1
女子稟陰柔之質，有從人之義。 前代誌貞婦烈女，蓋善其能以禮自防。 至若失身賊庭，不汙非義； 臨白刃而慷慨，誓丹衷而激發； 粉身不顧，視死如歸，雖在壯夫，恐難守節，窈窕之操，不其賢乎！ 其次梁鴻之妻，無辭偕隱，共姜之誓，不踐二庭，婦道母儀，克彰圖史，又其長也。 末代風靡，貞行寂寥，聊播椒蘭，以貽閨壺，彤管之職，幸無忽焉！
Women are endowed with a yielding, feminine nature and are bound by the obligation to follow others. Earlier dynasties recorded chaste wives and heroic women, chiefly to commend their power to protect themselves by observing ritual propriety. Then there are those who fell into the power of rebel bands yet were not stained by wrongful acts— who faced naked blades with unflinching resolve and pledged their loyal hearts in passionate defiance; who thought nothing of being torn limb from limb and welcomed death as a homecoming—even strong men might fail to hold such constancy. How admirable is the moral fiber of these refined women! Next are figures such as Liang Hong's wife, who followed her husband into seclusion without a word of protest, and Gong Jiang, who vowed never to enter a second household—their wifely virtue and maternal example are fully celebrated in the histories, and this too is their highest merit. In these latter days morals have declined and examples of constancy grown scarce; I offer here a brief bouquet of fragrant virtue for the women's quarters—may the historian's red brush never neglect this charge!
2
李德武妻裴氏，字淑英，戶部尚書、安邑公矩之女也。 性婉順有容德，事父母以孝聞。 適德武，經一年而德武坐從父金才事徙嶺表。 矩時為黃門侍郎，奏請德武離婚，煬帝許之。 德武將與裴別，謂曰：「燕婉始爾，便事分離，方遠投瘴癘，恐無還理。 尊君奏留，必欲改嫁耳，於此即事長訣矣！」 裴泣而對曰：「婦人事夫，無再醮之禮。 夫者，天也，何可背乎！ 守之以死，必無他誌！」 因操刀欲割耳自誓，保者禁之，乃止。
Li Dewu's wife, Lady Pei, whose courtesy name was Shuying, was the daughter of Pei Ju, Minister of Revenue and Duke of Anyi. Gentle, compliant, and gracious in bearing, she was renowned for her filial devotion to her parents. After she married Dewu, within a year he was implicated in his cousin Jin Cai's crime and banished to the far south. At that time Ju was Vice Director of the Palace Secretariat; he petitioned that Dewu divorce her, and Emperor Yang granted the request. When Dewu was about to leave Pei, he said, "We have only just begun our life together, yet we must part; I am being sent to the pestilent south, and I fear I shall never return. Your father has petitioned to keep you here; he surely means for you to remarry. This is our final parting! Pei wept and answered, "A wife serves her husband; there is no ritual that permits a second marriage. A husband is like Heaven itself—how could I turn against him! I shall hold to this unto death; I shall have no other purpose!" She then seized a knife to cut off her ear as a vow of constancy; her attendants restrained her, and she desisted.
3
裴與德武別後，容貌毀悴，常讀佛經，不禦膏澤。 李氏之姊妹在都邑者，歲時朔望，必命左右致敬而省焉。 裴又嘗讀《烈女傳》，見稱述不改嫁者，乃謂所親曰：「不踐二庭，婦人常理，何為以此載於記傳乎？」 後十余年間，與德武音信斷絕。 矩欲奪其誌。 時有柳直求婚，許之。 期有定日，乃以翦刀斷其發，悲泣絕粒。 矩不可奪，乃止。 德武已於嶺表娶爾硃氏為妻，及遇赦得還，至襄州，聞裴守節，乃出其後妻，重與裴合。 生三男四女。 貞觀中，德武終於鹿城令，裴歲余亦卒。
After parting from Dewu, Pei's appearance grew gaunt and careworn; she read Buddhist sutras constantly and wore no cosmetics. For the Li sisters who lived in the capital, at each new and full moon she always had her attendants pay respects and inquire after their welfare. Pei once read the Biographies of Exemplary Women and, seeing praise for those who refused remarriage, remarked to her intimates, "Refusing a second marriage is ordinary conduct for a wife—why should such things be recorded in the histories? For more than ten years thereafter, all word from Dewu ceased entirely. Ju sought to break her resolve. At that time Liu Zhi proposed marriage, and Ju consented. When the wedding day was set, she cut off her hair with scissors, wept bitterly, and refused all food. Ju could not sway her, and the marriage was called off. Dewu had meanwhile taken a woman named Erzhu as his wife in the south; when he was pardoned and returned, he reached Xiangzhou, learned that Pei had kept her vows, dismissed his second wife, and reunited with Pei. They had three sons and four daughters. During the Zhenguan reign, Dewu died while serving as magistrate of Lucheng; Pei followed him in death a little over a year later.
4
楊慶妻王氏，世充兄之女也。 慶即隋河間王弘之子。 大業末，封郇王，為滎陽太守。 後陷於世充。 世充以兄女妻之，授管州刺史。 及太宗攻圍洛陽，慶謀背世充，欲與其妻俱來歸國。 妻謂慶曰：「鄭國以妾奉箕帚於公者，所以結公心耳。 今既二三其行，負恩背義，自為身謀，妾將奈何？ 若至長安，則公家之婢耳！ 願送至東都，公之惠也。」 慶不聽。 伺慶出後，謂侍者曰：「唐兵若勝，我家則戚。 鄭國無危，吾夫又死，進退維谷。 何以生焉？」 乃飲藥而卒。 慶既入朝，官至宜州刺史。
Yang Qing's wife, Lady Wang, was a daughter of Wang Shichong's elder brother. Qing was the son of Hong, Prince of Hejian under the Sui dynasty. Near the end of the Daye reign he was enfeoffed as Prince of Xun and appointed Administrator of Xingyang. He later fell into Wang Shichong's power. Shichong gave him his niece in marriage and appointed him Prefect of Guanzhou. When Emperor Taizong besieged Luoyang, Qing plotted to defect from Shichong and intended to surrender to the Tang together with his wife. His wife said to Qing, "The State of Zheng gave me to you as wife precisely to bind your loyalty to them. Now that you waver in your loyalty, betray their kindness, and plot only for yourself—what am I to do? If I reach Chang'an, I shall be nothing but a servant in your house! I ask only that you send me to the Eastern Capital—that would be your one kindness to me. Qing refused to listen. After Qing had gone out, she told her attendants, "If the Tang army wins, my family will be destroyed. If Zheng survives, my husband will die for his treachery; whether I go forward or back, I am trapped. How could I go on living? She then took poison and died. After Qing entered Tang service, he rose to the post of Prefect of Yizhou.
5
時又有獨孤武都，謀叛王世充歸國，事覺誅死。 武都子師仁，年始三歲，世充以其年幼不殺，使禁掌之。 乳母王氏，號蘭英，請髡鉗，求入保養，世充許之。 蘭英撫育提攜，備盡筋力。 時喪亂年饑，人多鋨死，蘭英扶路乞丐捃拾。 遇有所得，便歸與師仁； 蘭英唯啖土飲水而已。 後詐采拾，乃竊師仁歸於京師。 高祖嘉其義，下詔曰：「師仁乳母王氏，慈惠有聞，撫鞠無倦，提攜遺幼，背逆歸朝。 宜有褒隆，以錫其號。 可封永壽郡君」。
At the same time there was Dugu Wudu, who plotted to defect from Wang Shichong to the Tang; the plot was discovered and he was put to death. Wudu's son Shiren was only three years old; Shichong spared him because of his youth but had him imprisoned under guard. His wet nurse, Lady Wang, known as Lanying, asked to be shorn and shackled so that she might enter the prison to care for him; Shichong consented. Lanying nursed and raised him, giving every ounce of her strength. In those years of chaos and famine, when many starved to death, Lanying went begging along the roads and gathered whatever she could find. Whatever she obtained, she brought back for Shiren; Lanying herself ate only dirt and drank only water. Later, pretending to go out gathering, she stole Shiren away and fled with him to the capital. Emperor Gaozu commended her loyalty and issued an edict: "Shiren's wet nurse, Lady Wang, is renowned for her kindness and grace; she reared him without rest, carried off the orphaned child, and defied the rebel regime to bring him back to the court. She deserves high honor and a title in recognition of her deeds. Let her be enfeoffed as Lady of Yongshou Commandery."
6
楊三安妻李氏，雍州涇陽人也。 事舅姑以孝聞。 及舅姑亡沒，三安亦死，二子孩童，家至貧窶。 李晝則力田，夜紡緝，數年間葬舅姑及夫之叔侄兄弟者七喪，深為遠近所嗟尚。 太宗聞而異之，賜帛二百段，遣州縣所在存恤之。
Yang San'an's wife, Lady Li, was a native of Jingyang in Yong Prefecture. She was renowned for her filial devotion to her parents-in-law. After her parents-in-law died, San'an died as well, leaving two young sons; the family was utterly destitute. Lady Li worked the fields by day and spun cloth at night; within a few years she had buried her parents-in-law and seven of her husband's uncles, nephews, and brothers, winning deep admiration throughout the region. When Emperor Taizong heard of this, he was deeply impressed; he granted her two hundred bolts of silk and ordered the local authorities to provide for her welfare.
7
魏衡妻王氏，梓州郪人也。 武德初，薛仁杲舊將房企地侵掠梁郡，因獲王氏，逼而妻之。 後企地漸強盛，衡謀以城應賊。 企地領眾將趨梁州，未至數十里，飲酒醉臥。 王氏取其佩刀斬之，攜其首入城，賊眾乃散。 高祖大悅，封為崇義夫人，舍衡同賊之罪。
Wei Heng's wife, Lady Wang, was a native of Qi in Zizhou. Early in the Wude reign, Fang Qidi, a former general of Xue Rengao, raided Liang Commandery, captured Lady Wang, and forced her to marry him. As Qidi grew increasingly powerful, Heng plotted to surrender the city to the rebels. Qidi led his troops toward Liangzhou; when they were still several dozen li away, he drank himself into a stupor and fell asleep. Lady Wang took his belt knife and killed him, carried his head into the city, and the rebel forces scattered. Emperor Gaozu was greatly pleased; he enfeoffed her as Lady of Chongyi and pardoned Heng for his collusion with the rebels.
8
樊會仁母敬氏，字像子，蒲州河東人也。 年十五，適樊氏，生會仁而夫喪，事舅姑姊姒以謹順聞。 及服終，母兄以其盛年，將奪其誌。 微加諷諭，便悲恨嗚咽，如此者數四。 母兄乃潛許人為婚，矯稱母患以召之。 凡所營具，皆寄之鄰裏。 像子既至，省母無疾，鄰家復具肴善，像子知為所欺，佯為不悟者。 其嫂復請像子沐浴。 像子私謂會仁曰：「吾不幸孀居，誓與汝父同穴。 所以不死者，徒以我母羸老，汝身幼弱。 今汝舅欲奪吾誌，將加逼迫，於汝何如！」 會仁失聲啼泣。 像子撫之曰：「汝勿啼。 吾向偽不覺者，令汝舅不我為意。 聞汝啼，知吾覺悟，必加妨備，則吾難為計矣！」 會仁便佯睡，像子於是伺隙攜之遁歸。 中路，兄使追及之，將逼與俱返。 像子誓以必死，辭情甚切，其兄感嘆而止。 後會仁年十八病卒，時像子母已終。 既葬，像子謂其所親曰：「吾老母不幸，又夫死子亡，義無久活。」 於是號慟不食，數日而死。
Fan Huiren's mother, Lady Jing, whose courtesy name was Xiangzi, was a native of Hedong in Pu Prefecture. At fifteen she married into the Fan clan and bore Huiren; after her husband's death she was renowned for her dutiful and respectful care of her parents-in-law and sisters-in-law. When her mourning period ended, her mother and elder brother, seeing that she was still young, sought to make her remarry. At the slightest hint of persuasion she would weep and sob in grief; this happened again and again. Her mother and brother then secretly betrothed her to another man and summoned her home with a false report that her mother was ill. All the wedding preparations were stored with neighbors. When Xiangzi arrived and found her mother was not ill, the neighbors again set out a feast; Xiangzi realized she had been deceived and pretended not to notice. Her sister-in-law then asked Xiangzi to bathe. Xiangzi privately told Huiren, "I am unfortunate in my widowhood and have sworn to share a grave with your father. The only reason I have not died is that my mother is frail and aged, and you are still young and helpless. Now your uncle wishes to break my vow and will force me to remarry—what will become of you then! Huiren burst into loud weeping. Xiangzi comforted him and said, "Do not cry. I pretended not to notice earlier so that your uncle would not be on his guard. If he hears you crying, he will know I have understood and will surely take precautions—then I shall have no way to escape! Huiren then pretended to sleep; Xiangzi seized her chance, took him, and fled home. Along the way her brother sent men to overtake them and tried to force them to return. Xiangzi swore she would die rather than comply; her words were so earnest that her brother sighed and let them go. Later, when Huiren was eighteen, he died of illness; by then Xiangzi's mother had already died. After the burial, Xiangzi told her intimates, "My mother is gone, my husband is dead, and my son is lost—there is no reason left to live. She then wailed in grief and refused all food, dying within a few days.
9
絳州孝女衛氏，字無忌，夏縣人也。 初，其父為鄉人衛長則所殺。 無忌年六歲，母又改嫁，無兄弟。 及長，常思復仇。 無忌從伯常設宴為樂，長則時亦預坐，無忌以磚擊殺之。 既而詣吏，稱父仇既報，請就刑戮。 巡察大使、黃門侍郎褚遂良以聞，太宗嘉其孝烈，特令免罪，給傳乘徙於雍州，並給田宅，仍令州縣以禮嫁之。
The filial daughter of Jiang Prefecture, Lady Wei, whose courtesy name was Wuji, was a native of Xia County. Her father had earlier been killed by a fellow townsman named Wei Changze. Wuji was six at the time; her mother remarried, and she had no brothers. When she grew up, she constantly brooded on revenge. Her father's elder cousin often held banquets for pleasure; Changze would sometimes attend, and Wuji killed him with a brick. She then went to the magistrate, declared that her father's murder had been avenged, and asked to be put to death. The touring inspector and Vice Director of the Palace Secretariat Chu Suiliang reported the matter; Emperor Taizong commended her filial heroism, specially pardoned her, provided relay horses to relocate her to Yong Prefecture, granted her fields and a residence, and ordered the local authorities to provide her with a proper marriage.
10
孝女賈氏，濮州鄄城人也。 年始十五，其父為宗人玄基所害。 其弟強仁年幼，賈氏撫育之，誓以不嫁。 及強仁成童，思共報復，乃俟玄基殺之； 取其心肝，以祭父墓。 遣強仁自列於縣，司斷以極刑。 賈氏詣闕自陳己為，請代強仁死。 高宗哀之，特下制賈氏及強仁免罪，移其家於洛陽。
The filial daughter Jia was a native of Juancheng in Pu Prefecture. When she was only fifteen, her father was murdered by a clansman named Xuanji. Her younger brother Qiangren was still a child; Jia raised him and vowed never to marry. When Qiangren came of age, they plotted revenge together; they lay in wait and killed Xuanji; cut out his heart and liver and offered them at their father's tomb. They sent Qiangren to turn himself in at the county seat; the authorities sentenced him to death. Lady Jia went to the capital to confess her own guilt and asked to die in Qiangren's place. Emperor Gaozong took pity on them and specially issued an edict pardoning both Jia and Qiangren and relocating their family to Luoyang.
11
鄭義宗妻盧氏，幽州范陽人，盧彥衡之女也。 略涉書史，事舅姑甚得婦道。 嘗夜有強盜數十人，持杖鼓噪，逾垣而入，家人悉奔竄，唯有姑獨在室。 盧冒白刃往至姑側，為賊捶擊之，幾至於死。 賊去後，家人問曰：「群兇擾橫，人盡奔逃，何獨不懼？」 答曰：「人所以異於禽獸者，以其仁義也。 昔宋伯姬守義赴火，流稱至今。 吾雖不敏，安敢忘義！ 且鄰裏有急，尚相赴救，況在於姑，而可委棄！ 若萬一危禍，豈宜獨生！」 其姑每嘆云：「古人稱歲寒然後知松柏之後雕也，吾今乃知盧新婦之心矣！」 貞觀中卒。
Zheng Yizong's wife, Lady Lu, was a native of Fanyang in You Prefecture and the daughter of Lu Yanheng. She had some knowledge of literature and history and served her parents-in-law with exemplary wifely devotion. One night several dozen bandits, brandishing clubs and raising a din, climbed over the wall; the entire household fled in panic, leaving only her mother-in-law alone in the room. Lu braved naked blades to reach her mother-in-law's side and was beaten by the bandits nearly to death. After the bandits left, her family asked, "When those violent men were rampaging and everyone fled, why were you alone not afraid? She answered, "What distinguishes human beings from beasts is benevolence and righteousness. In ancient times Lady Bo Ji of Song upheld righteousness and walked into the flames; her fame endures to this day. Though I am not clever, how could I abandon righteousness! When neighbors are in distress, people still rush to help—how much less could I abandon my mother-in-law! If disaster should strike, how could I survive alone!" Her mother-in-law would often sigh and say, "The ancients said that only in bitter cold does one know that the pine and cypress are the last to fade—I now truly know the heart of my daughter-in-law Lu!" She died during the Zhenguan reign.
12
劉寂妻夏侯氏，滑州胙城人，字碎金。 父長雲，為鹽城縣丞，因疾喪明。 碎金乃求離其夫，以終侍養。 經十五年，兼事後母，以至孝聞。 及父卒，毀瘠殆不勝喪，被髮徒跣，負土成墳，廬於墓側，每日一食，如此者積年。 貞觀中，有制表其門閭，賜以粟帛。
Liu Ji's wife, Lady Xiahou, was a native of Zuocheng in Hua Prefecture; her courtesy name was Suijin. Her father Changyun served as Assistant Magistrate of Yancheng County and went blind from illness. Suijin then sought to leave her husband so that she could devote herself entirely to caring for her father. For fifteen years she also cared for her stepmother and was renowned for her filial devotion. When her father died, she was so wasted by grief that she could scarcely endure the mourning; with hair unbound and barefoot, she carried earth to build the tomb, lived in a hut beside the grave, and ate only one meal a day—for many years. During the Zhenguan reign, an edict honored her household and granted her grain and silk.
13
楊紹宗妻王氏，華州華陰人也。 初，年二歲，所生母亡，為繼母鞠養。 至年十五，父又征遼而歿。 繼母尋亦卒。 王乃收所生及繼母屍柩，並立父形像，招魂遷葬訖，廬於墓側，陪其祖父母及父母墳。 永徽中，詔曰：「故楊紹宗妻王氏，因心為孝，率性成道。 年迫桑榆，筋力衰謝。 以往在隋朝，父歿遼左，招魂遷葬，負土成墳，又葬其祖父母等，遏此老年，親加板築。 痛結晨昏，哀感行路。 永言誌行，嘉尚良深。 宜標其門閭，用旌敏德。」 賜物三十段、粟五十石。
Yang Shaozong's wife, Lady Wang, was a native of Huayin in Hua Prefecture. When she was two, her birth mother died, and she was raised by her stepmother. When she was fifteen, her father died on campaign in Liaodong. Her stepmother soon died as well. Lady Wang then gathered the coffins of her birth mother and stepmother, erected her father's portrait, summoned his soul and gave him a proper burial, then lived in a mourning hut beside the tomb, keeping vigil at the graves of her grandparents and parents. During the Yonghui reign, an edict stated, "The late Yang Shaozong's wife, Lady Wang, took filial piety from the heart and followed her nature to achieve moral perfection. Now in the twilight of her years, her strength has waned. Long ago under the Sui, when her father died in Liaodong, she summoned his soul home for burial, carried earth to build his tomb, and also buried her grandparents; despite her advanced age, she personally worked on the tomb construction. Her grief was unceasing; her sorrow moved all who passed by. Her resolve and conduct deserve the highest praise. Her household should be honored to display her exemplary virtue. She was granted thirty bolts of goods and fifty shi of grain.
14
於敏直妻張氏，營州都督、皖城公儉之女也。 數歲時父母權有疾，即觀察顏色，不離左右，晝夜省侍，宛若成人。 及稍成長，恭順彌甚。 適延壽公於欽明子敏直。 初聞儉有疾，便即號踴自傷，期於必死。 儉卒後，兇問至，號哭一慟而絕。 高宗下詔，賜物百段，仍令史官錄之。
Yu Minzhi's wife, Lady Zhang, was the daughter of Jian, Regional Commander of Yingzhou and Duke of Wancheng. From childhood, whenever her parents fell ill, she watched their expressions, never left their side, and attended them day and night with the care of an adult. As she grew older, her respect and obedience became even more pronounced. She married Minzhi, son of Qinming of the Duke of Yanshou line. When she first heard that Jian was ill, she immediately wailed and stamped in grief, fully expecting to die herself. When news of Jian's death arrived, she wailed once in grief and lost consciousness. Emperor Gaozong issued an edict granting her one hundred bolts of goods and ordered the historiographers to record her story.
15
冀州鹿城女子王阿足者，早孤，無兄弟，唯姊一人。 阿足初適同縣李氏，未有子而夫亡。 時年尚少，人多聘之。 為姊年老孤寡，不能舍去，乃誓不嫁，以養其姊。 每晝營田業，夜便紡績，衣食所須，無非阿足出者，如此二十余年。 及姊喪，葬送以禮。 鄉人莫不稱其節行，競令妻女求與相識。 後數歲，竟終於家。
Wang Azu of Lucheng in Ji Prefecture was orphaned early, had no brothers, and only one elder sister. Azu first married a man of the Li clan in the same county; she had no children when her husband died. She was still young, and many men sought her hand in marriage. Because her sister was elderly, widowed, and alone, she could not abandon her; she vowed never to marry and devoted herself to supporting her sister. Each day she worked the fields; each night she spun cloth; everything her sister needed came from Azu alone—for more than twenty years. When her sister died, she buried her with full ceremony. The villagers all praised her constancy and urged their wives and daughters to seek her acquaintance. Several years later she died at home.
16
樊彥琛妻魏氏，楚州淮陰人。 彥琛病篤，將卒，魏泣而言曰：「幸以愚陋，托身明德，奉侍衣裳，二十余載。 豈意釁妨所招，遽見此禍。 同入黃泉，是其願也。」 彥琛答曰：「死生常道，無所多恨。 君宜勉勵，養諸孤，使其成立。 若相從而死，適足貽累，非吾所取也。」 彥琛卒後，屬李敬業之亂，乃為賊所獲。 賊黨知其素解絲竹，逼令彈箏。 魏氏嘆曰：「我夫不幸亡歿，未能自盡，茍復偷生。 今爾見逼管弦，豈非禍從手發耶？」 乃引刀斬指，棄之於地。 賊黨又欲妻之，魏以必死自固。 賊等忿怒，以刃加頸，語云：「若不從我，即當殞命。」 乃厲聲罵曰：「爾等狗盜，乃欲汙辱好人，今得速死，會我本誌。」 賊乃斬之，聞者莫不傷惜。
Fan Yanchen's wife, Lady Wei, was a native of Huaiyin in Chu Prefecture. When Yanchen's illness grew grave and death approached, Wei wept and said, "Though I am foolish and lowly, I have been fortunate to serve you for more than twenty years. I never imagined that misfortune would strike so suddenly. To enter the underworld together—that is my wish. Yanchen answered, "Life and death follow the natural order; I have little to regret. You must persevere, raise our orphans, and see that they grow to maturity. If you die with me, you will only add to their burden—that is not what I wish." After Yanchen died, during Li Jingye's rebellion she was captured by the rebels. The rebels knew she was skilled in music and forced her to play the zither. Lady Wei sighed and said, "My husband died; I could not follow him in death and have clung to life in shame. Now you force me to play music—is not disaster issuing from my own hands? She then took a knife and cut off her finger, casting it on the ground. The rebels also wished to take her as wife; Wei held firm with the resolve to die. The rebels grew furious, placed blades to her neck, and said, "If you do not obey us, you shall die at once. She cursed them fiercely: "You dog-thieves wish to defile an honorable woman—now I can die quickly, which fulfills my original intent." The rebels then beheaded her; all who heard of it mourned her loss.
17
鄒保英妻奚氏，不知何許人也。 萬歲通天年，契丹賊李盡忠來寇平州。 保英時任刺史，領兵討擊。 既而城孤援寡，勢將欲陷。 奚氏乃率家僮及城內女丁相助固守。 賊退，所司以聞，優制封為誠節夫人。
Zou Baoying's wife, Lady Xi, was of unknown origin. In the Wansui Tongtian reign, the Khitan rebel Li Jinzhong invaded Ping Prefecture. Baoying was then serving as prefect and led troops to repel the invasion. Soon the city was isolated with few reinforcements and was on the verge of falling. Lady Xi then led household servants and the women of the city to help defend the walls. When the rebels retreated, the authorities reported her deeds; by special edict she was enfeoffed as Lady of Sincere Constancy.
18
時有古玄應妻高氏，亦能固守飛狐縣城，卒免為突厥所陷。 下詔曰：「頃屬默啜攻城，鹹憂陷沒。 丈夫固守，猶不能堅，婦人懷忠，不憚流矢； 由茲感激，危城重安。 如不褒升，何以獎勸！ 古玄應妻可封為徇忠縣君。」
At the same time, Gu Xuanying's wife, Lady Gao, also held firm the walls of Feihu County and ultimately prevented its capture by the Turks. An edict was issued: "Recently, when Moqi besieged our cities, all feared they would fall. Men defending the walls could not hold firm, yet women bearing loyal hearts did not fear flying arrows; through such stirring devotion, endangered cities were restored to safety. If we do not reward them, how can we encourage such virtue! Gu Xuanying's wife shall be enfeoffed as Lady of Xunzhong County."
19
宋庭瑜妻魏氏，定州鼓城人，隋著作郎彥泉之後也。 世為山東士族。 父克己，有詞學，則天時為天官侍郎。 魏氏善屬文。 先天中，庭瑜自司農少卿左遷涪州別駕。 魏氏隨夫之任，中路作《南征賦》以敘誌，詞甚典美。 開元中，庭瑜累遷慶州都督。 初，中書令張說年少時為克己所重，魏氏恨其夫為外職，乃作書與說，敘亡父疇昔之事，並為庭瑜申理，乃錄《南征賦》寄說。 說嘆曰：「曹大家《東征》之流也。」 庭瑜尋轉廣州都督，道病卒。 魏氏旬日亦殞，時人莫不傷之。
Song Tingyu's wife, Lady Wei, was a native of Gucheng in Ding Prefecture and a descendant of Yanquan, Editorial Director under the Sui. Her family had been a Shandong gentry clan for generations. Her father Keji was skilled in literary composition; during Empress Wu's reign he served as Vice Director of the Bureau of Astronomy. Lady Wei was skilled at literary composition. During the Xiantian reign, Tingyu was demoted from Vice Minister of Agriculture to Assistant Administrator of Fu Prefecture. Lady Wei accompanied her husband to his post; along the way she composed the "Rhapsody on the Southern Expedition" to record her thoughts, and its language was elegant and beautiful. During the Kaiyuan reign, Tingyu was promoted to Regional Commander of Qing Prefecture. Earlier, Chief Minister Zhang Yue had been valued by Keji in his youth; resenting her husband's exile to a distant post, Lady Wei wrote to Yue recounting her late father's past kindness and pleading Tingyu's case, enclosing the "Rhapsody on the Southern Expedition." Yue sighed and said, "This is in the vein of Lady Cao Ban's 'Eastern Expedition.' Tingyu was soon transferred to Regional Commander of Guang Prefecture but died of illness on the road. Lady Wei died within ten days as well; all who heard of it mourned their loss.
20
崔繪妻盧氏，幽州范陽人也，為山東著姓。 祖幼孫，常州刺史。 父獻，有美名，則天時歷鸞臺侍郎、文昌左丞。 天授中為酷吏來俊臣所陷，左遷西鄉令而卒。
Cui Hui's wife, Lady Lu, was a native of Fanyang in You Prefecture and a prominent Shandong clan. Her grandfather Yousun served as Prefect of Chang Prefecture. Her father Xian enjoyed a fine reputation; during Empress Wu's reign he served as Vice Director of the Phoenix Terrace and Left Vice Director of the Literary Glory Bureau. During the Tianshou reign he was framed by the cruel official Lai Junchen, demoted to Magistrate of Xixiang, and died in office.
21
繪早終，盧既年少，諸兄常欲嫁之。 盧輒稱病固辭。 盧亡姊之夫李思沖，神龍初為工部侍郎，又求續親。 時思沖當朝美職，諸兄不之拒。 將婚之夕，方以告盧； 盧又固辭不可，仍令人防其門。 盧謂左右曰：「吾自誓久已定矣！」 乃夜中出自竇中，奔歸崔氏，發面盡為糞穢所汙。 宗族見者皆為之垂淚。 因出家為尼，諸尼欽其操行，皆尊事之。 開元中，以老病而卒。
Hui died young; Lu was still young, and her elder brothers often wished to marry her off. Lu would repeatedly claim illness and firmly refuse. Lu's deceased elder sister's husband, Li Sichong, who in the early Shenlong reign served as Vice Minister of Works, again sought to marry her. At the time Sichong held a prestigious post at court, and her brothers did not refuse. On the eve of the wedding, they finally told Lu; Lu again firmly refused; they had people guard her door. Lu told her attendants, "My vow was settled long ago! In the middle of the night she crawled out through a hole in the wall and fled back to the Cui household; her hair and face were smeared with filth. All of her clan who saw her wept for her. She then became a nun; the other nuns admired her conduct and all honored her. During the Kaiyuan reign she died of old age and illness.
22
奉天縣竇氏二女伯娘、仲娘，雖長於村野，而幼有誌操。 住與邠州接界。 永泰中，草賊數千人，持兵刃入其村落行剽劫，聞二女有容色，姊年十九，妹年十六，藏於巖窟間。 賊徒擬為逼辱，乃先曳伯娘出，行數十步，又曳仲娘出，賊相顧自慰。 行臨深谷，伯娘曰：「我豈受賊汙辱！」 乃投之於谷。 賊方驚駭，仲娘又投於谷。 谷深數百尺，姊尋卒； 仲娘腳折面破，血流被體，氣絕良久而蘇，賊義之而去。 京兆尹第五琦感其貞烈，奏之； 詔旌表門閭，長免丁役，二女葬事官給。 京兆尹曹陸海著賦以美之。
The two daughters of the Dou clan of Fengtian County, Boniang and Zhongniang, though raised in the countryside, possessed resolute moral character from youth. They lived on the border with Bin Prefecture. During the Yongtai reign, several thousand bandits armed with weapons raided their village; hearing that the two sisters were beautiful—the elder nineteen, the younger sixteen—they hid in a rocky cave. The bandits intended to violate them; they first dragged Boniang out, walked several dozen paces, then dragged Zhongniang out; the bandits exchanged satisfied glances. As they reached a deep ravine, Boniang cried, "I would never suffer defilement at the hands of bandits! She threw herself into the ravine. The bandits were still startled when Zhongniang threw herself into the ravine as well. The ravine was hundreds of feet deep; the elder sister died immediately; Zhongniang's legs were broken and her face shattered, blood soaking her body; she lost consciousness for a long time but revived; moved by her courage, the bandits departed. Metropolitan Governor Diwu Qi, moved by their chaste heroism, memorialized the matter; an edict honored their household, permanently exempted their family from corvée labor, and provided official funds for the sisters' burial. Metropolitan Governor Cao Luhai composed a rhapsody in their praise.
23
又有尉氏尉王泛妻裴氏，儀王傅巨卿之女也。 素有容範，為賊所俘，賊逼之。 裴曰：「吾衣冠之子，當死即死，終不茍全一命，受汙於賊。」 賊脅之以兵，逼之以罵，裴堅力抗之。 賊怒，乃支解裴氏，至死不屈。 季卿亦以狀跡聞。
There was also Wang Fan's wife, Lady Pei, Assistant Magistrate of Weishi, daughter of Jujing, Tutor to the Prince of Yi. Renowned for her grace, she was captured by bandits who tried to force her. Lady Pei said, "I am a daughter of the gentry; when I must die, I shall die—I will never cling to life in shame and suffer defilement at the hands of bandits. The bandits threatened her with weapons and cursed her; Lady Pei resisted with all her strength. Enraged, the bandits dismembered Lady Pei; she did not yield even unto death. Jiqing also reported the circumstances to the court.
24
詔曰：「鄭州原武縣尉盧甫亡妻李氏、汴州尉氏縣尉王泛亡妻裴氏等，懿範傳家，柔明植性； 頃因寇難，克彰義烈。 或請代父死，表因心之孝； 或誓逐夫亡，標難奪之節。 宜膺贈律，俾光休美。 李氏可贈孝昌縣君，裴氏可贈河東縣君，仍編入史冊。」 瀾、渤亦贈官秩。
An edict stated, "The late Lu Fu, Assistant Magistrate of Yuanwu in Zheng Prefecture, whose wife was Lady Li, and the late Wang Fan, Assistant Magistrate of Weishi in Bian Prefecture, whose wife was Lady Pei, among others—exemplary virtue ran in their families, gentle clarity rooted in their nature; in recent times, amid the ravages of rebellion, they fully displayed righteous heroism. Some asked to die in their fathers' place, showing heartfelt filial piety; some vowed to follow their husbands in death, marking constancy that none could break. They should receive posthumous honors by statute, that their glorious virtue may shine forth. Lady Li shall be posthumously enfeoffed as Lady of Xiaochang County, Lady Pei as Lady of Hedong County, and both shall be entered in the historical records. Lan and Bo were also granted official ranks.
25
鄒待征妻簿氏。 待征，大歷中為常州江陰縣尉，其妻為海賊所掠。 薄氏守節，出待征官誥於懷中，托付村人，使謂待征曰：「義不受辱。」 乃投江而死。 賊退潮落，待征於江岸得妻屍焉。 江左文士，多著節婦文以紀之。
Zou Daizheng's wife, Lady Bo. Daizheng served as Assistant Magistrate of Jiangyin in Chang Prefecture during the Dali reign; his wife was seized by pirates. Lady Bo upheld her chastity, took Daizheng's official commission from her bosom, entrusted it to a villager, and had him tell Daizheng, "By righteousness I cannot suffer dishonor. She then threw herself into the river and died. When the pirates retreated and the tide ebbed, Daizheng found his wife's body on the riverbank. Literati of the lower Yangtze region composed many essays on chaste wives to commemorate her.
26
李湍妻。 湍，吳元濟之軍人也。 元和中，淮南未平，湍心懷向順，乃急渡氵殷河，東降烏重胤。 其妻遂為賊束縛在樹，臠而食之，至死，叫其夫曰：「善事烏僕射。」 觀者義之。 至是，重胤以其事請列史冊。 十三年，憲宗下詔從之。
The wife of Li Tuan. Tuan was a soldier in Wu Yuanji's army. During the Yuanhe reign, with Huainan not yet pacified, Tuan harbored loyal intentions and urgently crossed the Yin River to surrender to Wu Chongyin in the east. His wife was bound to a tree by the rebels, cut to pieces and eaten alive; until her death she called to her husband, "Serve Vice Director Wu well. All who witnessed it admired her righteousness. Chongyin then petitioned that her story be entered in the historical records. In the thirteenth year, Emperor Xianzong issued an edict granting the request.
27
董昌齡母楊氏。 昌齡常為泗州長史，世居於蔡。 少孤，受訓於母。 累事吳少誠、少陽，至元濟時，為吳房令。 楊氏潛誡曰：「逆順之理，成敗可知，汝宜圖之。」 昌齡誌未果，元濟又署為郾城令。 楊氏復誡曰：「逆黨欺天，天所不福。 汝當速降，無以前敗為慮，無以老母為念。 汝為忠臣，吾雖歿無恨矣！」 及王師逼郾城，昌齡乃以城降，且說賊將鄧懷金歸款於李光顏。 憲宗聞之喜，急召昌齡至闕，直授郾城令、兼監察御史，仍賜緋魚。 昌齡泣謝曰：「此皆老母之訓。」 憲宗嗟嘆良久。 元濟囚楊氏，欲殺之，而止者數矣。 蔡平，楊氏幸無恙。 元和十五年，陳許節度使李遜疏楊氏之強明節義以聞，乃封北平郡太君。
Dong Changling's mother, Lady Yang. Changling had served as Chief Administrator of Si Prefecture; his family had lived in Cai for generations. Orphaned young, he was raised and instructed by his mother. He successively served Wu Shaocheng and Shaoyang; under Yuanji he served as Magistrate of Wu Fang. Lady Yang secretly admonished him, "The principles of loyalty and rebellion, of success and failure, are plain—you must plan accordingly. Changling had not yet acted on her counsel when Yuanji appointed him Magistrate of Yancheng. Lady Yang admonished him again, "The rebels defy Heaven; Heaven will not bless them. You must surrender quickly; do not worry over past failures, and do not think of your aged mother. If you become a loyal subject, I shall die without regret! When the imperial army besieged Yancheng, Changling surrendered the city and persuaded the rebel general Deng Huaijin to submit to Li Guangyan. Emperor Xianzong was delighted, urgently summoned Changling to court, directly appointed him Magistrate of Yancheng and concurrent Investigating Censor, and granted him crimson fish tokens. Changling wept and said, "This is all my mother's teaching. Emperor Xianzong sighed in admiration for a long while. Yuanji imprisoned Lady Yang and wished to kill her, but was stopped several times. When Cai was pacified, Lady Yang fortunately emerged unharmed. In the fifteenth year of Yuanhe, Military Governor Li Xun of Chenxu memorialized Lady Yang's wisdom and moral integrity; she was enfeoffed as Grand Mistress of Beiping Commandery.
28
韋雍妻蕭氏。 雍，故太子賓客。 張弘靖鎮幽州日，奏授觀察判官，攝監察御史。 時屬朝廷制置未備，幽州俗本兇悍，尤不樂文儒為主帥，賓佐習於常態，忿其變通，議論不密，卒然起亂。 雍時家亦從劫，蕭氏聞難號呼，專執夫袂，左右格去，以死不從。 及雍臨刃，蕭氏涕而告曰：「妾不幸年少，義不茍活； 今日之事，願先就死！」 執刃者斷其臂而殺雍，蕭氏詞氣不撓，雖兇悍圜視，無不嗟嘆。 其夕，蕭氏亦卒。 太和六年，節度使楊誌誠表明其事，因降敕追封蘭陵縣君。
Wei Yong's wife, Lady Xiao. Yong was a former Guest of the Heir Apparent. When Zhang Hongjing governed You Prefecture, he appointed Yong Observation Aide and acting Investigating Censor. At the time the court's arrangements were incomplete; You Prefecture was inherently fierce and especially resented having a literary scholar as commander; aides accustomed to the old ways resented his reforms; loose talk led to sudden rebellion. Yong's household was caught in the uprising; hearing the commotion, Lady Xiao cried out and clung to her husband's sleeve; attendants pulled her away, but she refused to leave, preferring death. As Yong faced the blade, Lady Xiao wept and said, "I am young and unfortunate; by righteousness I cannot live in shame; in this matter, let me die first! The assassin severed her arm and killed Yong; Lady Xiao's spirit did not waver, and even the fierce rebels who looked on could not help but sigh in admiration. That evening Lady Xiao died as well. In the sixth year of Taihe, Military Governor Yang Zhicheng reported her deeds, and by edict she was posthumously enfeoffed as Lady of Lanling County.
29
衡方厚妻程氏。 方厚，太和中任邕州都督府錄事參軍，為招討使董昌齡誣枉殺之。 程氏力不能免，乃抑其哀，如非冤者。 昌齡雅不疑慮，聽其歸葬。 程氏故得以徒行詣闕，截耳於右銀臺門，告夫被殺之冤。 御史臺鞫之，得實，諫官亦有章疏，故昌齡再受譴逐。
Heng Fanghou's wife, Lady Cheng. Fanghou served as Recorder on the staff of the Yong Prefecture commandery during the Taihe reign and was falsely accused and killed by Pacification Commissioner Dong Changling. Unable to prevent it by force, Lady Cheng suppressed her grief and acted as if no injustice had occurred. Changling, never suspecting her intentions, permitted her to return home and bury him. Lady Cheng was thus able to travel on foot to the capital, cut off her ear at the Right Yintai Gate, and report her husband's wrongful death. The Censorate investigated and confirmed the facts; remonstrating officials also submitted memorials, and Changling was again punished and banished.
30
程氏，開成元年降敕曰：「乃者吏為不道，虐殺爾夫，詣闕申冤，徒行萬里，崎嶇逼畏，濱於危亡。 血誠即昭，幽憤果雪，雖古之烈婦，何以加焉！ 如聞孤孀無依，晝哭待盡，俾榮祿養，仍賜疏封。 可封武昌縣君，仍賜一子九品正員官。」
Regarding Lady Cheng, in the first year of Kaicheng an edict stated, "Recently an official acted without conscience and cruelly killed your husband; you came to court to declare your grievance, traveling on foot ten thousand li through hardship and fear, bordering on death. Your loyal devotion is now manifest; your hidden grievance is truly vindicated—even the heroic women of antiquity could not surpass this! I hear you are a widow without support, weeping by day and awaiting your end—grant you an honorable stipend and bestow a noble title. She shall be enfeoffed as Lady of Wuchang County, and one son granted a regular ninth-rank post."
31
女道士李玄真，越王貞之玄孫。 曾祖珍子，越王張六男也。 先天中得罪，配流嶺南。 玄真祖、父，皆亡歿於嶺外。 雖曾經恩赦，而未昭雪。 玄真進狀曰：「去開成三年十二月內得嶺南節度使盧鈞出俸錢接措，哀妾三代旅櫬暴露，各在一方，特與發遣，歸就大塋合祔。 今護四喪，已到長樂旅店權下，未委故越王墳所在，伏乞天恩，允妾所奏，許歸大塋。 妾年已六十三，孤露家貧，更無依倚。」 詔曰：「越王事跡，國史著明，枉陷非辜，尋已洗雪。 其珍子他事配流，數代漂零，不還京國。 玄真弱女，孝節卓然，啟護四喪，綿歷萬里； 況是近族，必可加恩。 行路猶或嗟稱，朝廷固須恤助。 委宗正寺、京兆府與訪越王墳墓報知。 如不是陪陵，任祔塋次卜葬。 其葬事仍令京兆府接措，必使備禮。 葬畢，玄真如願住京城，便配咸宜觀安置。」
The Daoist nun Li Xuanzhen was the great-great-granddaughter of Prince Zhen of Yue. Her great-grandfather Zhenzi was the sixth son of Prince Zhen of Yue. During the Xiantian reign he offended and was banished to Lingnan. Xuanzhen's grandfather and father both died in the far south. Though amnesty had been granted, their names had not yet been cleared. Xuanzhen submitted a petition stating, "In the twelfth month of the third year of Kaicheng, with funds provided by Military Governor Lu Jun of Lingnan from his salary, grieving that my family's coffins from three generations lie exposed in different places, I have arranged for them to be brought home for burial in the ancestral tomb. I am now escorting four coffins and have reached Chang'an, lodging temporarily at an inn; I do not know where the tomb of the former Prince of Yue lies; I humbly beg Your Majesty to grant my petition and permit burial in the ancestral tomb. I am sixty-three years old, orphaned and destitute, with no one left to rely upon. An edict stated, "The deeds of the Prince of Yue are clearly recorded in the dynastic histories; wrongly implicated without guilt, his name was long since cleared. Zhenzi was banished for another offense; for generations the family drifted in exile, never returning to the capital. Xuanzhen, a frail woman, displays outstanding filial devotion, escorting four coffins across ten thousand li; moreover, as near kin, she surely deserves special favor. Travelers on the road still sigh in admiration; the court must show compassion and aid. Commission the Court of the Imperial Clan and the Metropolitan Prefecture to locate the Prince of Yue's tomb and report back. If it is not an attendant tomb, permit burial in the secondary plot as divination directs. The Metropolitan Prefecture shall handle the burial and ensure full ceremony. When the burial is complete, if Xuanzhen wishes to remain in the capital, assign her residence at Xianyi Abbey."
32
孝女王和子者，徐州人。 其父及兄為防秋卒，戍涇州。 元和中，吐蕃寇邊，父兄戰死，無子，母先亡。 和子時年十七，聞父兄歿於邊上，被髮徒跣缞裳，獨往涇州。 行丐取父兄之喪，歸徐營葬。 手植松柏，剪發壞形，廬於墓所。 節度使王智興以狀聞，詔旌表之。
The filial daughter Wang Hezi was a native of Xu Prefecture. Her father and elder brother were frontier-defense soldiers garrisoned at Jing Prefecture. During the Yuanhe reign the Tibetans raided the frontier; her father and brother died in battle; there were no sons; her mother had died earlier. Hezi was seventeen; hearing that her father and brother had died on the frontier, she went alone to Jing Prefecture with hair unbound, barefoot, in mourning garments. Begging along the way, she retrieved her father and brother's remains, returned to Xu Prefecture, and gave them proper burial. She planted pine and cypress with her own hands, cut her hair and disfigured her appearance, and lived in a mourning hut beside the tomb. Military Governor Wang Zhixing reported her deeds, and an edict honored her household.
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又大中五年，兗州瑕丘縣人鄭神佐女，年二十四，先許適馳雄牙官李玄慶。 神佐亦為官健，戍慶州。 時党項叛，神佐戰死，其母先亡，無子。 女以父戰歿邊城，無由得還，乃剪發壞形，自往慶州護父喪還，至瑕丘縣進賢鄉馬青村，與母合葬。 便廬於墳所，手植松檜，誓不適人。 節度使蕭椒以狀奏之曰：「伏以閭裏之中，罕知禮教，女子之性，尤昧義方。 鄭氏女痛結窮泉，哀深《陟岵》，投身沙磧，歸父遺骸，遠自邊陲，得還閭裏。 感《蓼莪》以積恨，守丘墓以誓心。 克彰孝理之仁，足厲貞方之節。」 詔旌表門閭。
Also in the fifth year of Dazhong, the daughter of Zheng Shenzuo of Xiqiu County in Yan Prefecture, aged twenty-four, had been betrothed to Li Xuanqing, an officer of the Chixiong garrison. Shenzuo also served as a government soldier garrisoned at Qing Prefecture. When the Tangut rebelled, Shenzuo died in battle; his mother had died earlier, and there were no sons. Because her father had died in battle at a distant fortress with no means of bringing his body home, the daughter cut her hair and disfigured her appearance, traveled alone to Qing Prefecture to escort her father's remains home, and buried him beside her mother in Maqing Village, Jinxian Township, Xiqiu County. She then lived in a mourning hut beside the grave, planted pine and cypress with her own hands, and vowed never to marry. Military Governor Xiao Jiao memorialized, "I humbly observe that in village neighborhoods, ritual instruction is rarely known, and women especially lack understanding of righteousness. The daughter of the Zheng clan, her grief reaching to the underworld, her sorrow as deep as the 'Ascending the Mound,' braved the desert wastes to bring her father's remains home from the distant frontier to her native village. Moved by the 'Polygala,' she nursed bitter grief; guarding the tomb mound, she pledged her heart. She fully displayed the benevolence of filial devotion and amply exemplified the constancy of chaste conduct. An edict honored her household.
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贊曰：政教隆平，男忠女貞。 禮以自防，義不茍生。 彤管有煒，蘭閨振聲。 《關雎》合《雅》，始號文明。
The encomium states: When government and instruction flourish in peace, men are loyal and women constant. Through ritual they guard themselves; through righteousness they refuse to live in shame. The historian's red brush shines bright; women's chambers resound with fame. When 'Guan Ju' harmonizes with the 'Ya' hymns, civilization is first proclaimed.