Biographies of Exemplary Women

Liu Xiang of the Han dynasty gathered accounts from the deeds of ancient sages and worthies, compiling them into seven chapters: on Maternal Virtue, Worthy Enlightenment, Benevolent Wisdom, Chaste Fidelity, and more, so as to set down the admirable conduct of women. It stands as the first biographical work in China devoted entirely to the deeds of women. The Book of Han: Treatise on Literature placed it among the Confucian texts in the section on various schools of thought; it was not until the Book of Sui: Treatise on Classics that it was moved into the section on history. The work does not concern itself solely with chastity and moral steadfastness. It records in great number women of talent and eloquence, making clear to later ages that women too could establish their words and accomplish deeds through wisdom and courage, leaving a model for all generations to come.