 |
The Nüerjing 女兒經 "Classic of girls" is a textbook for primary teaching for girls written by an unknown author during the Ming period 明 (1368-1644)
. The most important editions of this book were made during the Wanli reign 萬厲 (1573-1619), an edition with a commentary by Zhao Nanxing 趙南星 from the Tianqi reign 天啟 (1621-1627), the so-called Qiushi Nüerjing 裘氏女兒經 printed by Master Gao 高氏 around the year 1622, a revised edition by He Ruilin 賀瑞麟, the Gailiang Nüerjing 改良女兒經 from the Tongzhi reign 同治 (1862-1874), and a print by the Tunxijuwen Studio 屯溪聚文堂 from the Guangxu reign 光緒 (1875-1908). The book is written in phrases that are all consisting of three characters. The book is 864 characters long, or 288 sentenctes. It explains that a girl has to obey father and mother, to work hard and to live a proper life, to speak with a low voice and to wear decent clothes. After marriages her obedience has to be given towards her parents-in-law and her husband. She has to care for their household, to establish good relationship with the neighbourhood, and to raise up her children. The Nüerjing also brings forward a lot of good examples from the past which each women should try to follow. It was very widespread because it is easy to read.
Sources:
Li Zhitian 李稚田 (1993). "Nüerjing 女兒經", in: Zhongguo xiaoxue jiaoxue baike quanshu 中國小學教學百科全書, Yuwen 語文, p. 90. Shenyang: Shenyang chubanshe.
Ren Fang 任芳, Su Guoxia 蘇國霞 (1995). "Nüerjing 女兒經", in: Lu Leshan 盧樂山 (ed.), Zhongguo nüxing baike quanshu 中國女性百科全書, Hunyin jiating 婚姻家庭, p. 76. Shenyang: Dongbei daxue chubanshe.
|
