The Ethical Discourse: The Female Writing in the Modificated Process of For Jiao Zhongqing's Wife

Abstract

In the early 20th century, the interpretation of the poem "Wei Jiao Zhongqing Qi Zuo" or "For Jiao Zhongqing's Wife" was mainly based on the social context at the time, which, however, might deviate from the original purpose of the female writing in the work. The poem once witnessed several modifications from the late Eastern Han Dynasty to the Southern Dynasties when the development of traditional Confucian code of ethics took off. The rewritings of female writing in literature works were to adapt to the male-dominated moral codes and discourse system at that time. Based on that, the female writing in the poem was processed, and evidence would be that from the perspective of content, the persona of Liu (Jiao's wife) portrayed in the poem changed greatly while characters like Jiao Zhongqing and Mother Jiao (Jiao's mother) were enriched. In addition, some new plots and characters were created for example, Brother Liu (Liu's brother) and Mother Liu (Liu's mother). In regard to the narrative strategy, the processed version intentionally emphasized the absence of "father" and "unrighteousness" of the brother to serve to the plot of suicide for love of Liu. This type of narrative poems conveying both criticism and praise was a tool used to complete and consolidate the ethical discourse and restrain women's influence on men, and it also echoed the traditional view of women passed from the Qin and Han Dynasties which for sure further confined women's free choice.