Yuan · Exemplary Widow

Zhao 趙孝婦

Attested AD 1271 - AD 1368

Passages: 3
Chapters: 1
Histories: 1

Overview

Zhao was an Exemplary Widow.

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1271 to AD 1368 元受命百餘年
Strongly inferred · History of Yuan 200, passage 87

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Kin of Mother-in-law of Zhao (趙孝婦之姑)
mother-in-law 姑
Directly stated · History of Yuan 200, passage 88
Parent of Second son of Zhao (趙孝婦次子)
second son 次子
Directly stated · History of Yuan 200, passage 90
Spouse of Husband of Zhao the filial widow (趙孝婦夫)
wife 妻
Directly stated · History of Yuan 200, passage 88

Career and standing

Entered
Widow
Directly stated · History of Yuan 200, passage 88

Places and affiliations

At Yingcheng in De'an 德安應城
Directly stated · History of Yuan 200, passage 87

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · History of Yuan 200, passage 92

Events and relationships

Filial cry shifted wind and spared house from fire
Personal · Actor
Directly stated · History of Yuan 200, passages 92-93
Sold second son to buy coffin for mother in law
Personal · Actor
Directly stated · History of Yuan 200, passage 90

Assessments and attributes

Assessment filial power moved Heaven · Mode named-source-report
Directly stated · History of Yuan 200, passage 93

References in the histories

History of Yuan, Chapter 200Volume 200 Biographies 87: Exemplary Women 1 · 3 passages

趙孝婦，德安應城人。 The filial widow Zhao was from Yingcheng in De'an.

南鄰失火，時南風烈甚，火勢及孝婦家，孝婦亟扶姑出避，而棺重不可移，乃撫膺大哭曰：「吾為姑賣兒得棺，無能為我救之者，苦莫大焉！」 A neighbor to the south caught fire. The south wind was fierce and the flames reached the filial widow's home. She hurried to help her mother-in-law escape, but the coffin was too heavy to move. She beat her breast and cried, "I sold my son to buy this coffin for my mother-in-law—no one can save it now. No grief could be greater!"

言畢，風轉而北，孝婦家得不焚，人以為孝感所致。 When she had finished speaking the wind shifted northward and her home was spared. People attributed this to the power of filial devotion.