Pan Chao, Woman Historian
by
"The thoughts of the princely man
ought to be written down.
But why should one not voice his own opinion?
As we admire the ancients,
Every action of that virtuous one (my father)
Meant a literary creation
FromDungzheng Fu (Traveling East)
by Pan Chao
Pan Chao was born in theyear 45 CE during the Han Dynasty and was to become a preeminent scholar andfirst female historian of
The Han Dynasty wasconsidered the Imperial Age of China. It was a time of growth for arts,sciences, literature, sport and industry. Confucianism became dominant atcourt, and
Pan Chao was born into afamily of such men. Her father, Pan Ku, was a court administrator andhistorian. Chao had twin brothers -- Ku, who served under GeneralTouHsien in military campaignsagainst theHsiung-nu (the predecessors of theMongols), andCh'ao, who became a famous military manwho fought in
It was during thisdynasty that
UponPiao'sdeath, his son Ku took over the completion of theBook of Han. The workwas to evolve to 100 chapters, including essays on law, science, geography andliterature. Pan Ku spent twenty years collecting and organizing these chaptersbut was also unable to complete the work after he was arrested. He spent therest of his life in prison. It was Chao, Pan Liao's daughter and youngestchild, that finished the history fourteen years later, anaccomplishment which earned her Imperial recognition and favor. She is creditedwith the eight chronological charts and the treatise on astronomy that arecontained with the work.
Pan Chao was educated byher mother at home. She married at the age of fourteen and had children, butbecame a widow prematurely and refused to remarry. She was later summoned tothe court of Emperor He to tutor the empress and palace ladies. She served asimperial historian to the court of Emperor HanHedias well as advisor to Empress Deng in 106 CE. Pan Chao died in the year 114 CE.
Pan Chao wrote poetry andcommentary on the literary works of others. She wrote her most famous work whenshe was 54, entitled theNuJie (Lessons forWomen). This book of instruction, Confucian ideals and moral guidancebecame an influential work that circulated widely for centuries.
Humility
"
On the third dayafter the birth of a girl the ancients observed three customs; first to placethe baby below the bed; second to give her a potsherd with which to play; thirdto announce her birth to her ancestors. To lay the baby below the bed plainlyindicated that she should regard it as her primary duty to humble herselfbefore others. To giver her potsherds with which to play indubitably signifiedthat she should consider it her primary duty to be industrious. To announce herbirth before her ancestors clearly meant that she ought to esteem as herprimary duty the continuation of the observance of worship in the home
"
Respect and Caution
"
for self-culturenothing equals respect for others. To counteract firmness nothing equalscompliance. Consequently it can be said that the Way of respect andacquiescence is woman's most important principle of conduct. So respect may bedefined as nothing other than holding on that that which is permanent; andacquiescence nothing other than being liberal and generous. Those who aresteadfast in devotion know that they should stay in their proper places; thosewho are liberal and generous esteem others, and honor and serve them
"
Womanly Qualifications
"A woman ought tohave four qualifications; womanly virtue; womanly words; womanly bearing; andwomanly work. Now what is called womanly virtue need not be brilliant ability,exceptionally different from others. Womanly words need be neither clever indebate nor keen in conversation. Womanly appearance requires neither a prettynor a perfect face and form. Womanly work need not be work done more skillfullythat that of others
these four qualifications characterize the greatest virtueof a woman. No woman can afford to be without them. In fact they are very easyto possess if a woman only treasures them in her heart
"
from NuJie (Lessons forWomen)
by Pan Chao
Sources
Pan Chao: Foremost WomanScholar of China; Nancy Lee Swann, translator; Century Co., NY 1932
A Short History of theChinese People; L. Carrington Goodrich; Harper & Row, NY 1959
The Ageless Chinese; DunJ. Li; Charles Scribner's Sons, NY 1978
100 Celebrated Chinese Womenby Kate Foster
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