Liao Shi (廖氏) | 24 Histories

Overview

Liao Shi was an Exemplary Woman and Family Member.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Epithet	Chaste Wife Liao	廖節婦

Life and dates

Death

Collapsed after rebuking bandits; later buried by villagers · Cause Bandit violence
Directly stated · History of Song 460, passages 194-195

Attested activity

AD 1133 紹興三年春
Dated from the passage context · History of Song 460, passage 190

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Fu (傅)
mother-in-law 姑
Directly stated · History of Song 460, passages 190-191
Spouse of Ouyang Xiwen (歐陽希文)
wife 妻
Directly stated · History of Song 460, passage 189

Places and affiliations

Polity Song 宋 · Relation Subject of
Strongly inferred · History of Song 460, passage 190
At Linjiang 臨江 · Relation Lived
Directly stated · History of Song 460, passages 189-190
At Tomb of the Chaste Wife Liao 廖節婦墓 · Relation Buried at
Directly stated · History of Song 460, passage 195

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation · Extent s0193 · Mode quoted-speech Speaker Liao Shi (廖氏)
Directly stated · History of Song 460, passage 193

Events and relationships

Fled into the mountains with husband and mother in law from White Felt Hats bandits
Flight · Escort
Dated from the passage context · History of Song 460, passage 190
Seized by bandits
Capture · Captive
Directly stated · History of Song 460, passage 192
Shielded mother in law with her body so Xiwen could carry her away
Protection · Shield
Directly stated · History of Song 460, passage 191

Assessments and attributes

bandits cut off her ear and arm
Injury
Directly stated · History of Song 460, passage 193

References in the histories

History of Song, Chapter 460Volume 460 Biographies 219: Exemplary Women: Zhu E, Zhang Shi, Peng Lienu, Hao Jiee, Zhu Shi, Cui Shi, Zhao Shi, Ding Shi, Xiang Shi, Wang Shierfu, Xu Shi, Rong Shi, He Shi, Dong Shi, Tan Shi, Liu Shi, Zhang Shi, Shi Shi, Chen Tangqian, Jie Fuliaoshi, Liu Dangkemu, Ceng Shifu, Wang Maoqi, Tu Duanyouqi, Zhan Shinu, Liu Shengqi, Xie Biqi, Xie Fangdeqi, Wang Zhenfu, Zhao Huaiqie, Tan Shifu, Wu Zhongfuqi, Lu Zhong Zhunu, Lin Laonu, Tong Shinu, Han Shinu, Wang Shifu, Liutong Ziqi Mao Xixi · 5 passages

Open chapter

廖氏，臨江軍貢士歐陽希文之妻也。 Liao Shi was the wife of Ouyang Xiwen, a presented scholar of Linjiang.

廖以身蔽姑，使希文負之逃。 Liao shielded her mother-in-law with her body and had Xiwen carry her and flee.

賊執廖氏，廖正色叱之。 The bandits seized Liao; she sternly rebuked them.

賊知不可屈，揮刃斷其耳與臂，廖猶謂賊曰：“爾輩叛逆至此，我即死，爾輩亦不久屠戮。” Knowing she could not be bent, the bandits cut off her ear and arm. Liao still told them: "You rebels have come to this—though I die, you too shall soon be slaughtered."

鄉人義而葬之，號“廖節婦墓”。 Moved by her righteousness, the villagers buried her and called it the Tomb of the Chaste Wife Liao.