent Censor-in-chief Zhang Heng to commend him; he was rated top in the empire. He was summoned and appointed Director of the Palace for Imperial Insignia. After his mother died, Shanguo served as Director of the Court of Judicial Review and gradually became arrogant and unrestrained; his public integrity and fair impartiality were no longer what they had been.
47
孝女王舜者，趙郡人也。 父子春，與從兄長忻不協。 齊亡之際，長忻與其妻同謀殺子春。 舜時年七歲，有二妹，粲年五年，璠年二歲，並孤苦，寄食親戚。 舜撫育二妹，恩義甚篤。 而舜陰有復仇之心，長忻殊不為備。 妹俱長，親戚欲嫁之，輒拒不從。 乃密謂二妹曰：「我無兄弟，致使父仇不復，吾輩雖女子，何用生為！ 我欲共汝報復，汝竟何如？」 二妹皆垂泣曰：「唯姊所命。」 夜中，姊妹各持刀逾牆入，手殺長忻夫婦，以告父墓，因詣縣請罪。 姊妹爭為謀首，州縣不能決。 文帝聞而嘉歎，特原其罪。
Wang Shun, the filial daughter, was a native of Zhao commandery. Her father Zichun was on bad terms with his younger cousin Changxin. At the fall of Qi, Changxin plotted with his wife to kill Zichun. Shun was then seven years old; she had two younger sisters—Can was five years old and Fan was two—and all were orphaned and destitute, living on relatives' charity. Shun raised her two younger sisters with deep affection and righteousness. Meanwhile Shun secretly harbored thoughts of revenge; Changxin was utterly unprepared. When the sisters had grown up, relatives wished to marry them off, but they always refused. She then secretly told her two sisters, "We have no brothers, so our father's enemy goes unavenged; though we are women, what use is life! I wish to join with you in taking revenge—what do you say? Both sisters wept and said, "We follow our elder sister's command." In the middle of the night the sisters each took knives, climbed over the wall and entered, and with their own hands killed Changxin and his wife; they reported this at their father's tomb, then went to the county seat to confess their crime. The sisters each claimed to be the chief planner; the prefecture and county could not decide. When Emperor Wen heard of it he praised and sighed, and specially pardoned their crime.
48
韓覬妻于氏者，河南人也，字茂德。 父寔，周大左輔。 于氏年十四，適於覬。 雖生長膏腴，家門鼎貴，而動遵禮度，躬自儉約，宗黨敬之。 年十八，覬從軍沒，于氏哀毀骨立，慟感行路。 每朝夕奠祭，皆手自捧持。 及免喪，其父以其幼少無子，欲嫁之。 誓不許。 遂以夫孽子世隆為嗣，身自撫育，愛同己生，訓導有方，卒能成立。 自孀居以後，唯時或歸寧。 至於親族之家，絕不來往。 有尊就省謁者，送迎皆不出戶庭。 蔬食布衣，不聽聲樂，以此終身。 隋文帝聞而嘉歎，下詔褒美，表其門閭。 長安中號為節婦門，終於家。
Yu, wife of Han Xi, was a native of Henan; her courtesy name was Maode. Her father Shi was Grand Left Assistant of Zhou. Yu was fourteen when she married Han Xi. Although she had grown up amid wealth and her family was prominently noble, in action she followed ritual measure, personally practiced thrift, and her clan respected her. At eighteen, Han Xi died on campaign; Yu's grief wasted her to skin and bones, and her mourning moved passersby on the road. At each morning and evening offering she personally held the vessels in both hands. When the mourning period ended, her father—seeing that she was still young and had no children of her own—wished to marry her off again. She vowed she would never consent. She then took her husband's illegitimate son Shilong as heir, raised him herself, loved him as if he were her own child, taught him with sound discipline, and in the end saw him fully established. After she became a widow, she visited her parents' home only on rare occasions. She cut off all contact with the homes of her relatives. When elders came to call, she would receive and bid them farewell without ever stepping beyond her courtyard gate. She lived on plain food and coarse clothing, would hear no music, and kept to this austere life until she died. When Emperor Wen of Sui heard of it, he praised and admired her, issued an edict commending her virtue, and honored her household. In Chang'an her home became known as the Gate of the Chaste Wife; she died there at home.
49
陸讓母馮氏者，上黨人也。 性仁愛，有母儀。 讓即其孽子也，開皇末，為播州刺史。 數有聚斂，贓貨狼籍，為司馬所奏。 案覆得實，將就刑。 馮氏蓬頭垢面，詣朝堂數讓罪。 於是流涕鳴咽，親持杯粥，勸讓食。 既而上表求哀，詞情甚切，上湣然為之改容。 獻皇后甚奇其意，致請於上。 書侍御史柳彧進曰：「馮氏母德之至，有感行路，如或戮之，何以為勸？」 上於是集京城士庶於硃雀門，遣舍人宣詔曰：「馮氏這嫡母之德，足為世范，慈愛之道，義感人神，特宜矜免，用獎風俗。 讓可減死除名。」 復下詔褒美之，賜物五百段，集命婦與馮相識，以旌寵異。
Feng, mother of Lu Rang, was from Shangdang. Benevolent and loving by nature, she bore herself with a mother's dignity. Rang was her illegitimate son; at the end of the Kaihuang era he served as prefect of Bozhou. He repeatedly exacted levies until ill-gotten wealth lay strewn about; a marshal impeached him. When the case was reviewed the charges proved true, and he was about to be executed. With disheveled hair and a grimy face, Feng went to the court hall and repeatedly upbraided Rang for his crimes. Weeping and sobbing, she personally held out a cup of gruel and urged Rang to eat. She then submitted a memorial pleading for mercy in language of desperate urgency; moved to pity, the emperor's face softened. Empress Xian was deeply impressed by her devotion and interceded with the emperor on her behalf. Supervising Secretary Liu Yu stepped forward and said, "Feng's motherly devotion is perfect—it moves all who witness it. If her son were executed, what lesson would that teach the realm? The emperor then assembled the gentry and commoners of the capital at Vermilion Bird Gate and had an attendant proclaim an edict: "The virtue of Feng as stepmother is a model for the age; her loving kindness, righteous enough to move both men and spirits, calls for special mercy—let it reward and uplift the customs of the realm. Rang's death sentence is commuted, and his name is struck from office. Another edict praised her further and granted her five hundred bolts of goods; court ladies of rank were assembled to meet Feng, honoring her with exceptional distinction.
50
劉昶女者，河南長孫氏婦。 昶在周尚公主，為上柱國、彭國公，位望甚顯。 與隋文帝有舊，及受禪，甚見親禮。 歷左武衛大將軍、慶州總管。
The daughter of Liu Chang was married into the Sun clan of Henan. In the Northern Zhou, Liu Chang married an imperial princess and held the titles of Grand Pillar of State and Duke of Peng; his rank and prestige were foremost. He had long-standing ties with Emperor Wen of Sui, and when Wen accepted the throne he was treated with exceptional intimacy and honor. He served as General-in-Chief of the Left Martial Guard and as area commander of Qingzhou.
51
其子居士為千牛備身，不遵法度，數得罪。 上以昶故，每原之。 居士轉恣，每大言曰：「男兒要當辮頭反縛，蘧蒢上作獠舞。」 取公卿子弟膂力雄健者，輒將歸家，以車輪括其頸而棒之，殆死，能不屈者，稱為壯士，釋而與之交。 黨與三百人，其趫捷者號為餓鶻隊，武力者號為蓬轉隊。 韝鷹絏犬，連騎道中，毆擊路人，多所侵奪。 長安市里，無貴賤見者辟易。 至於公卿妃主，亦莫敢與校。 其女則居士姊也，每垂泣誨之，居士不改，至破家產。 昶年高，奉養甚薄。 其女時寡居，哀昶如此，每歸甯於家，躬勤紡績，以致其肥鮮。
His son Jushi served as a Thousand-Ox Bodyguard but scorned the law and was repeatedly found guilty of offenses. Because of Liu Chang, the emperor pardoned him each time. Jushi grew only bolder. He often boasted, "A real man should wear his hair braided, let himself be bound hands behind back, and dance the warriors' dance atop a heap of straw. He would seize the strongest sons of ministers and nobles and take them home, ring their necks with a cart wheel, and beat them. Those who, near death, still would not break he hailed as stalwarts, freed them, and took them into his circle. His faction numbered three hundred men: the swift were called the Hungry Hawk Company, the brawny the Thistle-Whirl Company. Hooded hawks on their wrists and dogs on their leashes, they rode in columns through the streets, beating wayfarers and seizing whatever they pleased. In the streets of Chang'an, none—high or low—who saw them failed to flee aside. Even the wives of ministers and imperial princesses did not dare stand up to them. Chang's daughter was Jushi's elder sister; again and again she wept and admonished him, but Jushi would not mend his ways until the family fortune was exhausted. Liu Chang was elderly, yet was poorly provided for. His daughter was then a widow; seeing her father so neglected, she would return home whenever she could, spin and weave with her own hands, and send him fine food.
52
有人告居士與其徒游長安城，登故未央殿基，向南坐，前後列隊，意有不遜。 每相約曰：「當作一死耳。」 又時有人言居士遣使引突厥，令南寇，當於京師應之。 上謂昶曰：「今日事當如何？」 昶猶恃舊恩，不自引咎，直前曰：「黑白在於至尊。」 上大怒，下昶獄，捕居士党與。 憲司又奏昶事母不孝。 其女知昶必不免，不食者數日。 每親調飲食，手自捧持，詣大理餉父。 見獄卒，跪以進之，歔欷鳴咽，見者傷之，居士斬，昶賜死於家。 詔百僚臨視。 時其女絕而復蘇者數矣，公卿慰喻之。 其女言父無罪，坐子及禍。 詞情哀切，人皆不忍聞見。 遂布衣蔬食，以終其身。 上聞歎曰：「吾聞衰門之女，興門之男，固不虛也。」
Someone reported that Jushi and his followers had roamed Chang'an, climbed the ruins of Weiyang Palace, seated themselves facing south with ranks arrayed before and behind—conduct that smacked of treason. They often pledged to one another, "We'll die once—that's all. At times it was also said that Jushi had sent envoys to summon the Turks for a southern raid and would answer them from within the capital. The emperor said to Liu Chang, "What is to be done about this matter? Liu Chang still relied on their old ties, would not accept blame, and stepped forward: "Right and wrong are for Your Majesty alone to decide. The emperor flew into a rage, threw Liu Chang into prison, and arrested Jushi's followers. The judicial authorities also impeached Liu Chang for unfilial treatment of his mother. His daughter knew Liu Chang could not be spared; for days she ate nothing. Each day she prepared food and drink with her own hands, carried it to the Court of Review, and brought it to her father. Before the jailers she knelt to offer it, weeping and sobbing; all who witnessed it were stricken. Jushi was beheaded; Liu Chang was granted death at home. An edict ordered the court officials to attend and witness. By then his daughter had fainted and revived several times; ministers and nobles tried to console her. His daughter said her father was innocent and had been ruined only because of his son. Her words were heartbreakingly mournful; none could bear to hear or see. She lived out her days in coarse cloth and plain food. When the emperor heard of it he sighed and said, "They say daughters of a falling house and sons of a rising one—there is truth in the old saying after all."
53
鐘士雄母蔣氏者，臨賀人也。 士雄仕陳，為伏波將軍。 陳主以士雄嶺南酋帥，慮其反覆，留蔣氏於都下。 及晉王廣平江南，以士雄在嶺表，欲以恩義致之，遣蔣氏歸臨賀。 既而同郡虞子茂、鐘文華等作亂攻城，遣召士雄，士雄將應之。 蔣氏謂曰：「汝若背德忘義，我當自殺於汝前。」 士雄遂止。 蔣氏復為書與子茂等，諭以禍福。 子茂不從，尋為官軍所敗。 上聞蔣氏，甚異之，封安樂縣君。
Jiang, mother of Zhong Shixiong, was from Linhe. Shixiong served the Chen dynasty as General Who Pacifies the Waves. The Chen emperor, knowing Shixiong was a tribal chieftain of the far south and fearing he might prove treacherous, kept Jiang at court. When Prince Guang of Jin pacified Jiangnan, he wished to win over Shixiong in the far south through kindness and sent Jiang home to Linhe. Soon Yu Zimao, Zhong Wenhua, and others of the same commandery rebelled and attacked cities; they summoned Shixiong, and he was about to join them. Jiang said to him, "If you betray your duty and forget what is right, I will kill myself before you. Shixiong desisted. Jiang also wrote to Zimao and the others, urging them to weigh the consequences of blessing and ruin. Zimao would not listen; soon the government army defeated him. When the emperor heard of Jiang he was deeply impressed and enfeoffed her as Lady of Anle County.
54
時伊州寡婦胡氏者，不知何許人妻，甚有志節，為邦族所重。 江南之亂，諷諭宗黨，守節不從叛逆，封為密陵郡君。
At that time there was a widow of the Hu clan in Yizhou—no one knew whose wife she had been—yet she was so steadfast in integrity that her clansmen held her in high esteem. During the chaos in Jiangnan she urged her clan to hold fast to their duty and refuse the rebels; for this she was enfeoffed as Lady of Milang Prefecture.
55
孝婦覃氏者，上郡鐘氏婦也。 與夫相見未幾而夫死，時年十八，事後姑以孝聞。 數年間，姑及伯叔皆相繼死。 覃氏家貧，無以葬，躬自節儉，晝夜紡績，十年而葬八喪，為州裏所敬。 文帝聞而賜米百石，表其門閭。
Tan the filial daughter-in-law was married into the Zhong clan of Shangjun. She had hardly been married when her husband died; she was eighteen, and her devoted care for her mother-in-law won her renown. Within a few years her mother-in-law and her husband's uncles died one after another. Tan's family was too poor to bury the dead; she lived frugally herself, spun day and night, and in ten years buried eight of her kin—her district revered her for it. When Emperor Wen heard of it he granted her a hundred shi of grain and honored her household.
56
元務光母盧氏者，范陽人也。 少好讀書，造次必以禮。 盛年寡居，諸子幼弱，家貧不能就學，盧氏每親自教授，勖以義方。 漢王諒反，遣將綦良往山東略地，良以務光為記室。 及良敗，慈州刺史上官政簿籍務光家。 見盧氏，逼之。 盧氏以死自誓。 政凶悍，怒甚，以燭燒其面。 盧氏執志彌固，竟不屈節。
Lu, mother of Yuan Wuguang, was from Fanyang. From youth she loved books; even in haste she never departed from propriety. Widowed while still young, with small sons and a household too poor for schooling, Lu taught the boys herself and trained them in righteous conduct. When Prince Liang of Han rebelled, he sent the general Qi Liang to seize territory in Shandong and made Wuguang his secretary. When Liang was defeated, Shangguan Zheng, prefect of Cizhou, registered Wuguang's household for confiscation. Seeing Lu, he tried to force himself on her. Lu vowed she would die rather than submit. Fierce and brutal, Zheng flew into a rage and burned her face with a candle. Lu held firm to the end and never broke her integrity.
57
裴倫妻柳氏者，河東人也，少有風訓。 大業末，倫為渭源令，為賊薛舉所陷，倫遇害。 柳氏時年四十，有二女及兒婦三人，皆有美色。 柳氏謂曰：「我輩遭逢禍亂，汝父已死，我自念不能全汝。 我門風有素，義不受辱於群賊。 我將與汝等同死，如何？」 女等垂泣曰：「唯母所命。」 柳氏遂自投於井，其女及婦相繼而下，皆死井中。
Liu, wife of Pei Lun, was from Hedong and had been well raised from childhood. Near the end of the Daye era, Pei Lun was magistrate of Weiyuan; he was overrun by the rebel Xue Ju and killed. Liu was forty; she had two daughters and three daughters-in-law, all beautiful. Liu said to them, "We have fallen into chaos; your father is dead, and I know I cannot protect you. Our family has always stood on honor; we will not suffer disgrace at the hands of these brigands. I mean to die together with you all. Will you follow me? The daughters wept and said, "We follow our mother's command. Liu then threw herself into a well; her daughters and daughters-in-law followed her in, and all perished in the well.
58
趙元楷妻崔氏者，清河人也，甚有禮度。 隋末宇文化及之反，元楷隨至河北。 將歸長安，至滏口遇盜，僅以身免。 崔氏為賊所拘，請以為妻。 崔氏曰：「我士大夫女，為僕射子妻，今日破亡，自可即死，終不為賊婦。」 群賊毀裂其衣，縛於床簀之上，將陵之。 崔氏懼為所辱，詐之曰：「今力已屈，當受處分。」 賊遂釋之。 妻因取賊刀倚樹而立曰：「欲殺我，任加刀鋸； 若覓死，可來相逼。」 賊大怒，亂射殺之。
Cui, wife of Zhao Yuankai, was from Qinghe and was deeply versed in propriety. At the end of the Sui, when Yuwen Huaji rebelled, Zhao Yuankai followed him to Hebei. On their way back to Chang'an, at Fekou they were set upon by bandits; Zhao Yuankai barely escaped with his life. The bandits seized Cui and demanded she become one's wife. Cui said, "I am the daughter of a scholar-official family, wife to a vice premier's son; our house is destroyed, and I would rather die at once than ever become a bandit's woman. The bandits tore off her clothes, bound her to a sleeping mat, and were about to rape her. Fearing dishonor, Cui feigned submission: "My strength is spent; do with me as you will. The bandits released her. She then seized a bandit's knife, stood leaning against a tree, and said, "If you mean to kill me, use blade or saw as you please; if you want me dead, come and force me. Enraged, the bandits shot her to death.
59
元楷後得殺妻者，支解以祭崔氏之柩。
Later Zhao Yuankai captured his wife's killer, dismembered him, and offered the pieces in sacrifice before Cui's coffin.
60
論曰：婦人主織紝中饋之事，其德以柔順為先，斯乃舉其中庸，未臻其極者也。 至於明識遠圖，貞心峻節，志不可奪，唯義所高，考之圖史，亦何代而無之哉！ 魏隋所敘列女，凡三十四人。 自王公妃主，下至庶人女妻，蓋有質邁寒松，心逾匪石，或忠壯誠懇，或文采可稱。 雖子政集之於前，元凱編之於後，比其美節，亦何以尚茲。 故知蘭玉芳貞，蓋乃稟其性矣。
Commentary: A woman's proper domain is weaving and the preparation of meals; her virtue is said to rest first in gentleness and yielding—but that describes only the middle path, not the utmost heights. Yet when it comes to clear insight and far-reaching judgment, chaste hearts and lofty integrity, wills that cannot be bent and conduct exalted only through righteousness—search the annals and histories: what age has ever lacked such women? The exemplary women recorded in the Wei and Sui histories number thirty-four in all. From princesses and consorts of kings and dukes down to common women and wives, some surpassed the winter pine in steadfastness and the unyielding stone in resolve; some were loyal and stalwart in sincerity, others praiseworthy in literary grace. Though Liu Xiang compiled such accounts before and Du Yu edited them after, compared with the fine integrity of these women, how could those earlier collections surpass what is set down here? Thus we know that orchids and jade are fragrant and pure by nature—and so too with these women, their virtue is born in what they are.