1
古者女子之居室也，必有傅姆師保為陳詩書圖史以訓之。 凡左右佩服之儀，內外授受之別，與所以事父母舅姑之道，蓋無所不備也。 而又有天子之后妃，諸侯之夫人，躬行於上，以率化之。 則其居安而有淑順之稱，臨變而有貞特之操者，夫豈偶然哉。 後世此道既廢，女生而處閨闥之中，溺情愛之私，耳不聆箴史之言，目不睹防範之具，由是動逾禮則，而往往自放於邪僻矣。 苟於是時而有能以懿節自著者焉，非其生質之美，則亦豈易致哉。 史氏之書，所以必錄而弗敢略也。
In ancient times, a girl's household quarters would always include nurse-governesses and tutors who laid out poetry, books, maps, and histories for her instruction. The rites governing jewelry and dress, the rules separating inner from outer quarters in exchanges between men and women, and the conduct owed to parents and parents-in-law—all of this was taught in full. Above them, empresses and consorts of the Son of Heaven and the wives of feudal lords embodied these standards themselves, setting an example from which others took their cue. That women earned reputations for grace and obedience in ordinary times and showed unwavering resolve in crisis was surely no accident. After later ages abandoned this discipline, girls grew up shut in inner quarters, absorbed in private attachments, never hearing the admonitions of the classics, never seeing the safeguards of proper training—and so they routinely overstepped ritual propriety and often drifted into wayward conduct. When a woman in such an age nonetheless distinguished herself by exemplary constancy, it was either because her nature was exceptional or because such virtue was anything but easy to attain. That is why historical chronicles insist on recording such women and dare not pass them over.
2
元受命百餘年，女婦之能以行聞於朝者多矣，不能盡書，採其尤卓異者，具載於篇。 其間有不忍夫死，感慨自殺以從之者，雖或失於過中，然較於苟生受辱與更適而不知愧者，有間矣。 故特著之，以示勸勵之義云。
In the more than a century since the Yuan received the Mandate, many women whose conduct won notice at court cannot all be recorded; those selected here are the most remarkable cases, set down in full in this chapter. Some among them, unable to bear their husbands' deaths, took their own lives in grief to join them in death; though this may sometimes overshoot the mean, it is still not the same as clinging to life in dishonor or remarrying without a trace of shame. They are singled out here to illustrate the principle of moral encouragement.
3
崔氏，周術忽妻也。 丁亥歲，從術忽官平陽。 金將來攻城，克之，下令官屬妻子敢匿者死。 時術忽以使事在上黨，崔氏急即抱幼子禎以詭計自言於將，將信之，使軍吏書其臂出之。 崔氏曰：「婦人臂使人執而書，非禮也。」 以金賂吏，使書之紙。 吏曰：「吾知汝誠賢婦，然令不敢違。」 命崔自揎袖，吏懸筆而書焉。 既出，有言其詐者，將怒，命追之。 崔與禎伏土窖三日，得免，既與術忽會。 未幾，術忽以病亡，崔年二十九，即大慟柩前，誓不更嫁，斥去麗飾，服皁布弊衣，放散婢僕，躬自紡績，悉以資產遺親舊。 有權貴使人諷求娶，輒自爬毀其面不欲生。 四十年未嘗妄言笑，預吉會。 治家教子有法，人比古烈婦云。
Lady Cui was the wife of Zhou Shuhu. In the dinghai year she accompanied Shuhu to his post at Pingyang. A Jin general besieged and captured the city, then decreed death for any official who dared hide his wife. Shuhu was away on mission in Shangdang at the time. Lady Cui quickly took her young son Zhen, used a ruse to present herself to the general, won his trust, and had a clerk mark her arm so she could leave the city. Lady Cui said, "It is contrary to ritual for another man to seize a woman's arm and write on it." She bribed the clerk with gold to have the mark made on paper instead. The clerk said, "I know you are a truly virtuous wife, but I dare not disobey the order." He had Lady Cui roll up her own sleeve while he held the brush suspended and wrote the mark. After she escaped, someone accused her of fraud; the general grew angry and ordered her pursued. Lady Cui and Zhen hid in an underground cellar for three days and escaped capture, then rejoined Shuhu. Before long Shuhu died of illness. Cui was twenty-nine. She wailed bitterly before his coffin, swore never to remarry, cast off fine adornments, wore plain black cloth in shabby dress, dismissed her servants, spun and wove with her own hands, and gave away all her property to relatives and friends. When powerful men sent intermediaries to propose marriage, she would scratch and disfigure her face, preferring death to compliance. For forty years she never spoke or laughed without cause, and could foretell auspicious days. She ran her household and raised her son with disciplined method; people compared her to the exemplary widows of antiquity.
4
周氏，平灤石城人。 年十六適李伯通，生一子，名易。 金末，伯通監豐潤縣，國兵攻之，城破，不知所終。 周氏與易被虜，謂偕行者曰：「人苟愛其生，萬一受辱，不如死也。」 即自投於塹。 主者怒，拔佩刀三刃其體而去，得不死。 遂攜易而逃，間關至汴，績紝以自給，教易讀書有成。
Lady Zhou was from Shicheng in Pingluan. At sixteen she married Li Botong and bore a son named Yi. Late in the Jin dynasty Botong served as overseer of Fengrun County. When the Mongol army attacked, the city fell and he was never heard from again. Lady Zhou and Yi were taken captive. She told those traveling with her, "If you value your life, consider that the slightest dishonor is worse than death." She immediately threw herself into a ditch. Her captor drew his belt knife in anger, slashed her body three times, and left her for dead—but she survived. She fled with Yi, made the arduous journey to Bian, supported herself by spinning, and taught Yi to read until he succeeded in his studies.
5
楊氏，東平須城人。 夫郭三，從軍襄陽，楊氏留事舅姑，以孝聞。 至元六年，夫死戍所，母欲奪嫁之，楊氏號痛自誓，乃已。 久之，夫骨還，舅曰：「新婦年少，終必他適，可令吾子鰥處地下耶！」 將求里人亡女骨合瘞之。 楊氏聞，益悲，不食五日，自經死，遂與夫共葬焉。
Lady Yang was from Xucheng in Dongping. Her husband Guo San followed the army to Xiangyang; Lady Yang remained to serve her parents-in-law and was known for filial devotion. In the sixth year of Zhiyuan her husband died at the garrison. His mother wished to force her to remarry, but Lady Yang wailed and swore an oath, and the plan was abandoned. After a long time her husband's bones were brought home. Her father-in-law said, "The young bride will surely marry again one day—shall we leave my son a widower in the grave?" He was about to seek the bones of a deceased girl from the village to bury together with his son. When Lady Yang heard this, her grief deepened. She ate nothing for five days, hanged herself, and was buried together with her husband.
6
胡烈婦，渤海劉平妻也。 至元七年，平當戍棗陽，車載其家以行。 夜宿沙河傍，有虎至，銜平去。 胡覺起追及之，持虎足，顧呼車中兒，取刀殺虎，虎死，扶平還至季陽城求醫，以傷卒。 縣官言狀，命卹其母子，仍旌異之。
The fierce widow Hu was the wife of Liu Ping of Bohai. In the seventh year of Zhiyuan Ping was posted to garrison Zaoyang and took his family along by cart. One night they camped beside the Sha River. A tiger came and carried Ping off in its jaws. Hu woke, pursued the tiger, seized its foot, and called to the child in the cart to take a knife and kill it. When the tiger was dead she helped Ping back to Jiyang for treatment, but he died of his wounds. County officials reported what had happened. The court ordered relief for mother and child and granted her special commendation.
7
至大間，建德王氏女，父出耘舍傍，遇豹，為所噬，曳之升山。 父大呼，女識父聲，驚趨救，以父所棄鋤擊豹腦，殺之，父乃得生。
During the Zhida period, a Wang family daughter of Jiande—her father went out to hoe beside his hut, met a leopard, was seized and bitten, and dragged up the mountain. The father shouted. The daughter recognized his voice, ran to rescue him, took up the hoe he had dropped, struck the leopard's head, and killed it—and her father lived.
8
闞文興妻王氏，名醜醜，建康人也。 文興從軍漳州，為其萬戶府知事，王氏與俱行。 至元十七年，陳吊眼作亂，攻漳州，文興率兵與戰，死之。 王氏被掠，義不受辱，乃紿賊曰：「俟吾葬夫，即汝從也。」 賊許之，遂脫，得負屍還，積薪焚之。 火既熾，即自投火中死。 至順三年，事聞，贈文興侯爵，諡曰英烈； 王氏曰貞烈夫人。 有司為立廟祀之，號「雙節」云。
Wang, wife of Kan Wenxing, called Chouchou, was from Jiankang. Wenxing went to Zhangzhou with the army as clerk of the wanhu office, and Wang went with him. In the seventeenth year of Zhiyuan Chen Diaoyan rebelled and attacked Zhangzhou. Wenxing led troops against him and was killed. Wang was captured but refused on principle to suffer dishonor. She deceived the rebels, saying, "Wait until I bury my husband, and then I will follow you." The rebels agreed. She got free, carried her husband's body back, heaped fuel, and burned it. When the flames were high she threw herself into the fire and died. In the third year of Zhishun the matter reached the court. Wenxing was posthumously enfeoffed as marquis with the posthumous title Fierce and Loyal; Wang was given the title Lady of Chaste Fierceness. The authorities built a temple to honor them, called "Double Integrity."
9
郎氏，湖州安吉人，宋進士硃甲妻也。 硃嘗仕浙東，以郎氏從。 至元間，硃歿，郎氏護喪還至玉山里，留居避盜。 勢家柳氏欲強聘之，郎誓不從，夜棄裝奉柩遁。 柳邀之中道，复死拒，得免。 家居，養姑甚謹。 姑嘗病，郎禱天，刲股肉進啖而愈。 後姑喪，以哀聞。 大德十一年，旌美之。
Lady Lang of Anji in Huzhou was the wife of Zhu Jia, a Song jinshi. Zhu once served in eastern Zhejiang, and Lady Lang accompanied him. During the Zhiyuan era Zhu died. Lady Lang escorted his coffin back to Yushan village and stayed there to avoid bandits. A powerful Liu family wished to force her into marriage. Lang swore she would not comply, abandoned her baggage by night, and fled escorting the coffin. Liu intercepted her on the road; she again resisted to the death and escaped. At home she cared for her mother-in-law with great devotion. When her mother-in-law fell ill, Lang prayed to Heaven, cut flesh from her thigh for her to eat, and she recovered. When her mother-in-law later died, her grief was widely noted. In the eleventh year of Dade she was commended for her virtue.
10
又有東平鄭氏、大寧杜氏、安西楊氏，並少寡守志，割體肉療姑病。
There were also the Zheng family of Dongping, the Du family of Daning, and the Yang family of Anxi—all young widows who kept their resolve and cut flesh from their bodies to treat their mothers-in-law's illnesses.
11
秦氏二女，河南宜陽人，逸其名。 父嘗有危疾，醫云不可攻。 姊閉戶默禱，鑿己腦和藥進飲，遂愈。 父後復病欲絕，妹刲股肉置粥中，父小啜即蘇。
The two daughters of the Qin family, from Yiyang in Henan—their names are not recorded. Their father once fell critically ill; physicians said it could not be treated. The elder sister shut herself in, prayed in silence, scooped matter from her own skull, mixed it with medicine, and gave it to him to drink—and he recovered. Later their father fell ill again near death. The younger sister cut flesh from her thigh and put it in porridge; he took a small sip and revived.
12
孫氏女，河間人。 父病癩十年，女禱於天，求以身代，且吮其膿血，旬月而愈。
The Sun family daughter was from Hejian. Her father had leprosy for ten years. The daughter prayed to Heaven to take his place, sucked his pus and blood, and within a month he recovered.
13
許氏女，安豐人。 父疾，割股噉之乃痊。
The Xu family daughter was from Anfeng. When her father fell ill she cut flesh from her thigh for him to eat, and he recovered.
14
張氏女，廬州人，嫁為高垕妻。 母病目喪明，張氏歸省，抱母泣，以舌舐之，目忽能視。
The Zhang family daughter of Luzhou married Gao Hou. Her mother fell ill and lost her sight. Zhang returned on a visit, embraced her mother and wept, licked her eyes with her tongue, and her sight was suddenly restored.
15
州縣各以狀聞，褒表之。
Each prefecture and county reported these cases and commended them.
16
焦氏，涇陽袁天祐妻也。 天祐祖、父始皆從軍役，祖母楊氏、母焦氏並家居守志。 至元二十三年，天祐復從徵死甘州，妻焦氏年少，宗族欲改嫁之。 焦氏哭且言曰：「袁氏不幸三世早寡，自祖姑以來，皆守節義，豈可至吾而遂廢乎！ 吾生為袁氏婦，死則葬袁氏土爾，終不能改容事他人也。」 眾不敢復言。
Lady Jiao was the wife of Yuan Tianyou of Jingyang. Tianyou's grandfather and father had both served in the army from the start; his grandmother Lady Yang and his mother Lady Jiao both remained at home and kept their chastity. In the twenty-third year of Zhiyuan Tianyou again joined a campaign and died at Ganzhou. His wife Lady Jiao was young, and the clan wished to have her remarry. Lady Jiao wept and said, "The Yuan family has been unfortunate—three generations of early widowhood. From my husband's great-grandmother onward all have kept their chastity. How can I be the one to break it! I was born a wife of the Yuan clan; when I die I shall be buried in Yuan soil. I can never change my face to serve another." No one dared speak of it again.
17
周氏，澤州人，嫁為安西張興祖妻。 年二十四，興祖歿，舅姑欲使再適，周氏弗從，曰：「妾家祖、父皆早世，妾祖母、妾母並以貞操聞，妾或中道易節，是忘故夫而辱先人也。 夫忘故夫不義，辱先人不孝，不孝不義，妾不為也。」 遂居嫠三十年，奉舅姑，生事死葬無違禮。 其父與外祖皆無後，葬祭之禮亦周氏主之。
Lady Zhou was from Zezhou and married Zhang Xingzu of Anxi. At twenty-four Xingzu died. Her parents-in-law wished her to remarry, but Lady Zhou refused, saying, "In my family grandfather and father both died young. My grandmother and my mother were both known for chastity. If I changed my resolve mid-course I would forget my husband and disgrace my ancestors. To forget one's husband is unrighteous; to disgrace one's ancestors is unfilial. I will not be unfilial and unrighteous." She lived as a widow for thirty years, served her parents-in-law, and in life and death observed ritual without fail. Her father and maternal grandfather both had no male heirs; burial and sacrifice were also directed by Lady Zhou.
18
有司以聞，並賜旌異。
The authorities reported these cases and all were granted special commendation.
19
趙孝婦，德安應城人。 早寡，事姑孝。 家貧，傭織於人，得美食必持歸奉姑，自啖粗糲不厭。 嘗念姑老，一旦有不諱，無由得棺，乃以次子鬻富家，得錢百緡，買杉木治之。 棺成，置於家。 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！」 言畢，風轉而北，孝婦家得不焚，人以為孝感所致。
The filial widow Zhao was from Yingcheng in De'an. She was widowed young and served her mother-in-law with filial devotion. The family was poor. She hired out her weaving; whenever she obtained fine food she brought it home for her mother-in-law while she herself ate coarse fare without complaint. She once thought that her mother-in-law was old and that if death came suddenly there would be no coffin. She sold her second son to a wealthy family for a hundred strings of cash and bought cedar to make one. When the coffin was finished she kept it in the house. 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!" When she had finished speaking the wind shifted northward and her home was spared. People attributed this to the power of filial devotion.
20
霍氏二婦尹氏、楊氏，夫家鄭州人。 至元間，尹氏夫耀卿歿，姑命其更嫁，尹氏曰：「婦之行一節而已，再嫁而失節，妾不忍為也。」 姑曰：「世之婦皆然，人未嘗以為非，汝獨何恥之有？」 尹氏曰； 「人之志不同，妾知守妾志爾。」 姑不能強。 楊氏夫顯卿繼歿，慮姑欲其嫁，即先白姑曰：「妾聞娣姒猶兄弟也，宜相好焉。 今姒既留，妾可獨去乎，願與共修婦道，以終事吾姑。」 姑曰：「汝果能若是，吾何言哉！」 於是同處二十餘年，以節孝聞。
The two daughters-in-law of the Huo family, Lady Yin and Lady Yang, were from a Zhengzhou household. During the Zhiyuan era Yin's husband Yaoqing died. Her mother-in-law ordered her to remarry. Lady Yin said, "A wife's conduct is a single integrity. Remarriage forfeits that integrity. I cannot bear to do it." Her mother-in-law said, "Wives everywhere do the same. No one thinks it wrong. What shame is there in it for you alone?" Lady Yin said: "People's resolve differs. I know only to keep my own resolve." Her mother-in-law could not force her. Lady Yang's husband Xianqing died next. Fearing her mother-in-law would wish her to remarry, she spoke to her first: "I have heard that sisters-in-law are like brothers and ought to be on good terms. Now that my sister-in-law is staying, how can I go off alone? I wish to practice the duties of a wife together with her and serve my mother-in-law to the end." Her mother-in-law said, "If you can truly do this, what more can I say!" They lived together for more than twenty years and were known for their chastity and filial devotion.
21
又有邠州任氏、乾州田氏，皆一家一婦，俱少寡誓不他適，戮力蠶桑，以養舅姑。
There were also the Ren family of Binzhou and the Tian family of Qianzhou—each household had one wife, all young widows who swore never to remarry and worked together at sericulture to support their parents-in-law.
22
事聞，並命褒表。
When these cases were reported, all were ordered commended.
23
王德政妻郭氏，大名人。 少孤，事母張氏孝謹，以女儀聞於鄉。 及笄，富貴家慕之，爭求聘，張氏不許。 時德政教授里中，年四十餘，貌甚古陋，張氏以貧不能教二子，欲納德政為婿，使教之。 宗族皆不然，郭氏慨然願順母志。 既婚，與德政相敬如賓，囑教二弟有成。 未幾德政卒，郭氏年方二十餘，勵節自守，甚有貞名。 大德間表其家。
Guo, wife of Wang Dezheng, was from Daming. Orphaned young, she served her mother Lady Zhang with filial devotion and was known in the village for proper conduct as a woman. When she came of age, wealthy families admired her and competed for her hand, but Zhang would not consent. At the time Dezheng taught in the village. He was over forty and very plain in appearance. Zhang, too poor to educate her two sons, wished to take Dezheng as a son-in-law so he could teach them. The clan all disapproved, but Guo resolutely agreed to follow her mother's wish. After marriage she and Dezheng treated each other with the respect of guests, and urged that her two younger brothers be educated to success. Before long Dezheng died. Guo was just over twenty. She upheld her integrity and kept herself chaste, earning a great reputation for fidelity. During the Dade era her household was commended.
24
只魯花真，蒙古氏。 年二十六，夫忽都病卒，誓不再醮，孝養舅姑。 逾二十五年，舅姑歿，塵衣垢面，廬於墓終身。 至元間旌之。
Zhiluhuazhen was a Mongol woman. At twenty-six her husband Hudu died of illness. She swore never to remarry and devoted herself to supporting her parents-in-law. After more than twenty-five years her parents-in-law died. In dusty clothes and with a dirty face she lived at the tomb for the rest of her life. During the Zhiyuan era she was granted official commendation.
25
其後，又有翼城宋仲榮妻梁氏，舅歿，負土為墳； 懷孟何氏、大名趙氏，並以夫歿守志，養舅姑以壽終，親負土築其墳，高三丈餘。
Later there was also Lady Liang, wife of Song Zhongrong of Yicheng, who when her father-in-law died carried earth to build his mound; the He family of Huaimeng and the Zhao family of Daming—all when their husbands died kept their resolve, supported their parents-in-law until they died of old age, and personally carried earth to build mounds more than three zhang high.
26
段氏，隆興霍榮妻也。 榮無子，嘗乞人為養子。 榮卒，段氏年二十六，養舅姑以孝稱。 舅姑歿，榮諸父仲汶貪其產，謂段曰：「汝子假子也，可令歸宗。 汝無子，宜改適，霍氏業汝無預焉。」 段曰：「家資不可計，但再醮非義，尚容妾思之。」 即退入寢室，引針刺面，墨漬之，誓死不貳。 大德二年，府上狀中書，給羊酒幣帛，仍命旌門，复役如製。
Lady Duan was the wife of Huo Rong of Longxing. Rong had no son and once begged for someone to be adopted as his heir. When Rong died Duan was twenty-six. She supported her parents-in-law and was famed for filial devotion. When her parents-in-law died Rong's paternal uncle Zhongwen coveted her property and said to Duan, "Your son is a borrowed son. He can be sent back to his clan. You have no son. You should remarry. The Huo family property has nothing to do with you." Duan said, "The family assets are beyond counting, but remarriage is not righteous. Allow me to consider it." She withdrew to her bedchamber, pricked her face with a needle, stained it with ink, and swore she would die rather than take a second husband. In the second year of Dade the prefecture reported to the central secretariat. She was granted sheep, wine, silks, and cloth, an honorific gate was erected, and corvée was exempted as prescribed.
27
又有興和吳氏，自刺其面； 成紀謝思明妻趙氏，自髡其發； 冀寧田濟川妻武氏、溧水曹子英妻尤氏，囓指滴血，並誓不更嫁。 各以有司為請旌之。
There was also the Wu family of Xinghe, who pricked her own face; Zhao, wife of Xie Siming of Chenji, who shaved her own hair; Wu, wife of Tian Jichuan of Jining, and You, wife of Cao Ziying of Lishui, who bit their fingers and drew blood—all swore never to remarry. In each case the authorities requested commendation on their behalf.
28
硃虎妻茅氏，崇明人。 大德間，虎官都水監，坐罪籍其家，吏錄送茅氏及二子赴京師。 太醫提點師甲乞歸家，欲妻之。 茅氏誓死不從，母子三人以裾相結連，晝夜倚抱號哭，形貌銷毀。 師知不可奪，釋之。 茅氏托居永明尼寺，憂憤不食卒。
Mao, wife of Zhu Hu, was from Chongming. During the Dade era Hu served as director of the Directorate of Waterways. He was convicted and his household was registered for confiscation. Clerks sent Lady Mao and her two sons to the capital. Shi Jia, medical superintendent of the Imperial Medical Service, asked to take her home, wishing to marry her. Lady Mao swore she would rather die than comply. Mother and sons tied their skirt hems together, leaned on each other day and night, and wailed until their bodies wasted away. Shi knew he could not force her and released them. Lady Mao took refuge at Yongming nunnery, grieved and refused food until she died.
29
聞氏，紹興俞新之妻也。 大德四年，新之歿，聞氏年尚少，父母慮其不能守，欲更嫁之。 聞氏哭曰：「一身二夫，烈婦所恥。 妾可無生，可無恥乎！ 且姑老子幼，妾去當令誰視也？」 即斷發自誓。 父知其志篤，乃不忍強。 姑久病風，且失明，聞氏手滌溷穢不怠，時漱口上堂舐其目，目為復明。 及姑卒，家貧，無資傭工，與子親負土葬之，朝夕悲號，聞者慘惻。 鄉里嘉其孝，為之語曰：「欲學孝婦，當問俞母。」
Lady Wen was the wife of Yu Xinzhi of Shaoxing. In the fourth year of Dade Xinzhi died. Lady Wen was still young. Her parents feared she could not keep her resolve and wished her to remarry. Lady Wen wept, "One body, two husbands—that is the shame of a fierce wife. I can live without life, but not without shame! Moreover my mother-in-law is old and my son is young. If I leave, who will care for them?" She cut her hair and swore an oath. Her father knew her resolve was firm and could not bear to force her. Her mother-in-law had long suffered from wind affliction and was blind. Lady Wen washed her filth by hand without slackening. At times she rinsed her mouth and went to the hall to lick her eyes, and her sight was restored. When her mother-in-law died the family was too poor to hire labor. She and her son personally carried earth to bury her. Morning and evening she wailed, and those who heard were deeply moved. The villagers praised her filial piety and said, "If you wish to learn from a filial wife, ask Lady Yu."
30
又有劉氏，渤海李伍妻也。 少寡，父母使再醮，不從。 舅患疽，劉禱於天，數日潰，吮其血，乃愈。 既而親挽小車，載舅詣岳祠以答神貺。
There was also Lady Liu, wife of Li Wu of Bohai. Widowed young, her parents urged her to remarry, but she would not comply. Her father-in-law suffered an ulcer. Liu prayed to Heaven. In several days it suppurated; she sucked the blood and he recovered. Then she personally drew a small cart and carried her father-in-law to the Yue shrine to repay the gods' favor.
31
馬英，河內人，性孝友。 父喪哀毀，二兄繼歿，英獨事母甚謹，又奉二寡嫂與居，使得保全嫠節。 及喪母，卜地葬諸喪，親負土為四墳，手植松柏，廬墓側終身。
Ma Ying was from Henei and was by nature filial and brotherly. At his father's death he mourned with utter devastation. Two elder brothers died in succession. Ying alone served his mother with great care and also housed his two widowed sisters-in-law together, enabling them to preserve their chastity. When his mother died he chose ground to bury all the dead, personally carried earth for four mounds, planted pine and cypress with his own hands, and lived beside the tombs for the rest of his life.
32
趙氏女名玉兒，冠州人。 嘗許為李氏婦，未婚夫死，遂誓不嫁，以養父母。 父母歿，負土為墳，鄉里稱孝焉。
The Zhao family daughter named Yu'er was from Guanzhou. She had been betrothed to the Li family, but before the marriage her fiancé died. She swore not to marry and supported her parents. When her parents died she carried earth for their mound, and the village praised her filial devotion.
33
馮氏，名淑安，字靜君，大名宦家女，山陰縣尹山東李如忠繼室也。 如忠初娶蒙古氏，生子任，數歲而卒。 大德五年，如忠病篤，謂馮曰：「吾已矣，其奈汝何？」 馮氏引刀斷發，自誓不他適。 如忠歿兩月，遺腹生一子，名伏。 李氏及蒙古氏之族在北，聞如忠歿於官，家多遺財，相率來山陰。 馮氏方病，乘間盡取其貲及子任以去。 馮不與較，一室蕭然，唯餘如忠及蒙古氏之柩而已。 朝夕哭泣，鄰里不忍聞。 久之，鬻衣權厝二柩蕺山下，攜其子廬墓側。 時年始二十二，羸形苦節，為女師以自給。 父母來視之，憐其孤苦，欲使更事人，馮爪面流血，不肯從。 居二十年，始護喪歸葬汶上。 齊魯之人聞之，莫不嘆息。
Feng Shuan, styled Jingjun, was a daughter of a prominent official family and the second wife of Li Ruzhong, magistrate of Shanyin county in Shandong. Ruzhong had first married a Mongol woman and borne a son named Ren, who died at a few years of age. In the fifth year of Dade Ruzhong was gravely ill and said to Feng, "I am finished. What will become of you?" Feng took a knife and cut her hair, swearing she would not marry another. Two months after Ruzhong's death she bore a posthumous son named Fu. The Li clan and the Mongol clan's kin were in the north. Hearing that Ruzhong had died in office and that the family had much remaining wealth, they came in a body to Shanyin. Feng was then ill. They seized the opportunity and took all the goods and her stepson Ren away. Feng did not contest it. The house was left desolate—only Ruzhong's coffin and the Mongol woman's coffin remained. Morning and evening she wept until neighbors could not bear to hear. After a long time she sold her clothes to provisionally bury the two coffins at Jishan, then took her son and lived beside the tomb. She was then only twenty-two, frail in body but stern in integrity, and supported herself by teaching young women. Her parents came to see her, pitied her lonely hardship, and wished her to marry again. Feng scratched her face until it bled and would not comply. After twenty years she finally escorted the coffins home for burial at Wenshang. When people of Qi and Lu heard of it, none failed to sigh.
34
李君進妻王氏，遼陽人。 大德八年，君進病卒，卜葬，將發引，親戚鄰里咸會。 王氏謂眾曰：「夫婦死同穴，義也。 吾得從良人逝，不亦可乎！」 因撫棺大慟，嘔血升許，即僕於地死。 眾為斂之，與夫連柩出葬，送者數百人，莫不灑泣。
Wang, wife of Li Junjin, was from Liaoyang. In the eighth year of Dade Junjin died of illness. The burial ground was divined, and when the procession was about to set out, relatives and neighbors all gathered. Wang said to the crowd, "Husband and wife die in one grave—that is righteousness. I can follow my husband in death—is that not acceptable!" She stroked the coffin and wailed greatly, vomited more than a sheng of blood, and immediately collapsed dead on the ground. The crowd prepared her body. She was buried in linked coffins with her husband. More than three hundred people escorted them, and none failed to weep.
35
移剌氏，同知湖州路事耶律忽都不花妻也。 夫歿，割耳自誓。 既葬，廬墓側，悲號不食死。
Lady Yelü was the wife of Yelü Hudubuhua, assistant administrator of Huzhou circuit. When her husband died she cut her ear and swore an oath. After the burial she lived beside the tomb, wailed, and refused food until she died.
36
趙氏名哇兒，大寧人。 年二十，夫蕭氏病劇，謂哇兒曰：「我死，汝年少，若之何？」 哇兒曰：「君幸自寬，脫有不可諱，妾不獨生，必從君地下。」 遂命匠制巨棺。 夫歿，即自經死，家人同棺斂葬焉。
Zhao, called Wa'er, was from Daning. At twenty her Xiao husband was gravely ill and said to Wa'er, "When I die you are young. What then?" Wa'er said, "Husband, please ease yourself. If the worst cannot be avoided, I will not live alone. I must follow you underground." She then ordered craftsmen to make a huge coffin. When her husband died she immediately hanged herself. The family buried them together in the same coffin.
37
又有雷州硃克彬妻周氏，大都費岩妻王氏、買哥妻耶律氏，曹州鄭臘兒妻康氏，陝州陳某妻別娥娥，大同宋堅童妻班氏、李安童妻胡氏，晉州劉恕妻趙氏，冀寧王思忠妻張氏，饒州劉楫妻趙氏，東平徐順妻彭氏，大寧趙澐兒妻安氏、陳恭妻張氏、武壽妻劉氏、宋敬先妻謝氏、撒里妻蕭氏，古城魏貴妻周氏，任城郭灰兒妻趙氏，棗陽硃某妻丁氏，葉縣王保子妻趙氏，興州某氏妻魏氏，灤州裴某妻董貴哥，成都張保童妻郝氏，利州高塔必也妻白氏，河南楊某妻盧氏，蒙古氏太術妻阿不察、相兀孫妻脫脫真，並以早寡不忍獨生，以死從夫者。
There were also Lady Zhou, wife of Zhu Kebin of Leizhou; Lady Wang, wife of Fei Yan of Dadu; Lady Yelü, wife of Maige; Lady Kang, wife of Zheng La'er of Caozhou; Bie E'e, wife of a certain Chen of Shanzhou; Lady Ban, wife of Song Jiantong of Datong; Lady Hu, wife of Li Antong; Lady Zhao, wife of Liu Shu of Jinzhou; Lady Zhang, wife of Wang Sizhong of Jining; Lady Zhao, wife of Liu Ji of Raozhou; Lady Peng, wife of Xu Shun of Dongping; Lady An, wife of Zhao Yun'er of Daning; Lady Zhang, wife of Chen Gong; Lady Liu, wife of Wu Shou; Lady Xie, wife of Song Jingxian; Lady Xiao, wife of Sali; Lady Zhou, wife of Wei Gui of Gucheng; Lady Zhao, wife of Guo Hui'er of Rencheng; Lady Ding, wife of a certain Zhu of Zaoyang; Lady Zhao, wife of Wang Baozi of Yexian; Lady Wei, wife of a certain family of Xingzhou; Dong Guige, wife of a certain Pei of Luanzhou; Lady Hao, wife of Zhang Baotong of Chengdu; Lady Bai, wife of Gao Tabiye of Lizhou; Lady Lu, wife of a certain Yang of Henan; Abucha, wife of Taishu of the Mongol clan; and Tuotuozhen, wife of Xiangwusun—all widowed young, unable to bear living alone, and followed their husbands in death.
38
事聞，悉命褒表，或賜錢贈諡云。
When these cases were reported, all were ordered commended, and some were given cash and posthumous titles.
39
朱淑信，山陰人。 少寡，誓不再嫁。 一女妙淨，幼哭父雙目並失明。 及長，擇偶者不至，家貧歲凶，母子相依，以苦節自厲。 士人王士貴重其孝，乃求娶焉。
Zhu Shuxin was from Shanyin. Widowed young, she swore never to remarry. She had one daughter, Miaojing, who as a child wept at her father's death until both eyes went blind. When she grew up suitors did not come. The family was poor and famine years followed. Mother and daughter relied on each other and disciplined themselves with bitter integrity. The scholar Wang Shigui prized her filial piety and then sought to marry her.
40
葛妙真，宣城民家女。 九歲，聞日者言，母年五十當死，妙真即悲憂祝天，誓不嫁，終身齋素，以延母年。 母后年八十一卒。
Ge Miaozhen was a commoner's daughter of Xuancheng. At nine she heard a calendar-reader say her mother would die at fifty. Miaozhen immediately grieved, prayed to Heaven, swore not to marry, and kept a lifelong vegetarian fast to extend her mother's life. Her mother later died at eighty-one.
41
畏吾氏三女，家錢塘。 諸兄遠仕不歸，母思之疾，三女欲慰母意，乃共斷發誓天，終身不嫁以養母，同力侍護四十餘年。 母竟以壽終。
Three daughters of the Uighur clan lived in Qiantang. Their elder brothers served far away and did not return. Their mother missed them and fell ill. The three daughters wished to comfort her, cut their hair together and swore to Heaven, vowed never to marry in order to support their mother, and together cared for her for more than forty years. Their mother finally died of old age.
42
事上，並賜旌異。
These cases were reported upward and all were granted special commendation.
43
王氏，燕人張買奴妻也。 年十六，買奴官錢塘病歿，葬城西十里外。 王氏每旦被髮步往奠之，伏墓大慟欲絕，久而致疾。 舅姑力止其行，乃已。 服闋，舅姑謂之曰：「吾子已歿，新婦年尚少，宜自圖終身計，毋徒淹吾家也。」 王氏泣曰：「父母命妾奉箕帚於張氏，今夫不幸早逝，天也。 此足豈可復履他人門乎！」 固不從。 煢居三十年，貞白無少玷。
Wang was the wife of Zhang Maimu of Yan. At sixteen Maimu was posted to Qiantang as an official and died of illness. He was buried ten li west of the city. Each morning Wang went with her hair unbound to mourn at the tomb, prostrated herself and wailed until she nearly died, and after a long time fell ill. Her parents-in-law forcibly stopped her from going, and she then ceased. When mourning was completed her parents-in-law said to her, "Our son is dead and you are still young. You should plan for your own future and not simply linger in our household." Wang wept, "My parents commanded me to serve the Zhang clan. Now my husband has died early—that is Heaven's will. How can these feet ever cross another man's threshold again!" She firmly refused. She lived alone for thirty years, chaste and pure without the slightest stain.
44
又有馮翊王義妻盧氏、睢陽劉澤妻解氏、東平楊三妻張氏，並守志有節。 命旌其門。
There were also Lady Lu, wife of Wang Yi of Fengyi; Lady Xie, wife of Liu Ze of Suiyang; and Lady Zhang, wife of Yang San of Dongping—all kept their resolve with integrity. They were ordered honorific gates erected.
45
張義婦，濟南鄒平人，年十八歸里人李伍。 伍與從子零戍福寧、未幾死戍所。 張獨家居，養舅姑甚至。 父母舅姑病，凡四刲股肉救不懈。 及死，喪葬無遺禮。 既而歎曰：「妾夫死數千里外，妾不能歸骨以葬者，以舅姑父母在，無所仰故也。 今不幸父母舅姑已死，而夫骨終暴棄遠土，使無妾即已，妾在，敢愛死乎！」 乃臥積冰上，誓曰：「天若許妾取夫骨，雖寒甚，當得不死。」 踰月，竟不死。 鄉人異之，乃相率贈以錢，大書其事於衣以行。 行四十日，至福寧，見零，問夫葬地，則榛莽四塞，不可識。 張哀慟欲絕。 夫忽降於童，言動無異其生時，告張死時事，甚悲，且指示骨所在處。 張如其言發得之，持骨祝曰：「爾信妾夫耶？ 入口當如冰雪，黏如膠。」 已而果然。 官義之，上於大府，使零護喪還，給錢使葬，仍旌門，復其役。
The righteous wife Zhang was from Zouping in Jinan. At eighteen she married Li Wu of her village. Wu and his nephew Ling were posted to garrison Funing. Before long he died at the garrison. Zhang lived alone at home and supported her parents-in-law with utmost devotion. When her parents and parents-in-law fell ill she four times cut flesh from her thigh to save them, never slackening in her efforts. When they died she observed every point of burial and mourning ritual. She then sighed, "My husband died thousands of li away. I could not bring his bones home for burial because my parents-in-law were still alive and had no one else to rely on. Now my parents and parents-in-law are dead, yet my husband's bones still lie exposed in distant soil. If I were not here, nothing would be done. While I live, how can I spare my own life!" She lay on accumulated ice and swore, "If Heaven permits me to fetch my husband's bones, however bitter the cold I shall not die." After more than a month she did not die. The villagers marveled and together gave her money. They wrote her story in large characters on her garment for the journey. She traveled forty days to Funing and saw Ling. She asked where her husband was buried, but thorns and brush blocked it on every side and it could not be recognized. Zhang grieved and wailed until she nearly died. Her husband suddenly appeared through a boy. His speech and movements were no different from when he lived. He told Zhang how he had died, full of sorrow, and showed her where the bones lay. Zhang dug as he said and found them. She held the bones and prayed, "Are you truly my husband? If you enter my mouth they should be cold as ice and snow and sticky as glue." Afterward it was indeed so. The officials praised her righteousness and reported to the great prefecture. Ling was sent to escort the coffin home, money was given for burial, an honorific gate was erected, and corvée was restored as prescribed.
46
丁氏，新建鄭伯文妻也。 大德間，伯文病將歿，丁氏與訣曰：「妾自得侍巾櫛，誓與偕老。 君今不幸疾若是，脫有不諱，妾當從。 但君父母已老，無他子婦侍養，妾苟復自亡，使君父母食不甘味，則君亦不瞑目矣。 妾且忍死，以奉其餘年，必不改事他人，以負君於冥冥也。」 伯文卒，丁氏年二十七，居喪哀毀。 服既除，父母屢議奪嫁之，丁氏每聞必慟哭曰：「妾所以不死者，非苟生有他志也，與良人約，將以事舅姑耳。 今舅姑在堂固無恙，妾可棄去而不信於良人乎！」 父遂止。 舅姑嘗病，丁氏夙夜護視，衣不解帶。 及死，喪葬盡禮。 事上，表其門。
Lady Ding was the wife of Zheng Bowen of Xinjian. During the Dade era Bowen fell gravely ill. Ding took leave of him, saying, "Since I obtained the honor of serving at your side I vowed to grow old together. Now you are so gravely ill. If the worst cannot be avoided I should follow you. But your parents are already old and there is no other son or daughter-in-law to serve them. If I destroy myself as well your parents will eat without savor—and you too will not rest in peace. I shall endure living for now to serve their remaining years. I will certainly not marry another and betray you in the world beyond." Bowen died. Ding was twenty-seven and mourned with utter devastation. When mourning was completed her parents repeatedly urged her to remarry. Each time Ding heard it she wailed, "The reason I do not die is not that I cling to life with another intent. I made a pact with my husband to serve his parents. Now my parents-in-law are still well. How can I abandon them and be faithless to my husband!" Her father then stopped. When her parents-in-law fell ill Ding watched day and night without unfastening her garments. When they died she observed burial and mourning in full according to ritual. The case was reported upward and her gate was commended.
47
白氏，太原人。 夫慕釋氏道，棄家為僧。 白氏年二十，留養姑不去，服勤績紝，以供租賦。 夫一日還，迫使他適，白斷發誓不從，夫不能奪，乃去。 姑年九十卒，竭力營葬，畫姑像祀之終身。
The Bai clan was from Taiyuan. Her husband admired the Buddhist path, abandoned the household, and became a monk. Bai was twenty. She remained to support her mother-in-law and did not leave, working diligently at spinning to supply rent and taxes. One day her husband returned and tried to force her to remarry. Bai cut her hair and swore she would not comply. Her husband could not compel her and left. When her mother-in-law died at ninety she exhausted her strength to arrange the burial and painted her portrait to worship for the rest of her life.
48
趙美妻王氏，內黃人。 至治元年，美溺水死，王氏誓守忠，舅姑念其年少無子，欲使更適人。 王氏曰：「婦義無再醮，且舅姑在，妾可棄而去耶！」 舅姑乃欲以族侄與繼婚，王氏拒不從。 舅姑迫之力，王氏知不免，即引繩自經死。
Wang, wife of Zhao Mei, was from Neihuang. In the first year of Zhizhi Mei drowned and died. Wang swore to keep her faith. Her parents-in-law, pitying her youth and lack of a son, wished her to remarry. Wang said, "A wife by righteousness does not remarry. Moreover my parents-in-law are alive—how can I abandon them and leave!" Her parents-in-law then wished to have a clan nephew marry her in succession. Wang refused. Her parents-in-law pressed her hard. Wang knew she could not escape, took a rope, and hanged herself.
49
李冬兒，甄城人，丁從信妻也。 年二十三，從信歿，服闋，父母呼歸問之，曰：「汝年少居孀，又無子，何以自立，吾為汝再擇婿何如？」 冬兒不從，詣從信塚哭，欲縊墓樹上，家人防之，不果。 日暮還從信家，夜二鼓，入室更新衣，自經死。
Li Dong'er was from Zhencheng and was the wife of Ding Congxin. At twenty-three Congxin died. When mourning was completed her parents called her home and asked, "You are young, widowed, and have no son. How will you support yourself? Shall we find another husband for you?" Dong'er refused. She went to Congxin's tomb and wept, and tried to hang herself on the tomb tree. Her family guarded her and she did not succeed. At dusk she returned to Congxin's home. At the second watch of night she entered the room, put on fresh clothes, and hanged herself.
50
李氏，濱州惠高兒妻也。 年二十六，高兒歿，父欲奪歸嫁之，李氏不從，自縊而死。
Lady Li was the wife of Huo Gao'er of Binzhou. At twenty-six Gao'er died. Her father wished to take her back and remarry her. Li refused and hanged herself.
51
脫脫尼，雍吉剌氏，有色，善女工。 年二十六，夫哈剌不花卒。 前妻有二子皆壯，無婦，欲以本俗制收繼之，脫脫尼以死自誓。 二子復百計求遂，脫脫尼恚且罵曰：「汝禽獸行，欲妻母耶，若死何面目見汝父地下？」 二子慚懼謝罪，乃析業而居。 三十年以貞操聞。
Tuotuoni was of the Yongjiasi clan, beautiful in appearance and skilled at women's crafts. At twenty-six her husband Halabuhua died. His former wife had two grown sons without wives. They wished by their native custom to take her in levirate marriage. Tuotuoni swore she would die first. The two sons again schemed in every way to succeed. Tuotuoni cursed angrily, "You beasts—do you wish to marry your mother? If you die how will you face your father underground?" The two sons, ashamed and afraid, apologized and then divided the estate and lived apart. For thirty years she was known for chaste conduct.
52
王氏，成都李世安妻也。 年十九，世安卒，夫弟世顯欲收繼之。 王氏不從，引刃斷發，復自割其耳，創甚。 親戚驚嘆，為醫療百日乃愈。
Wang was the wife of Li Shi'an of Chengdu. At nineteen Shi'an died. His younger brother Shixian wished to take her in levirate marriage. Wang refused. She took a blade and cut her hair, then cut off her own ear. The wounds were severe. Relatives marveled and sighed. She was treated for a hundred days before she recovered.
53
狀上，並旌之。
The report was sent upward and all were commended.
54
趙彬妻朱氏，名錦哥，洛陽人也。 天歷初，西兵掠河南，朱氏遇兵五人，被執，逼與亂。 朱氏拒曰：「我良家婦，豈從汝賊耶！」 兵怒，提曳棰楚之。 朱氏度不能脫，即紿謂之曰：「汝幸釋我，舍後井傍有瘞金，當發以遺汝。」 兵信之，乃隨其行。 朱氏得近井，即抱三歲女踴身赴井中死。
Zhu, wife of Zhao Bin, called Jinge, was from Luoyang. At the beginning of Tianli western troops plundered Henan. Zhu encountered five soldiers, was seized, and forced to join their disorder. Zhu refused, "I am a decent family wife. How can I follow you bandits!" The soldiers grew angry, dragged her, and beat her with cudgels. Zhu judged she could not escape and deceived them, "Release me. Behind the house by the well is buried gold. Dig it up and I will give it to you." The soldiers believed her and followed as she walked. Zhu reached the well, embraced her three-year-old daughter, and leaped into the well to her death.
55
是歲，又有偃師王氏女名安哥，從父避兵邙山丁家洞。 兵入，搜得之，見安哥色美，驅使出，欲污之。 安哥不從，投澗死。
That year there was also the Wang family daughter of Yanshi named An'ge, who followed her father avoiding troops to Mount Mang at the Ding family cave. Soldiers entered and found them. Seeing An'ge's beauty they drove her out and wished to defile her. An'ge refused and threw herself into a ravine to die.
56
有司言狀，並表其廬。
The authorities reported the circumstances and all had their lodges commended.
57
貴哥，蒙古氏，同知宣政院事羅五十三妻也。 天歷初，五十三得罪，貶海南，籍其家，詔以貴哥賜近侍卯罕。 卯罕親率車騎至其家迎之。 貴哥度不能免，令婢僕以飲食延卯罕於事，如厩自經死。
Guige was a Mongol woman and wife of Luo Wushisan, associate administrator of the Bureau of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs. At the beginning of Tianli Wushisan was convicted and banished to Hainan. His household was registered for confiscation. An edict granted Guige to the close attendant Maohan. Maohan personally led chariots and horsemen to her home to welcome her. Guige judged she could not escape. She ordered servants to entertain Maohan with food and drink in the side hall, then went to the stable and hanged herself.
58
台叔齡妻劉氏，順寧人也。 粗知書，克修婦道。 一日地震屋壞，壓叔齡不能起，家复失火，叔齡母前救不得，欲就焚。 叔齡望見，呼曰：「吾已不可得出，當亟救吾母。」 劉謂夫妹曰：「汝救汝母，汝兄必死，吾不用復生矣。」 即自投火中死。 火滅，家人得二屍燼中，猶手相握不開。 官嘉其烈，上於朝，命錄付史臣。
Lady Liu was the wife of Tai Shuling and was from Shunning. She had some knowledge of books and cultivated wifely conduct well. One day an earthquake destroyed the house and pinned Shuling so he could not rise. The house also caught fire. Shuling's mother rushed forward but could not save him and wished to throw herself into the flames. Shuling saw from afar and called, "I cannot get out. You must quickly save my mother." Liu said to her husband's sister, "You save your mother. Your brother must die. I have no need to live again." She immediately threw herself into the fire and died. When the fire was extinguished the family found two corpses in the ashes. Their hands were still clasped and would not open. Officials praised her fierceness, reported to court, and ordered it recorded for the historians.
59
李智貞，建寧浦城人。 父子明，無子。 智貞七歲能讀書。 九歲母病，調護甚謹。 及卒，哀慟欲絕，不茹葷三年，治女工供祭祀，及奉父甘旨不乏，鄉里稱為孝女。 父嘗許為鄭全妻，未嫁，從父客邵武。 邵武豪陳良悅其慧，強納采求聘，智貞斷發拒之，且數自求死，良不能奪，卒歸全。 事舅姑父母皆有道。 泰定間，全病歿，智貞悲泣不食，數日而死。
Li Zhizhen was from Pucheng in Jianning. Her father Ziming had no son. At seven Zhizhen could read books. At nine her mother fell ill and she nursed her with great care. When her mother died Zhizhen grieved until she nearly died, ate no meat for three years, did women's work to supply sacrifices, and never failed to serve her father fine food. The village called her a filial daughter. Her father once betrothed her to Zheng Quan. Before the marriage she followed her father as a guest to Shaowu. The Shaowu magnate Chen Liang admired her intelligence and forcibly sent betrothal gifts. Zhizhen cut her hair to refuse and several times sought death. Liang could not compel her and in the end she returned to Quan. She served her parents-in-law and parents with proper conduct. During the Zhiding era Quan died of illness. Zhizhen grieved, wept, refused food, and died after several days.
60
蔡三玉，龍溪陳端才妻也。 盜起漳州，掠龍溪，父廣瑞與端才各竄去，三玉獨偕夫妹出避鄰祠中。 盜入，斫夫妹，見三玉美，不忍傷，與里婦歐氏同驅納舟中。 行至柳營江，迫妻之。 三玉佯許諾，因起更衣，自投江水而死。 越三日，屍流至廣瑞舟側，廣瑞識為女，收斂之。 歐氏脫歸言狀，有司高其操，為請表之。 乃命旌門复役，仍給錢以葬。
Cai Sanyu was the wife of Chen Duancai of Longxi. Bandits rose in Zhangzhou and plundered Longxi. Her father Guangrui and Duancai each fled. Sanyu alone took her husband's younger sister to hide in a neighboring shrine. The bandits broke in, hacked her husband's younger sister, saw that Sanyu was beautiful and could not bear to harm her, and together with a village woman named Ou drove them into a boat. When they reached Liuying River they tried to force her into marriage. Sanyu pretended to agree, rose as if to change clothes, and threw herself into the river to her death. Three days later her body drifted to the side of Guangrui's boat. Guangrui recognized his daughter and gathered her remains for burial. Lady Ou escaped, returned, and reported what had happened. The authorities prized Sanyu's conduct and requested official commendation. They then ordered an honorific gate erected, corvée restored, and money given for the burial.