The Three Obediences and Four Virtues (Chinese: 三從四德; pinyin: Sāncóng Sìdé; Vietnamese: Tam tòng, tứ đức) is a set of moral principles and social code of behavior for maiden and married women in East AsianConfucianism, especially in Ancient and Imperial China. Women were to obey their fathers, husbands, and sons, and to be modest and moral in their actions and speech. Some imperial eunuchs both observed these principles themselves and enforced them in imperial harems, aristocratic households and society at large.
The two terms ("three obediences" and "four virtues") first appeared in the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial and in the Rites of Zhou respectively, which codified the protocol for an elegant and refined culture for Chinese civilization. The protocol was originally meant to define the various parts of a harmonious society and not intended as a rule book. This code has heavily influenced ancient and imperial China and influenced other East Asian civilizations such as Japan and Korea as prescribed East Asian social philosophical thoughts even into the twentieth century.[1]
Three Feminine Obediencesedit
A woman is obligated not to act on her own initiatives and must submissively obey or follow:[2][3][4][5]
her father at home, before getting married (Chinese: 未嫁从父; pinyin: Wèijiàcóngfù; or Chinese: 在家从父; pinyin: Zàijiācóngfù)
her husband after getting married (Chinese: 既嫁从夫; pinyin: Jìjiàcóngfū; or Chinese: 出嫁从夫; pinyin: Chūjiàcóngfū)
her sons after her husband's death (Chinese: 夫死从子; pinyin: Fūsǐcóngzǐ)
Speaking about these four, woman's virtue requires neither unparalleled talents nor exceeding brilliance; woman's speech requires neither rhetorical eloquence nor sharp words; woman's appearance requires neither a beautiful nor a splendid look or form; woman's work demands no unsurpassable skills.
Exhibit tranquility (you 幽 [/ qing 清]), unhurried composure (xian 閒/閑), chastity (zhen 貞), and quietude (jing 靜). Safeguard the integrity (jie 節) of regulations. Keep things in an orderly manner. Guard one's action with a sense of shame. In movement and rest, it is always done in proper measure. This is what is meant by woman's virtue. Choose words [carefully] (ze ci 擇辭) when speaking. Never utter slanderous words. Speak only when the time is right; then, others will not dislike one's utterances. This is what is meant by woman's speech. Wash (guan wan 盥浣) clothes that are dusty and soiled, and keep one's clothing and accessories always fresh and clean. Bathe regularly, and keep one's body free from filth and disgrace. This is what is meant by woman's bearing. Concentrate on one's weaving and spinning. Love no silly play nor laughter. Prepare wine and food neatly and orderly to offer to the guests. This is what is meant by woman's work.
^Liji "Jiao Te Sheng (The single victim at the border sacrifices)" 35.2, quote: "婦人，從人者也；幼從父兄，嫁從夫，夫死從子。"
^Yili Zhushu (Etiquette and Ceremonial Annotated and Clarified) "Funeral Clothing - Zixia Commentaries" p. 92/266 quote: "婦人有三從之義無專用之道故未嫁從父既嫁從夫夫死從子"
^Records of ritual matters by Dai the Elder (大戴禮記) "Destiny (本命)" 11 quote: "婦人，伏於人也。是故無專制之義，有三從之道──在家從父，適人從夫，夫死從子"
^Biographies of Exemplary Women "Matronly Models - Mother of Meng Ke of Zou" 8 quote: "以言婦人無擅制之義，而有三從之道也。故年少則從乎父母，出嫁則從乎夫，夫死則從乎子，禮也。"
^Liji "Hun Yi (The Meaning of the Marriage Ceremony)" 7 quote: "教以婦德、婦言、婦容、婦功。"
^Zhouli "Heavenly Officers - Chief Officers" 131 quote: "九嬪：掌婦學之法，以教九御婦德、婦言、婦容、婦功" translation: "The nine concubines enforce regulations on women's learning, so as to teach the secondary concubines feminine conducts, feminine speeches, feminine comportments, and feminine works."
^Ban Zhao, Lessons for Women, quoted in Book of Later Han "vol. 84: Biographies of Exemplary Women - Ban Zhao" quote: "女有四行，一曰婦德，二曰婦言，三曰婦容，四曰婦功。"
^Ban Zhao, Lessons for Women, quoted in Book of Later Han "vol. 84: Biographies of Exemplary Women - Ban Zhao"
^quoted and translated in Pang-White, Ann A. (2018). The Confucian Four Books for Women: A New Translation of the Nü Sishu and the Commentary by Wang Xiang. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 106-107
Bibliographyedit
Kelleher, M. Theresa (2005). "San-ts'ung ssu-te". In Taylor, Rodney L.; Choy, Howard Y.F. (eds.). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Confucianism. Vol. 2 N-Z. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 496. ISBN9780823940813.
Knapp, Keith (2015). "Sancong side 三从四德 (Threefold obedience and four virtues)". In Yao Xinzhong (ed.). Encyclopedia of Confucianism. Oxon: Routledge. ISBN9781317793489.
November 11, 2023
three, obediences, four, virtues, chinese, 三從四德, pinyin, sāncóngsìdé, vietnamese, tòng, tứ, đức, moral, principles, social, code, behavior, maiden, married, women, east, asian, confucianism, especially, ancient, imperial, china, women, were, obey, their, fathe. The Three Obediences and Four Virtues Chinese 三從四德 pinyin SancongSide Vietnamese Tam tong tứ đức is a set of moral principles and social code of behavior for maiden and married women in East Asian Confucianism especially in Ancient and Imperial China Women were to obey their fathers husbands and sons and to be modest and moral in their actions and speech Some imperial eunuchs both observed these principles themselves and enforced them in imperial harems aristocratic households and society at large Contents 1 Terminology 2 Three Feminine Obediences 3 Four Feminine Virtues 4 See also 5 References 6 BibliographyTerminology editThe two terms three obediences and four virtues first appeared in the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial and in the Rites of Zhou respectively which codified the protocol for an elegant and refined culture for Chinese civilization The protocol was originally meant to define the various parts of a harmonious society and not intended as a rule book This code has heavily influenced ancient and imperial China and influenced other East Asian civilizations such as Japan and Korea as prescribed East Asian social philosophical thoughts even into the twentieth century 1 Three Feminine Obediences editA woman is obligated not to act on her own initiatives and must submissively obey or follow 2 3 4 5 her father at home before getting married Chinese 未嫁从父 pinyin Weijiacongfu or Chinese 在家从父 pinyin Zaijiacongfu her husband after getting married Chinese 既嫁从夫 pinyin Jijiacongfu or Chinese 出嫁从夫 pinyin Chujiacongfu her sons after her husband s death Chinese 夫死从子 pinyin Fusǐcongzǐ Four Feminine Virtues editThe Four Feminine Virtues are 6 7 8 9 Feminine Conduct Chinese 婦德 pinyin Fude Feminine Speech Chinese 婦言 pinyin Fuyan Feminine Comportment Chinese 婦容 pinyin Furong Feminine Works Chinese 婦功 pinyin Fugōng Ban Zhao 49 120 CE the first known female Chinese historian elaborated on these in her treatise Lessons for Women Chinese 女誡 pinyin Nǚjie Wade Giles Nuchieh 10 11 Speaking about these four woman s virtue requires neither unparalleled talents nor exceeding brilliance woman s speech requires neither rhetorical eloquence nor sharp words woman s appearance requires neither a beautiful nor a splendid look or form woman s work demands no unsurpassable skills Exhibit tranquility you 幽 qing 清 unhurried composure xian 閒 閑 chastity zhen 貞 and quietude jing 靜 Safeguard the integrity jie 節 of regulations Keep things in an orderly manner Guard one s action with a sense of shame In movement and rest it is always done in proper measure This is what is meant by woman s virtue Choose words carefully ze ci 擇辭 when speaking Never utter slanderous words Speak only when the time is right then others will not dislike one s utterances This is what is meant by woman s speech Wash guan wan 盥浣 clothes that are dusty and soiled and keep one s clothing and accessories always fresh and clean Bathe regularly and keep one s body free from filth and disgrace This is what is meant by woman s bearing Concentrate on one s weaving and spinning Love no silly play nor laughter Prepare wine and food neatly and orderly to offer to the guests This is what is meant by woman s work See also editThree Fundamental Bonds and Five Constant VirtuesReferences edit Kelleher 2005 p 496 Liji Jiao Te Sheng The single victim at the border sacrifices 35 2 quote 婦人 從人者也 幼從父兄 嫁從夫 夫死從子 Yili Zhushu Etiquette and Ceremonial Annotated and Clarified Funeral Clothing Zixia Commentaries p 92 266 quote 婦人有三從之義無專用之道故未嫁從父既嫁從夫夫死從子 Records of ritual matters by Dai the Elder 大戴禮記 Destiny 本命 11 quote 婦人 伏於人也 是故無專制之義 有三從之道 在家從父 適人從夫 夫死從子 Biographies of Exemplary Women Matronly Models Mother of Meng Ke of Zou 8 quote 以言婦人無擅制之義 而有三從之道也 故年少則從乎父母 出嫁則從乎夫 夫死則從乎子 禮也 Liji Hun Yi The Meaning of the Marriage Ceremony 7 quote 教以婦德 婦言 婦容 婦功 Zhouli Heavenly Officers Chief Officers 131 quote 九嬪 掌婦學之法 以教九御婦德 婦言 婦容 婦功 translation The nine concubines enforce regulations on women s learning so as to teach the secondary concubines feminine conducts feminine speeches feminine comportments and feminine works Ban Zhao Lessons for Women quoted in Book of Later Han vol 84 Biographies of Exemplary Women Ban Zhao quote 女有四行 一曰婦德 二曰婦言 三曰婦容 四曰婦功 Knapp 2015 Ban Zhao Lessons for Women quoted in Book of Later Han vol 84 Biographies of Exemplary Women Ban Zhao quoted and translated in Pang White Ann A 2018 The Confucian Four Books for Women A New Translation of the Nu Sishu and the Commentary by Wang Xiang New York Oxford University Press p 106 107Bibliography editKelleher M Theresa 2005 San ts ung ssu te In Taylor Rodney L Choy Howard Y F eds The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Confucianism Vol 2 N Z New York The Rosen Publishing Group p 496 ISBN 9780823940813 Knapp Keith 2015 Sancong side 三从四德 Threefold obedience and four virtues In Yao Xinzhong ed Encyclopedia of Confucianism Oxon Routledge ISBN 9781317793489 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Three Obediences and Four Virtues amp 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