1
李德武妻裴淑英楊慶妻王房玄齡妻盧獨孤師仁姆王蘭英楊三安妻李樊會仁母敬衛孝女無忌鄭義宗妻盧劉寂妻夏侯碎金于敏直妻張楚王靈龜妃上官楊紹宗妻王賈孝女李氏妻王阿足攀彥琛妻魏李畬母汴女李崔繪妻盧堅貞節婦李符鳳妻玉英高叡妻秦王琳妻韋盧惟清妻徐饒娥竇伯女、仲女盧甫妻李鄒待征妻薄金節婦高湣女楊烈婦賈直言妻董李孝女妙法李湍妻董昌齡母楊王孝女和子段居貞妻謝楊含妻蕭韋雍妻蕭衡方厚妻程鄭孝女李廷節妻崔殷保晦妻封絢竇烈婦李拯妻盧山陽女趙周迪妻朱延壽妻王
Pei Shuying, wife of Li Dewu; Wang, wife of Yang Qing; Lu, wife of Fang Xuanling; Wang Lanying, foster mother of Dugu Shiren; Li, wife of Yang San'an; Jing, mother of Fan Huiren; the filial daughter Wei Wuji of Wei; Lu, wife of Zheng Yizong; Xiahou Suijin, wife of Liu Ji; Zhang, wife of Yu Minzhi; Shangguan, consort of Prince Linggui of Chu; Wang, wife of Yang Shaozong; the filial daughter Jia; Wang Azu, wife of the Li clan; Wei, wife of Fan Yanchen; the mother of Li Yu; Li of Bian; Lu, wife of Cui Hui; Li the steadfast chaste wife; Yuying, wife of Fu Feng; Qin, wife of Gao Rui; Wei, wife of Wang Lin; Xu, wife of Lu Weiqing; Rao E; the elder and younger daughters of Dou; Li, wife of Lu Fu; Bo, wife of Zou Daizheng; the Golden Chaste Wife; the daughter of Gao Min; the fierce wife Yang; Dong, wife of Jia Zhiyan; Miaofa the filial daughter Li; Dong, wife of Li Tuan; Yang, mother of Dong Changling; Hezi the filial daughter Wang; Xie, wife of Duan Juzhen; Xiao, wife of Yang Han; Xiao, wife of Wei Yong; Cheng, wife of Heng Fanghou; the filial daughter Zheng; Cui, wife of Li Tingjie; Feng Xuan, wife of Yin Baohui; the fierce wife Dou; Lu, wife of Li Zheng; Zhao of Shanyang; Zhu, wife of Zhou Di; Wang, wife of Zhu Yanhou
2
女子之行，於親也孝，婦也節，母也義而慈，止矣。 中古以前，書所載後、妃、夫人事，天下化之。 後彤史職廢，婦訓、姆則不及於家，故賢女可紀者千載間寥寥相望。 唐興，風化陶淬且數百年，而聞家令姓窈窕淑女，至臨大難，守禮節，白刃不能移，與哲人烈士爭不朽名，寒如霜雪，亦可貴矣。 今采獲尤顯行者著之篇，以緒正父父、子子、夫夫、婦婦之懿云。
A woman's duty is filial piety to her parents, constancy as a wife, and righteous kindness as a mother—and that is the whole of it. Before the middle antiquity, the empire was transformed by the empresses, consorts, and wives whose deeds books preserve. Later the office of the red historian was abandoned. Women's instruction and governess rules no longer reached the household, so worthy women worth recording were few and far between across a thousand years. When Tang rose, customs were refined and tempered for several hundred years; yet one heard of gentlewomen of eminent houses who, facing great calamity, upheld ritual propriety — naked blades could not sway them — and vied with wise men and martyrs for an undying name, cold as frost and snow: that too is precious. Here I collect women whose virtue shone brightest and set them down in this chapter, to carry forward the excellence of fatherhood, sonship, husbandhood, and wifehood.
3
李德武妻裴，字淑英，安邑公矩之女，以孝聞鄉黨。 德武在隋，坐事徙嶺南，時嫁方逾歲，矩表離婚。 德武謂裴曰：「我方貶，無還理，君必儷它族，於此長決矣。」 答曰：「夫，天也，可背乎？ 願死無它。」 欲割耳誓，保姆持不許。 夫姻胃，歲時塑望裴致禮惟謹。 居不禦薰澤。 讀《列女傳》，見述不更嫁者，謂人曰：「不踐二廷，婦人之常，何異而載之書？」 後十年，德武未還，矩決嫁之，斷發不食，矩知不能奪，聽之。 德武更娶汆朱氏，遇赦還，中道聞其完節，乃遣後妻，為夫婦如初。
Pei, wife of Li Dewu, courtesy name Shuying, daughter of Duke Anyi Pei Ju, won renown for filial piety in her village. Dewu in Sui was punished and exiled to Lingnan; when she had been married little more than a year, Ju submitted a memorial requesting divorce. Dewu said to Pei: "I am now demoted with no prospect of return. You must surely marry another clan — here we part for good." She replied: "A husband is Heaven — can one turn against Heaven? She asked only to die and for nothing more." She wished to cut off her ear in oath. The nursemaid held her and would not allow it. Among her husband's kin, at seasonal sacrifices Pei sent gifts with utmost care. In her chambers she wore no perfume and used no cosmetics. Reading the Biographies of Exemplary Women, she saw those who refused to remarry and told others: "Not serving two courts is a woman's constant — why treat it as extraordinary enough to put in a book?" After ten years Dewu had not returned. Ju decided to marry her off. She cut her hair and refused food. Ju knew he could not compel her and yielded. Dewu took another wife, the Zhu clan of Quan. Encountering amnesty he returned. Midway he heard of her intact chastity, sent away the later wife, and husband and wife were as at first.
4
楊慶妻王者，世充足之女。 慶以河間王子為郇王，守滎陽，陷於世充，故世充妻之，用為管州刺史。 太宗攻洛陽，慶謀與王歸唐，謝曰：「鄭以我奉箕帚者，綴公之心，今負恩背義，自為身謀，可若何？ 至長安，則公家婢耳，願送我還東都。」 慶不聽，王謂左右曰：「唐勝則鄭滅，鄭安則吾夫死，若是，生何益？」 乃飲藥死。 慶入朝，官宜州刺史。
Yang Qing's wife Wang was a daughter of the Shizu clan. Qing, as son of the Prince of Hejian, was made Prince of Ye, holding Yingyang, and fell to Wang Shichong. Therefore Shichong gave him a wife and used him as prefect of Guanzhou. Emperor Taizong attacked Luoyang; Qing plotted with Wang to return to Tang; she declined: "Zheng took me to tend the broom and dust — to steady your heart; now to betray favor and turn faithless, scheming for oneself — how can that be? At Chang'an I would be no more than a serving woman in your household—I beg you to send me back to the eastern capital." Qing would not listen. Wang said to those about her: "If Tang wins, Zheng is destroyed. If Zheng is secure, my husband dies — in such a case, what good is life?" She thereupon took poison and perished. Qing entered court and received appointment as prefect of Yizhou.
5
房玄齡妻盧，失其世。 玄齡微時，病且死，諉曰：「吾病革，君年少，不可寡居，善事後人。」 盧泣入帳中，剔一目示玄齡，明無它。 會玄齡良愈，禮之終身。
Lu, wife of Fang Xuanling—the record of her lineage has been lost. When Xuanling was still obscure, he fell gravely ill and urged her: "My illness is desperate. You are young — you must not remain a widow. Treat well whoever comes after. Lu wept, went into the tent, gouged out one eye to show Xuanling, making plain that her heart was set on no other man. Xuanling then made a full recovery and honored her for the rest of his days.
6
王蘭英者，獨狐師仁之姆。 師仁父武都謀歸唐，王世充殺之。 師仁始三歲，免死禁錮，蘭英請髡鉗得保養，許之。 時喪亂，餓死者藉藉，遊丐道路以食師仁，身啖土飲水。 後詐為采薪，竊師仁歸京師。 高祖嘉其義，詔封蘭英永壽鄉君。
Wang Lanying was foster mother to Dugu Shiren. Shiren's father Wudu plotted to return to Tang. Wang Shichong killed him. Shiren was only three. Spared death but imprisoned. Lanying begged to be tonsured and shackled to keep custody — it was granted. In those days of turmoil the dead lay piled. She begged along the roads to feed Shiren, herself eating earth and drinking water. Afterward she feigned gathering firewood and stole Shiren away to the capital. Emperor Gaozu praised her righteousness and decreed enfeoffment of Lanying as Lady of Yongshou Township.
7
楊三安妻李，京兆高陵人。 舅姑亡，三安又死，子幼，孤窶，畫田夜紡，凡三年，葬舅姑及夫兄弟凡七喪，遠近嗟涕。 太宗聞而異之，賜帛三百段，遣州縣存問，免其徭役。
Yang San'an's wife Li hailed from Gaoling in Jingzhao. Parents-in-law died; San'an also died; the son was young; alone and destitute, she plowed by day and spun by night; in all three years she buried her parents-in-law and seven of her husband's brothers — people near and far wept for her. Emperor Taizong heard of it and marveled, bestowing three hundred bolts of silk, sending prefect and county to inquire, and exempting her from corvée.
8
樊會仁母敬，蒲州河東人，字象子。 笄而生會仁。 夫死，事舅姑祥順。 家以其少，俗嫁之，潛約婚於里人，至期，陽為母病，使歸視。 敬至，知見紹，乃外為不知者，私謂會仁曰：「吾孀處不死者，以母老兒幼，今舅將奪吾志，汝云何？」 會仁泣，敬曰：「兒毋啼！」 乃伺隙遁去，家追及半道，以死自守，乃罷。 會仁未冠卒，時敬母又終，既葬，謂所親曰：「母死子亡，何生為！」 不食數日死，聞者憐之。
So it was that jing, mother of Fan Huiren, was of Hedong in Puzhou, courtesy name Xiangzi. When she came of age she bore Huiren. When her husband died she served her parents-in-law with gentle compliance. The family, seeing her youth, by custom wished to marry her off. She secretly betrothed to a man of the lane. When the day came she feigned her mother's illness and had her return to visit. Jing arrived, saw the matchmaking, and outwardly acted as if unaware; privately she told Huiren: "I remain a widow and do not die because mother is old and the boy young; now the her uncle-in-law will seize my resolve — what will you do?" Huiren wept. Jing said: "Child, do not weep!" She then seized an opening and fled. The family pursued and overtook her halfway. She guarded her life by death-threat — they desisted. Huiren died before the cap and sash. Then Jing's mother also ended. After burial she said to kin: "Mother dead, son gone — why live!" She ate nothing for several days and died; those who heard pitied her her.
9
衛孝女，絳州夏人，字無忌。 父為鄉人衛長則所殺，無忌甫六歲，無兄弟，母改嫁。 逮長，志報父仇。 會從父大延客，長則在坐，無忌抵以甓，殺之。 詣吏稱父冤已報，請就刑。 巡察使褚遂良以聞，太宗免其罪，給驛徙雍州，賜田宅。 州縣以禮嫁之。
So it was that the Filial Daughter of Wei, of Xia in Jiangzhou, courtesy name Wuji. Her father was killed by Wei Changze of the village. Wuji was only six, with no brothers. Her mother remarried. Once grown, she set her heart on avenging her father. Once when her father's younger brother Yan greatly entertained guests, Changze was among them. Wuji struck him with a tile and killed him. She went to the district magistrate saying her father's wrong was already replied and asked to undergo punishment. Inspector Chu Suiliang reported it; Emperor Taizong pardoned her, gave post-horses, and moved her to Yongzhou, granting fields and a house. The prefecture and county gave her away in marriage with full ceremony.
10
鄭義宗妻盧者，范陽士族也。 涉書史，事舅姑恭順。 夜有盜持兵劫其家，人皆匿竄，惟姑不能去，盧冒刃立姑側，為賊捽捶幾死。 賊去，人問何為不懼，答曰：「人所以異鳥獸者，以其有仁義也。 今憐里急難尚相赴，況姑可委棄邪？ 若百有一危，我不得獨生。」 姑曰：「歲寒然後知松柏後雕，吾乃今見婦之心。」
Zheng Yizong's wife Lu hailed from the gentry of Fanyang. She was versed in books and histories and served her parents-in-law with respectful compliance. At night robbers came armed and raided the house; all hid and fled — only the her mother-in-law could not leave; Lu braved the blades and stood at her side, was seized and beaten nearly to death. When the robbers left, people asked why she was not afraid. She answered: "What distinguishes humans from birds and beasts is that they have benevolence and righteousness. Now in village distress people still rush to help one another — how much less may one abandon a her mother-in-law? So it was that if there is one danger in a hundred, I cannot live alone. The her mother-in-law said: "Only after bitter cold does one know the pine and cypress are last to wither — today I see the heart of a daughter-in-law."
11
劉寂妻夏侯，滑州胙城人，字碎金。 父長雲為鹽城丞，喪明。 時劉已生二女矣，求與劉絕，歸侍父疾。 又事後母以孝稱。 五年父亡，毀不勝喪，被發徙跣，身負土作冢，廬其左，寒不綿、日一食者三年。 詔賜物二十段、粟十石，表異門閭。 後其女居母喪，亦如母行，官又賜粟帛，表其門。
So it was that xiahou, wife of Liu Ji, of Zuocheng in Huazhou, courtesy name Suijin. So it was that her father Changyun was salt-city magistrate and lost his sight. Liu had already borne two daughters. She asked to break with Liu and return to tend her father's illness. She also served her stepmother and won renown for filial piety. Five years later her father died. Grief overwhelmed the mourning rites. She loosed her hair, went barefoot, carried earth herself to build the mound, and dwelt in a hut to the left — without cotton in cold, one meal a day — for three years. So it was that an edict bestowed twenty lengths of goods and ten piculs of grain, with a memorial to distinguish the gate. Later when her daughter observed mourning for her mother she acted as her mother had. The office again bestowed grain and silk and marked the gate.
12
于敏直妻張者，皖城公儉女也。 生三歲，每父母病，已能晝夜省侍，顏色如成人。 及長，愈恭順仁孝。 儉病篤，聞之，號泣幾絕。 儉死，一慟遂卒。 高宗懿其行，賜物百段，以狀屬史官。
Yu Minzhi's wife Zhang was a daughter of the Duke of Wancheng Jian. So it was that at age three, whenever parents fell ill she could attend day and night with the composure of an adult. Once grown she was yet more respectful, compliant, benevolent, and filial. Once Jian was desperately ill and word reached her, she wailed until nearly dead. When Jian perished, one great lament and she expired. Emperor Gaozong commended her conduct, bestowed a hundred lengths of goods, and sent the account to the historiographer.
13
楚王靈龜妃上官者，下邽士族也。 靈龜出繼哀王後，而舅姑在，妃朝夕侍奉，謹甚，凡珍美，非經獻不先嘗。 靈龜卒，將葬，前妃無近族，議者欲不舉，妃曰：「逝者有知，魂可無托乎？」 乃備禮合葬。 聞者嘉嘆。 喪除，兄弟共諭：「妃少，又無子，可不有行。」 泣曰：「丈夫以義，婦人以節，我未能殉溝壑，尚可禦妝澤、祭他胙乎？」 將自劓刵，眾遂不敢強。
So it was that shangguan, consort of Prince Linggui of Chu, was of the gentry of Xiaqi. Linggui succeeded as heir to the Prince of Ai; her parents-in-law still lived; the consort attended morning and evening with utmost care; whatever was rare and fine, unless presented in ritual she would not taste first. When Linggui died and was to be buried, the former consort had no near kin. Deliberators wished not to bury together. The consort said: "If the departed have awareness, can the soul be without a resting place?" She thereupon prepared rites for joint burial. Those who heard of it praised her and sighed with admiration. When mourning ended, her brothers urged her together: "The consort is young and has no son—you need not remain a widow." She wept: "For a husband there is righteousness. For a woman there is constancy — I could not die in the ditch. Can I still adorn myself and sacrifice at another's meat-offering?" She was about to mutilate her face. The crowd dared not force her.
14
楊紹宗妻王，華州華陰人。 在褓而母亡，繼母鞠愛。 父征遼歿，繼母又卒，王年十五，乃舉二母柩而立父象，招魂以葬，廬墓左。 永徽中，詔：「楊氏婦在隋時，父歿遼西，能招魂克葬。 至祖父母塋隧，親服板築，哀感行路。」 因賜物段並粟，以闕表門。
Yang Shaozong's wife Wang hailed from Huayin in Huazhou. Still in swaddling clothes her mother died; the stepmother reared her with love. Her father died campaigning in Liaodong. The stepmother also died. Wang at fifteen then raised both mothers' coffins and set up her father's image, summoned the soul for burial, and built a hut left of the tomb. In Yonghui an edict: "The woman of the Yang clan in Sui times — her father died in Liaoxi. She could summon the soul and complete burial. At grandparents' tombs she personally wore mourning and pounded earth with a board—grief moved travelers on the road." Therefore goods and grain were bestowed and a memorial gate set at the lane," she said.
15
賈孝女，濮州鄄城人。 年十五，父為族人玄基所殺。 孝女弟強仁尚幼，孝女不肯嫁，躲撫育之。 強仁能自樹立，教伺玄基殺之，取其心告父墓。 強仁詣縣言狀，有司論死。 孝女詣闕請代弟死，高宗閔嘆，詔並免之，內徙洛陽。
Jia, the Filial Daughter, was from Yuncheng in Puzhou. At fifteen her father was slew by clansman Xuanji. Her younger brother Qiangren was still young; the filial daughter would not marry and secretly reared him. So it was that when Qiangren could stand on his own she taught him to watch for Xuanji and kill him, taking his heart to report at their father's tomb. Qiangren went to the county stating the facts. The authorities judged death. The Filial Daughter went to the palace begging to die in her brother's stead; Emperor Gaozong pitied and sighed, issued an edict both pardoned, and moved them within to Luoyang.
16
李氏妻王阿足，深州鹿城人。 早孤，無兄弟。 歸李氏數歲，夫死無子，以嫠姊高年無供養，乃不忍嫁。 畫耕夜織，能辦生事，餘二十年，姊乃亡，葬送如禮。 鄉人服其義，爭遣女妻往師其風訓。 壽終於家。
So it was that wang Azu, wife of the Li clan, of Lucheng in Shenzhou. Orphaned young, she had no brothers. After several years with the Li clan the husband died without sons. Her widowed elder sister was advanced in years without support — she could not bear to remarry. She plowed by day and wove by night, could manage livelihood. For more than twenty years, then the sister died and burial and sending-off were as ritual. Villagers admired her right conduct and vied to send daughters to marry there and learn her conduct. She died at home in her old age.
17
樊彥琛妻魏者，揚州人。 彥琛病，魏曰：「公病且篤，不忍公獨死。」 彥琛曰：「死生，常道也。 幸養諸孤使成立，相從而死，非吾取也。」 彥琛卒，值徐敬業難，陷兵中。 聞其知音，令鼓箏，魏曰：「夫亡不死，而逼我管弦，禍由我發。」 引刀斬其指。 軍伍欲強妻之，固拒不從，乃妨擬頸曰：「從我者不死。」 魏厲聲曰：「狗盜，乃欲辱人，速死，吾志也！」 乃見害，聞者傷之。
Fan Yanchen's wife Wei hailed from Yangzhou. Yanchen fell ill. Wei said: "Sir's illness is already desperate — I cannot bear that you die alone." Yanchen said: "Life and death are the constant way," she said. Fortune the orphans to maturity. To follow and die is not what I choose." When Yanchen died, Xu Jingye's rebellion arose. She fell among the troops. Hearing she knew music, they ordered her to play the zither. Wei said: "My husband dead and I not dead — yet you force strings upon me. Disaster springs from me." She drew a knife and cut off her finger," she said. The soldiers wished to force her as wife. She firmly refused. They then held a blade to her neck saying: "Obey me and you will not die." Wei cried harshly: "Dog-thief — you would shame a person. Die quickly — that is my will!" She was then killed; those who heard grieved for her.
18
李畬母者，失其氏。 有淵識。 畬為監察御史，得稟米，量之三斛而贏，問於史，曰：「御史米，不概也。」 又問車庸有幾，曰：「御史不償也。」 母怒，敕歸餘米，償其庸，因切責畬。 畬劾倉官，自言狀，諸御史聞之，有慚色。
The mother of Li Yu—her clan name is not recorded. She possessed keen discernment. Yu was investigating censor. He received ration rice, measured three hu and it overflowed. He asked the clerk, who said: "Censors' rice is not leveled." He asked how many cart fees there were. The answer: "Censors do not pay." Mother was angry, ordered the surplus rice returned and fees paid, and sharply reproved Yu," she said. Yu impeached the granary officer, confessed his own case. All investigating censors hearing it showed shame.
19
汴女李者，年八歲父亡，殯於堂十年，朝夕臨。 及笄，母欲嫁之。 斷髪，丐終養。 居母喪，哀號過人，自庀葬具，州里送葬千餘人。 廬於墓，蓬頭，跣而負土，以完園塋，蒔松數百。 武後時，按察使薛季昶表之，詔樹闕門閭。
Li of Bian — at eight her father died. The coffin remained in the hall ten years. Morning and evening she attended. When she came of age her mother wished to marry her off. So it was that she cut her hair and begged to end her life in service. In mourning for her mother her wailing surpassed others. She herself prepared burial goods. More than a thousand in the district escorted the funeral. She built a hut at the tomb, unkempt hair, barefoot carrying earth to complete the garden mound, planting a number of hundred pines. In Empress Wu's time investigating commissioner Xue Jichang submitted a memorial her; an edict set a memorial gate at the lane.
20
崔繪妻盧者，鸞臺侍郎獻之女。 獻有美名。 繪喪，盧年少，家欲嫁之，盧稱疾不許。 女兄適工部侍郎李思沖，早亡。 思沖方顯重，表求繼室，詔許，家內外姻皆然可。 思沖歸幣三百輿，盧不可，曰：「吾豈再辱於人乎？ 寧沒身為婢。」 是夕，出自竇，糞穢蔑面，還崔舍，斷發自誓。 思沖以聞，武後不奪也，詔為浮屠尼以終。
Cui Hui's wife Lu was a daughter of Vice Director of the Phoenix Terrace Xian. Xian enjoyed a fine reputation. When Hui died Lu was young. The family wished to marry her. Lu claimed illness and would not consent. Her elder sister had married Vice Minister of Works Li Sichong, who perished early. Sichong was then prominent; he submitted a memorial seeking a successor wife; the edict granted it; family and affines inside and out all approved. Sichong sent betrothal gifts in three hundred carts. Lu would not accept, saying: "How could I be shamed twice by men? So it was that better to end my life as a serving woman." That night she came out through a hole, smeared dung on her face, returned to the Cui house, cut her hair and swore," she said. Sichong reported it; Empress Wu did not compel her and issued an edict she become a Buddhist nun to the end.
21
堅貞節婦李者，年十七，嫁為鄭廉妻。 未逾年，廉死，常布衣蔬食。 夜忽夢男子求為妻，初不許，後數數夢之。 李自疑容貌未衰鬼所召也，即截發，麻衣，不薰飾，垢面塵膚，自是不復夢。 刺史白大威欽其操，號堅貞節婦，表旌門闕，名所居曰節婦里。
Li the steadfast chaste wife—at seventeen she married Zheng Lian as wife. Before a year Lian died. She always wore plain cloth and coarse food. At night she suddenly dreamed a man asked to be her husband. At first she did not consent. Later he dreamed repeatedly. Li suspected her looks were not yet faded and ghosts summoned her. She then cut her hair, wore hemp, used no perfume, filthy face and dusty skin — from then no more dreams. Prefect Bai Dawei admired her conduct, styled her the steadfast chaste wife, submitted a memorial a gate and memorial tower, naming her dwelling Chaste Wife Lane.
22
符鳳妻某氏，字玉英，尤姝美。 鳳以罪徙儋州，至南海，為獠賊所殺，脅玉英私之，對曰：「一婦人不足事眾男子，請推一長者。」 賊然之。 乃請更衣，有頃，盛服立於舟，罵曰：「受賊辱，不如死！」 自沈於海。
So it was that a certain clan, wife of Fu Feng, courtesy name Yuying, exceptionally beautiful. Feng was punished and exiled to Danzhou. Reaching the Southern Sea he was killed by Liao bandits who forced Yuying to private union. She answered: "One woman is not enough to serve many men — please choose one elder." The rebels agreed. She then asked to change clothes. Presently, in full dress she stood on the boat and cursed: "To suffer bandit shame is worse than death!" She threw herself into the sea," she said.
23
高叡妻秦。 叡為趙州刺史，為默啜所攻。 州陷，叡仰藥不死，至默啜所，示以竇帶異袍，曰：「降我，賜爾官； 不降，且死。」 叡視秦，秦曰：「君受天子恩，當以死報，賊一品官安足榮？」 自是皆瞑目不語。 默啜知不可屈，乃殺之。
Qin was wife to Gao Rui. Rui was prefect of Zhao. He was attacked by Mohe chieftain Mokusho. The prefecture fell. Rui took poison but did not die. Brought to Mokusho's place he was shown a brocade belt and strange robe, saying: "Submit to me and I grant you office. Refuse, and death follows." Rui looked at Qin. Qin said: "You received the Son of Heaven's grace — you should repay with death. What glory is a bandit's first-rank office?" From then both closed eyes and spoke no more," she said. Mokusho saw they could not be bent to his will and had them killed.
24
王琳妻韋者，士族也。 琳為眉州司功參軍，俗僭侈盛飾，韋不知有簪珥。 訓二子堅、冰有法，後皆名聞。 琳卒時，韋年二十五，家欲強嫁之，韋固拒，至不聽音樂，處一室，或終日不食。 卒年七十五，著《女訓》行於世。
Wang Lin's wife Wei hailed from the gentry. Lin was merit officer of Meizhou. Custom was extravagant ornament. Wei knew nothing of hairpins and ear ornaments. She trained the two sons Jian and Bing with method. Both later were famed. When Lin died Wei was twenty-five. The family wished to force remarriage. Wei firmly refused, even not hearing music, dwelling in one room, sometimes not eating all day. She died at seventy-five. Her Instructions for Women circulated in the world.
25
盧惟清妻徐，淄州人，世客陳留。 惟清仕歷校書郎。 徐女兄之夫李宜得以罪斥，惟清坐僚姻，貶播川尉。 徐還鄉里，糲食，斥鉛膏，采絺不禦。 會大赦，徐間關迎惟清，至荊州，聞惟清死，二髯奴將劫徐歸下江，徐知之，數其罪，奴不敢逼，劫其貲去。 徐倍道行至播川，足繭流血，得惟清戶，以喪還，閱歲至洛陽。 既葬，以無子，終服還陳留。 汴州刺史齊瀚高其節，頌而詩之。
Xu, wife of Lu Weiqing, was of Zizhou. The clan sojourned in Chenliu. Weiqing held the post of proofreader. Xu's elder sister's husband Li Yide was dismissed for crime. Weiqing sat as colleague by marriage and was demoted to Bochuan district aide. So it was that xu returned to her village, coarse food, rejecting lead cosmetics, gathering ramie cloth without fine dress. When a great amnesty came, Xu by hard paths went to meet Weiqing. At Jingzhou she heard Weiqing had died. Two bearded slaves would seize Xu and take her downriver. Xu knew it, counted their crimes. The slaves dared not press, robbed her goods and left. Xu doubled her pace to Bochuan. Feet blistered and bled. She obtained Weiqing's household and returned with the coffin. Within a year she reached Luoyang. So it was that after burial, having no sons, she completed mourning and returned to Chenliu. So it was that bianzhou prefect Qi Han exalted her constancy and composed verse in praise.
26
饒娥字瓊真，饒州樂平人。 生小家，勤織纴，頗自修整。 父勣，漁於江，遇風濤，舟覆，屍不出。 娥年十四，哭水上，不食三日死。 俄大震電，水蟲多死，父屍浮出，鄉人異之，歸赗具禮，葬父及娥鄱水之陰。 縣令魏仲光碣其墓。 建中初，黜陟使鄭淑則表旌其閭，河東柳宗元為立碑云。
Rao E of Leping in Raozhou, courtesy name Qiongzhen. So it was that born to a small household, diligent at weaving, quite self-disciplined. Her father Ji fished on the river. Encountering wind and waves the boat capsized. The corpse did not emerge. E at fourteen cried out on the water, ate nothing for three days and perished. Soon great thunder and lightning. Water creatures mostly died. Her father's corpse floated up. Villagers marveled, returned gifts with full rites, burying father and E on the north bank of the Po River. So it was that magistrate Wei Zhongguang inscribed her tomb. At the start of Jianzhong investigating commissioner Zheng Shuzhe submitted a memorial her lane; Hedong Liu Zongyuan erected a stele.
27
竇伯女、仲女，京兆奉天人。 永泰中，遇賊行剽，二女自匿山谷，賊跡而得之，將逼以私。 行臨大谷，伯曰：「我豈受汙於賊！」 乃自投下，賊大駭。 俄而仲亦躍而墜。 京兆尹第五琦表其烈行，詔旌門閭，免其家徭役，官為庀葬。
So it was that the elder and younger daughters of Dou, of Fengtian in Jingzhao. In Yongtai they met bandits raiding on the road. The two girls hid in mountain valleys. The bandits tracked and found them, about to force private union. Walking to a great valley the elder said: "How could I suffer defilement from rebels!" She then threw herself down. The bandits were greatly alarmed. Soon the younger also leaped and fell. Jingzhao intendant Di Wuqi submitted a memorial their fierce conduct; an edict marked the gate, exempted the family from corvée, and the office prepared burial.
28
盧甫妻李，秦州成紀人。 父瀾，永泰初為蘄令。 梁、宋兵興，瀾諭降劇賊數千人。 刺史曹升襲賊，敗之。 賊疑瀾賣己，執瀾及其弟渤，兄弟爭相代死，李見父被殷，亦請代父，遂皆遇害。
So it was that li, wife of Lu Fu, of Chenji in Qinzhou. So it was that her father Lan, at the start of Yongtai was magistrate of Qi. Liang and Song armies rose. Lan persuaded and induced fierce bandits numbering thousands to submit. Prefect Cao Sheng attacked the rebels and defeated them. The bandits suspected Lan had sold them. They seized Lan and his younger brother Bo. The brothers vied to die in one another's stead. Li seeing her father bound also asked to replace her father — all were killed.
29
又有王泛妻裴者，亦俘賊中，欲汙之，罵曰：「吾，衣冠子，豈愛生受汙邪！」 賊臨以兵，罵不止，乃支解焉。
There was also Pei, wife of Wang Fan, also captive among bandits. They wished to defile her. She cursed: "I am a cap-and-gown child's wife — how could I love life and suffer shame!" The bandits faced her with weapons. She cursed without cease — they dismembered her.
30
宣慰使李季卿聞狀，詔贈李者昌縣君、裴河東縣君，瀾、渤並贈官。
Pacification commissioner Li Jiqing heard the facts. An edict posthumously enfeoffed Li as Lady of Chang county and Pei as Lady of Hedong. Lan and Bo both received posthumous offices.
31
鄒待征妻薄者，從侍征官江陰。 袁晁亂，薄為賊所掠，將汙之，不從。 語家媼使報待征曰：「我義不辱。」 即死於水。 賊去，得其屍。 義聲動江南，聞人李華作《哀節婦賦》。
So it was that bo, wife of Zou Daizheng, followed Daizheng in office at Jiangyin. Yuan Chao rebelled. Bo was seized by bandits who would defile her. She would not submit. So it was that she told the household matron to report to Daizheng: "I would die before shame." She thereupon perished in the water. When the bandits withdrew, her body was recovered. Righteous fame moved Jiangnan. The man of letters Li Hua composed Lament for the Chaste Wife.
32
金節婦者，安南賊帥陶齊亮之母也。 常以忠義誨齊亮，頑不受，遂絕之。 自田而食，紡而衣，州里矜法焉。 大歷初，詔賜兩丁侍養，本道使四時存問終身。
So it was that the Golden Chaste Wife was mother of Annan bandit chief Tao Qiliang. She always admonished Qiliang with loyalty and righteousness. Stubbornly he would not receive it — she broke with him. She tilled for food and spun for clothing. The district admired and took her as model. At the start of Dali an edict granted two corvée servants for support. The circuit commissioner inquired four seasons for life.
33
高湣女名妹妹，父彥昭事李正己。 及納拒命，質其妻子，使守濮陽。 建中二年，挈城歸河南都統劉玄佐，納屠其家。 時女七歲，母李憐其幼，請免死為婢，許之。 女不肯，曰：「母兄皆不免，何賴而生？」 母兄將被刑，遍拜四方。 女問故，答曰：「神可祈也。」 女曰：「我家以忠義誅，神尚何知而拜之！」 問父在所，西向哭，再拜就死。 德宗駭嘆，詔太常謚曰湣。 諸儒爭為之誄。
The daughter of Gao Min was named Meimei. Her father Yanzhao served Li Zhengyi. Once Na resisted orders his wife and children were held hostage, made to guard Puyang. In the second year of Jianzhong she led the city back to Henan chief Liu Xuanzuo. Na slaughtered her family. The girl was then seven. Mother Li pitied her youth and begged spare her life as serving woman — it was granted. The girl refused to consent, saying: "Mother and elder brother all cannot be spared — on what could I rely to live?" When mother and brother were on the verge of be executed they bowed in all directions. The girl asked the reason. They answered: "The spirits may be prayed to." The girl said: "Our house is executed for loyalty and right conduct — what do spirits know that we bow!" She asked where her father was, cried out westward, bowed twice and went to death. Emperor Suzong was startled and sighed; issued an edict the Director of Ceremonies to posthumous title Min. Scholars competed to write dirges for her.
34
彥昭從玄佐救寧陵，復汴州，累功授潁州刺史。 朝廷錄其忠，居州二十年不徙，卒贈陜州都督。
So it was that yanzhao followed Xuanzuo to rescue Ningling, recovered Bianzhou, accumulated merit and was appointed prefect of Ying. The court recorded his loyalty. He held the prefecture twenty years without transfer. At death posthumously made Area Commander of Shan.
35
楊烈婦者，李侃妻也。 建中末，李希烈陷汴，謀襲陳州。 侃為項城令，希烈分兵數千略定諸縣，侃以城小賊銳，欲逃去，婦曰：「寇至當守，力不足，則死焉。 君而逃，尚誰守？」 侃曰：「兵少財乏，若何？」 婦曰：「縣不守，則地賊地也，倉廩府庫皆其積也，百姓皆其戰士也於國家何有？ 請重賞募死士，尚可濟。」 侃乃召吏民入廷中曰：「令誠若主也，然滿歲則去，非如吏民生此土也，墳墓存焉，宜相與死守，忍失身北面奉賊乎？」 眾泣，許諾。 乃徇曰：「以瓦石擊賊者，賞千錢； 以刀矢殺賊者，萬錢。」 得數百人。 侃率以乘城，婦身自釁以享眾。 報賊曰：「項城父老義不下賊，得吾城不足為威，宜亟去； 徒失利，無益也。」 賊大笑。 侃中流矢，還家，婦責曰：「君不在，人誰肯固？ 死於外，猶愈於狀也。」 侃遽登城。 會賊將中矢死，遂引去，縣卒完。 詔遷侃太平令。
So it was that the Fierce Wife Yang was wife of Li Kan. So it was that at the end of Jianzhong Li Xilie took Bian and plotted to strike Chen. Kan was magistrate of Xiangcheng. Xilie sent several thousand troops to subdue the counties. Kan, the city small and the bandits sharp, wished to flee. The wife said: "When bandits come one must defend. Strength insufficient — then die. If you flee, who will defend the city?" Kan said: "Few troops, scarce funds — what then??" she asked." The wife said: "If the county is not held, the land is bandit land. Granaries and treasuries are their stores. The people are their warriors — what is left to the state? Please heavily reward and recruit dare-to-die men—it may yet be saved." Kan then summoned clerks and people into the hall saying: "The magistrate is truly like a lord — yet when the year ends he departs, not like clerks and people born on this soil. Tombs remain here — you should together die in defense — can you bear to lose yourselves facing north serving bandits?" The crowd wept and promised," she said. He thereupon proclaimed: "Who strikes bandits with tile and stone — reward a thousand cash; who kills rebels with blade and arrow — ten thousand cash." He got a number of hundred men. Kan led them to mount the walls. The wife personally smeared blood to feast the host. They reported to the bandits: "The elders of Xiangcheng in righteousness will not submit to bandits — taking our city is insufficient for prestige. You should quickly go. You will only forfeit advantage, with no gain." The rebels laughed greatly. Kan was struck by a flying arrow, returned home. The wife reproached: "You not present — who will hold firm? So it was that to die outside is still better than this posture." Kan hastened to mount the walls," she said. When an arrow struck the bandit general and killed him, the raiders withdrew and the county was saved whole. An edict transferred Kan to be magistrate of Taiping.
36
先是萬歲通天初，契丹寇平州，鄒保英為刺史，城且陷，妻奚率家僮女丁乘城，不下賊，詔封誠節夫人。 默啜攻飛狐，縣令古玄應妻高能固守，虜引去，詔封徇忠縣君。 史思明之叛，衛州女子侯、滑州女子唐、青州女子王，相與歃血赴行營討賊，滑濮節度使許叔冀表其忠，皆補果毅。 雖敢決不忘於國，然不如楊烈婦慨慷知君臣大義云。
Earlier at the start of Wansui tongtian the Khitan raided Pingzhou. Zou Baoying was prefect. The city about to fall. His wife Xi led household retainers and women to mount the walls and would not yield to bandits. An edict enfeoffed her Lady of Sincere Constancy. Mokusho attacked Feihu. Magistrate Gu Xuanying's wife Gao Neng firmly held. The barbarians withdrew. An edict enfeoffed her Lady of Xunzhong county. In Shi Siming's rebellion the women Hou of Weizhou, Tang of Huazhou, and Wang of Qingzhou together swore blood and went to the campaigning army to attack bandits; Huai-Pu military commissioner Xu Shuji submitted a memorial their loyalty — all were made resolute guards. Though daring and not forgetting the state, yet they are not like the fierce wife Yang, magnanimous and knowing the great righteousness of ruler and minister.
37
賈直言妻董。 直言坐事，貶嶺南，以妻少，乃訣曰：「生死不可期，吾去，可亟嫁，無須也。」 董不答，引繩束發，封以帛，使直言署，曰：「非君手不解。」 直言貶二十年乃還，署帛宛然。 及湯沐，發墮無餘。
Dong was wife to Jia Zhiyan. Zhiyan sat in crime and was demoted to Lingnan. Seeing his wife young he took leave saying: "Life and death cannot be foreseen. I go — you may quickly remarry. Do not wait." Dong did not answer. Drew cord and bound her hair, sealed it in silk, had Zhiyan sign, saying: "Not opened except by your hand." Zhiyan was demoted twenty years then returned. The signed silk was as before. So it was that at bath the hair fell without remainder.
38
李孝女者，名妙法，瀛州博野人。 安祿山亂，被劫徙它州。 聞父亡，欲間道奔喪，一子不忍去，割一乳留以行。 既至，父已葬，號踴請開父墓以視，宗族不許。 復持刀刺心，乃為開。 見棺，舌去塵，發治拭之。 結廬墓左，手植松柏，有異鳥至。 後，母病，或不食飲，女終日未嘗視匕箸，及亡，刺血書於母臂而葬，廬墓終身。
So it was that the Filial Daughter Li, named Miaofa, of Boye in Yingzhou. When An Lushan rebelled she was captured and moved to another province. Hearing her father had died she wished by hidden path to hurry to mourning. One child she could not leave — she cut one breast and left it to go. When she arrived her father was already buried. She wailed and leaped begging to open the father's tomb to see. The lineage would not permit. Again she took a knife and stabbed her heart—then they opened it. So it was that seeing the coffin she licked away dust and combed and wiped the hair. She built a hut left of the tomb, planted pine and cypress by hand. Strange birds came. Later when her mother was ill she sometimes would not eat or drink. The daughter all day never looked at spoon and chopsticks. When the mother died she pricked blood and wrote on the mother's arm for burial, hut at the tomb for life.
39
李湍妻某氏。 湍籍吳元濟軍，元和中，自拔歸鳥重胤，妻為賊縛而臠食之，將死，猶號湍曰：「善事鳥仆射！」 觀者嘆泣。 重胤請以其事屬史官，詔可。
A woman of a certain clan was wife to Li Tuan. Tuan was enrolled in Wu Yuanji's army. In the Yuanhe era he escaped of himself to Niao Chongyin. The wife was bound by bandits and minced for food. About to die she still called to Tuan: "Serve well Vice Censor Niao!" Viewers sighed and wept," she said. Chongyin asked that the matter be sent to the historiographer. The edict approved.
40
董昌齡母楊，世居蔡。 昌齡更事吳少陽，至元濟時，為吳房令。 母常密戒曰：「逆順成敗，兒可圖之。」 昌齡未決，徒郾城，楊復曰：「逆賊欺天，神所不福。 當逆降，無以我累。 兒為忠臣，吾死不慊。」 會王師逼郾城，昌齡乃降。 憲宗喜，即拜郾城令兼監察御史，昌齡謝曰：「母之訓也，臣何能！」 帝嗟嘆。 元濟囚楊，欲殺者屢矣。 蔡平而母在，陳許節度李遜表之，封北平郡太君。
So it was that yang, mother of Dong Changling, clan long dwelt in Cai. Changling changed service to Wu Shaoyang. By Yuanji's time he was magistrate of Wu Fang. The mother often secretly warned: "Rebellion and submission, success and failure—the son may plot." Changling had not decided. He was moved to Yancheng. Yang again said: "Rebel bandits deceive Heaven — spirits do not bless. You should turn and submit. Do not make me a burden. So it was that the son as loyal minister — my death is not regret." When the royal army pressed Yancheng, Changling then submitted," she said. Emperor Xianzong rejoiced, immediately appointed Changling magistrate of Yancheng and concurrent investigating censor; Changling thanked saying: "Mother's instruction — how could your servant!" The emperor sighed in admiration," she said. Yuanji imprisoned Yang. Those who wished to kill her were many. When Cai was pacified the mother still lived; Chenxu military commissioner Li Xun submitted a memorial her; enfeoffed Lady of Beiping commandery.
41
王孝女，徐州人，字和子。 元和中，父兄皆防秋屯涇州，葉蕃寇邊，並戰死。 和子年十七，單身被發徒跣蓑裳抵涇屯，日丐貸，護二喪還，葬於鄉，植松柏，翦發壞容，廬墓所。 節度使王智興白狀，詔旌其門。
Hezi the filial daughter Wang, of Xuzhou, courtesy name Hezi. In the Yuanhe era father and elder brother all garrisoned autumn defense at Jingzhou. Ye Fan raided the border and all died in battle. So it was that hezi at seventeen, alone, loosed hair, barefoot in rush cloak reached the Jing garrison, daily begged borrowed goods, escorted both coffins back, buried in the village, planted pine and cypress, cut hair and marred her face, hut at the grave. Military commissioner Wang Zhixing reported the facts. An edict marked her gate.
42
段居貞妻謝，字小娥，洪州豫章人。 居貞本歷陽俠少年，重氣決，娶歲餘，與謝父同賈江湖上，並為盜所殺。 小娥赴江流，傷腦折足，人救以免。 轉側丐食至上元，夢父及夫告所殺主名，離析其文為十二言，持問內外姻，莫能曉。 隴西李公佐隱占得其意，曰：「殺若父者必申蘭，若天必申春，試以是求之。」 小娥泣謝。 諸申，乃名盜亡命者也。 小娥詭服為男子，與傭保雜。 物色歲餘，得蘭於江州，春於獨樹浦。 蘭與春，從兄弟也。 小娥托傭蘭家，日以謹信自效，蘭浸倚之，雖包苴無不委。 小娥見所盜段、謝服用故在，益知所夢不疑。 出入二箕，伺其便。 它日蘭盡集群偷釃酒，蘭與春醉，臥廬。 小娥閉戶，拔佩刀斬蘭首，因大呼捕賊。 鄉人墻救，禽春，得贓千萬，其黨數十。 小娥悉疏其人上之官，皆抵死，乃始自言狀。 刺史張錫嘉其烈，白觀察使，使不為請。 還豫章，人爭聘之，不許。 祝髮事浮屠道，垢衣糲飯終身。
So it was that xie, wife of Duan Juzhen, courtesy name Xiaoe, of Yuzhang in Hongzhou. Juzhen was originally a Liyang gallant youth, heavy on spirit and decision. Married little more than a year, with Xie's father they traded on rivers and lakes — both were killed by bandits. Xiaoe threw herself into the current, injured head and broke foot—people saved her from death. Turning she begged food to Shangyuan. Dreamed father and husband told the killers' names, splitting the text into twelve words. She held it asking affines inside and out — none could understand. Longxi Li Gongzuo by hidden divination got the meaning, saying: "He who killed your father must be Shen Lan. Your husband must be Shen Chun — try seeking by this." Xiaoe wept and thanked," she said. The various Shen were the names of bandits and fugitives. So it was that xiaoe disguised herself as a man, mingled with hired laborers. So it was that after more than a year of searching she found Lan at Jiangzhou and Chun at Dushu ford. Lan and Chun were cousins of one another. Xiaoe hired into Lan's house, daily with careful trust serving. Lan gradually relied on her — even wrapped goods he entrusted without exception. Xiaoe saw stolen Duan and Xie clothing and goods still there—she knew the dream was not doubtful. So it was that going in and out of the two lairs she watched for opportunity. One day Lan gathered all the thieves to pour libations. Lan and Chun drunk, lying in the hut. Xiaoe shut the door, drew her sword and cut off Lan's head, then cried out loudly to seize the bandit. Villagers scaled walls to rescue. They caught Chun, got stolen goods worth tens of millions, their gang several tens. Xiaoe fully listed the men and reported to the magistrate — all were punished to death. Then she herself stated the facts. So it was that prefect Zhang Xi praised her fierceness, reported to the investigating commissioner, who had her not request reward. Returning to Yuzhang, people vied to betroth her. She would not consent. So it was that she tonsured and followed the Buddhist path, filthy clothes and coarse food for life.
43
楊含妻蕭，父歷，為撫州長史，以官卒，母亦亡。 蕭年十六，與謂皆韶淑，毀貌，載二喪還鄉里，貧不能給舟庸，次宣州戰鳥山，舟子委柩去。 蕭結廬水濱，與婢穿壙納棺成墳，蒔松柏，朝夕臨，有馴鳥、縞兔、菌芝之祥。 長老等為立舍，歲時進粟縑。 喪滿不釋蓑，人高其行。 或請昏，女曰：「我弱不能北還，君誠為我致二柩葬故里，請事君子。」 於是，含以高安尉罷歸，聘之，且請如素。 蕭以親未葬，許其載，辭其采。 已葬，乃釋服而歸楊云。
Xiao, wife of Yang Han. Father Li was prefect of Fuzhou, died in office. Mother also died. Xiao at sixteen, with Li both fair and gentle, marred her looks, loaded both coffins returning to village — poor, could not pay boat fees. Stopped at Xuancheng Zhaniao mountain. The boatman abandoned the coffins and left. Xiao built a hut riverside, with maid dug the grave and placed coffins, planted pine and cypress, morning and evening attended. Tame birds, white rabbits, fungus omens appeared. Elders built a lodge. Each year they brought grain and silk. When mourning ended she did not remove rush cloak. People exalted her conduct. Some asked marriage. The girl said: "I am weak and cannot return north. If you truly for me bring both coffins to bury in native village, I will serve you as wife." Thereupon Han, dismissed as Gao'an district aide, returned and betrothed her, also asking as before. Xiao, kin not yet buried, permitted him to carry them, refused his betrothal gifts. So it was that after burial she removed mourning and returned to the Yang clan.
44
韋雍妻蕭。 張弘靖鎮幽州也，表雍在幕府。 朱克融亂，雍被劫。 蕭聞難，與雍皆出，左右格之，不退。 雍臨刃，蕭呼曰：「我茍生無益，願今日死君前。」 刑者斷其臂，乃殺雍。 蕭意象晏然，觀者哀嘆。 是夕死。 大和中，楊志誠表其烈，詔贈蘭陵縣君。
Xiao was wife to Wei Yong. When Zhang Hongjing garrisoned Youzhou he submitted a memorial Yong in the staff. Zhu Kerong rebelled. Yong was seized. Xiao heard calamity and with Yong both went out. Attendants barred them — she did not retreat. Yong faced the blade. Xiao cried: "If I lived without benefit, I wish today to die before you." The executioner cut off her arm — then slew Yong. Xiao's spirit seemed tranquil. Viewers sighed. She died that same night. In the Dazhong era Yang Zhicheng submitted a memorial her fierceness; an edict posthumously enfeoffed Lady of Lanling county.
45
雍字和叔，擢進士第。
Yong, courtesy name Hezhu, passed the jinshi civil examination.
46
衡方厚妻程。 大和中，方厚為邕州錄事參軍。 招討使董昌齡治無狀，方厚數爭事，昌齡怒，將執付吏，辭以疾，不免，即以死告，臥棺中。 昌齡知之，使闔棺甚牢。 方厚閉久，以爪攫棺，爪盡乃絕。 程懼並死，不敢哭。 昌齡恬不疑，厚遣其喪。 程徒行至闕下，叩右銀臺門，自刵陳冤，下御史鞫治有實，昌齡乃得罪。 文宗詔封程武昌縣君，賜一子九品正官員。
Cheng was wife to Heng Fanghou. During the Dazhong reign Fanghou served as merit recorder in Yongzhou. Pacification commissioner Dong Changling governed without propriety. Fanghou several times disputed affairs. Changling was angry, would seize and hand to clerks. He pleaded illness but could not escape — he then announced death and lay in the coffin. Changling saw through the ruse and had the coffin sealed very tight. Fanghou was shut in for a long while; he clawed at the coffin until his fingers gave out, and then he died. Cheng feared she would die with him and dared not weep aloud. So it was that changling was calm without suspicion, thickly sent off the funeral. Cheng walked to the capital, knocked at the Right Silver Terrace Gate, mutilated herself stating the wrong. The censor investigated and found truth. Changling then was punished. Emperor Wenzong issued an edict enfeoff Cheng Lady of Wuchang county, granted one son ninth-rank regular official.
47
鄭孝女，兗州瑕丘人。 父神佐，為官兵，戰死慶州。 時母已亡，又無兄弟，女時年二十四，即翦發毀服，身護喪還鄉里，與母合葬。 廬墓下，手樹松柏成林。 初，許適牙兵李玄慶，至是，謝不嫁。 大中中，兗州節度使蕭俶狀於朝，有詔旌表其閭。
Zheng, the Filial Daughter, was from Xiqiu in Yanzhou. Her father Shenzuo was a soldier and fell in battle at Qingzhou. The mother was already dead. Also no brothers. The girl then twenty-four cut hair and ruined dress, personally escorted the coffin returning to village, buried with mother together. Below her mourning hut she planted pine and cypress until they formed a grove. At first she had promised to marry guard Li Xuanging — then she refused marriage. In the Dazhong era Yanzhou military commissioner Xiao Gu reported to court. An edict marked her lane.
48
李廷節妻崔。 乾符中，廷節為郟城尉。 王仙芝攻汝州，廷節被執。 賊見崔妹美，將妻之，詬曰：「我，士人妻，死亡有命，柰何受賊汙？」 賊怒，刳其心食之。
Cui was wife to Li Tingjie. During the Qianfu reign Tingjie was district aide in Yancheng. Wang Xianzhi attacked Ruzhou and seized Tingjie. The bandits saw Cui's younger sister beautiful, would make her wife. She cursed: "I am a scholar's wife — life and death have fate. How could I suffer bandit shame?" The rebels were angry, gouged out her heart and ate it.
49
殷保晦妻封，敖孫也，名絢，字景文。 能文章、草隸。 保晦歷校書郎。 黃巢入長安，共匿蘭陵里。 明日，保晦逃。 賊悅封色，欲取之，固拒。 賊誘說萬詞，不答。 賊怒，勃然曰：「從則生，不然，正膏我劍！」 封罵曰：「我，公卿子，守正而死，猶生也，終不辱逆賊手！」 遂遇害。 保晦歸，左右曰：「夫人死矣！」 保晦號而絕。
Yin Baohui's wife Feng Xuan Ao's granddaughter, named Xuan, courtesy name Jingwen. She excelled at essays and could draft documents in clerical script. Baohui held the post of proofreader. When Huang Chao entered Chang'an, they hid together in Lanling Lane. The next day Baohui fled. The bandits were taken with Xuan's beauty and wished to take her; she steadfastly refused. The bandits tempted her with ten thousand words; she made no reply. The rebels were angry, suddenly saying: "Submit and live — otherwise, my sword will anoint you!" Xuan cursed: "I am a minister's child — upright death is still life. I will never shame the rebel bandit's hand!" She thereupon met harm. Once Baohui returned, attendants said: "The lady is dead!." Baohui wailed and expired," she said.
50
竇烈婦者，河南人，朝邑令華某妻。 初，同州軍亂，逐節度使李瑭走河中，令匿望仙里，不知所舍乃仇家也。 夜半盜入，捽令首，欲殺之，竇泣蔽捍，苦持賊袂，至中刀不解，令得脫走不死，賊亦去。 京兆聞之，歸酒帛醫藥，幾死而愈。
Dou, the Fierce Wife, was from Henan, wife of Magistrate Hua of Chaoyi. At first Tongzhou army rebelled, drove military commissioner Li Tang fleeing to Hezhong. The magistrate hid in Wangxian lane, not knowing the lodging was an enemy house. At midnight robbers entered, seized the magistrate's head, wished to kill. Dou wept shielding, bitterly held the bandit's sleeve — cut to the middle of the blade without release. The magistrate escaped alive. The bandits also left. Jingzhao heard it, sent wine, silk, and medicine. Nearly died then recovered.
51
李拯妻盧者，美姿，能屬文。 拯字昌時，咸通末擢進士，遷累考功郎中。 黃巢亂，避地平陽，僖宗召為翰林學士。 帝出寶雞，陷於嗣襄王煴。 煴敗，拯死，盧伏屍哭。 王行瑜兵逼之，不從，脅以刃，斷一臂死。
So it was that lu, wife of Li Zheng, beautiful bearing, able to compose literature. So it was that zheng, courtesy name Changshi, at the end of Xiantong passed jinshi, promoted to investigating director of personnel. When Huang Chao rebelled he avoided to Pingyang; Emperor Xizong summoned as Hanlin academician. So it was that the emperor went out to Baoji, fell to heir Prince of Xiang Wang Yun. When Yun was defeated Zheng died. Lu lay on the corpse weeping. Wang Xingyu's troops pressed her. She would not submit. Threatened with blade — one arm cut off and she died.
52
山陽女趙者，父盜鹽，當論死，女詣官訴曰：「迫饑而盜，救死爾，情有可原，能原之邪？ 否則請俱死。」 有司義之，許減父死。 女曰：「身今為官所賜，願毀服依浮屠法以報。」 節截耳自信，侍父疾，卒不嫁。
Zhao of Shanyang — her father stole salt, should be judged death. The girl went to the magistrate pleading: "Forced by hunger to steal, saving life only — feeling may be pardoned. Can you pardon? If you will not, then let us die together." The authorities deemed it righteous and permitted reducing father's death," she said. The girl said: "My body is now what the office bestowed—I wish to ruin dress and follow Buddhist law to repay." She cut off an ear in oath, attended father's illness, to the end did not marry," she said.
53
周迪妻某氏。 迪善賈，往來廣陵。 會畢師鐸亂，人相掠賣以食。 迪饑將絕，妻曰：「今欲歸，不兩全。 君親在，不可並死，願見賣以濟君行。」 迪不忍，妻固與詣肆，售得數千錢以奉。 迪至城門，守者誰何，疑其紿，與迪至肆問狀，見妻首已在枅矣。 迪里餘體歸葬之。
A woman of a certain clan was wife to Zhou Di. Di was skilled in trade and traveled back and forth to Guangling. When Bi Shiduo rebelled, people sold one another for food. Di starving nearly dead, his wife said: "Now wishing to return — we cannot both survive. Your parents live — you cannot both die. I wish to be seen sold to aid your journey." Di could not bear it. The wife firmly went with him to the market, sold for several thousand cash to support him. Di reached the gate. Guards questioned who, suspected deception, went with Di to the market to ask — saw the wife's head already on the frame. Di wrapped what remained of her and returned home to bury her.
54
朱延壽妻王者，當楊行密時，延壽事行密為壽州刺史，惡行密不臣，與寧國節度使田頵謀絕之以歸唐。 事泄，行密以計召延壽，欲與揚州，延壽信之。 將行，王曰：「今若得揚州，成宿志，具興衰在時，非系家也，然願日一介為驗。」 許之。 及為行密所殺，介不至，王曰：「事敗矣。」 即部家僕，授兵器。 方闔扉而捕騎至，遂出私帑施民，發百燎焚牙居，呼天曰：「我誓不為仇人辱！」 赴火死。
Wang, wife of Zhu Yanhou—in Yang Xingmi's time Yanhou served Xingmi as Shouzhou prefect, hated Xingmi's disloyalty, with Ningguo military commissioner Tian Jun plotted to cut him off and return to Tang. The affair leaked. Xingmi by stratagem summoned Yanhou, wishing to give him Yangzhou. Yanhou believed it. About to go, Wang said: "If now you get Yangzhou, your long wish is fulfilled. Rise and fall lie in the times, not tied to family — yet I wish one messenger daily as proof." [She said,] It was promised. When killed by Xingmi the messenger did not arrive. Wang said: "The affair has failed." She thereupon arrayed household servants, handed out weapons. Just closing the door when arresting riders arrived, she then took private stores to give the people, lit a hundred torches and burned the yamen residence, cried out to Heaven: "I swear not to suffer the enemy's shame!" She rushed into fire and perished.