Skip to main content

On "a talented man and a beautiful woman" and "a talented woman and a beautiful man"

 　　 Since the pre-Qin period, the people of China have upheld the principle that "a man should study to become an official, while a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent." Thus, the ancient saying goes, "A talented man and a beautiful woman, a talented

　　scholar and a beautiful woman." Looking at the talented women of the past dynasties, their fates were tragic. Zhuo Wenjun eloped with Sima Xiangru, but sadly, at the young age of seventeen, she was widowed in her parents' home; Li Qingzhao received a good education from childhood, but her life was filled with hardship; Cai Wenji was learned and eloquent, skilled in poetry and music, yet she married three times; Shangguan Wan'er became a female prime minister, but before she reached fifty, she was brutally murdered by Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji). It truly reflects the saying, "A woman's virtue lies in her lack of

talent, her beauty is a blessing, but both talent and beauty are a curse."

　　Remembering the four great beauties, handsome and dashing, yet they died with resentment. Pan An was sentenced to have his entire family exterminated; Song Yu died with deep regret; Lanling King Gao Changgong served his country loyally, yet still could not escape death; the handsome Wei Jie, due to his frail and sickly appearance and difficulty breathing, was even "stared" to death.

　　Looking back at the past examples of "talented women and handsome men," and then recalling today's "talented men and beautiful women,"

　　how many girls are captivated by the screen and stage? Popular male stars like Hu Ge, Yin Zheng, and Lu Han are admired and adored by countless people. Since the broadcast of "Idol Producer," they have gained over a million fans in just a few days.

　　Yet, in today's society, most top scorers in the college entrance examination are women. As Qiu Jin said, "Do not value men over women; poetry and literature bestow beauty upon women. I am proud to have this added to my charm, and I now believe that heroes can also be female." Today's Chinese women are not inferior to men; there are many strong women. Who says women are inferior to men? What men can do, women can do just as well, and even better.

　　The notions of "talented man and beautiful woman" and "talented woman and handsome man" are relics of the past, existing only in old China under feudal rule. In the future, the idea that "a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent" will be nothing but a legend. The future will be one where "women are talented," and indeed, one that is truly valuable. The future belongs to gender equality, and perhaps even to women.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

There's a kind of meeting that feels like a long-awaited encounter.

     When     I first arrived in this city, the weather was a hazy, grayish white. It was already the height of summer, and there was a humid, stifling heat.     At the subway exit, I saw Mo Xiaobei struggling to find me in the crowd. She took my suitcase, then pretended to be incredibly strong, smiling happily at me and revealing her cute little tiger teeth. I followed Mo Xiaobei through several subway stops until we finally arrived at her rented room. The moment I opened the door, it felt like I had entered a disaster zone. Just as I had imagined, her room was a mess. Several pairs of shoes were scattered haphazardly on the floor, and bottles and jars were strewn about on the table, along with leftover food that had been moldy for days. I turned to look at Mo Xiaobei, who scratched her head sheepishly. "I haven't cleaned the house these past few days. Since you're here, could you help me tidy up?" I knew she was always like this, so I shook my head h...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five-degree slanted characters (Part 2)

  　　Chi Zhoumu played three games of League of Legends in a row. Whenever he encountered a problem he couldn't figure out, he had to shift his focus to prevent himself from being trapped by his chaotic thoughts. After the three games, Chi Zhoumu stared at the computer for a long time, lost in thought. "No, I have to go out for a walk and relax," Chi Zhoumu thought to himself. 　　 　　When Chi Zhoumu went out, it was already past eight o'clock in the evening. The streetlights emitted a quiet, dim yellow light, and only a few people were running on the playground. The moonlight was faint, casting overlapping shadows, and the road was deserted. He went to the pavilion, sat down on a bench, and lazily admired the reflection of the library lights on the lake. Two or three couples were scattered on the small island in the lake. "It's hard to find such peace and harmony in the bustling city," he thought. 　　 　　After sitting for about twenty minutes, just as he was ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Looking up at the starry sky

     The night is deep, and I can't fall asleep alone. I open the window and see the twinkling stars, but are you the brightest one?     I remember the first time I saw you was in my final year of junior high. I stood nervously behind you, watching my classmates register one by one, and my name was left unassigned. Yes. I was timid and cowardly, and because I didn't have the money for tuition, I didn't dare to speak to you. I just stood there, standing there.     Later, you noticed me, smiled slightly, and asked, "Have you registered?" I shook my head. You asked again, "Are you having trouble?" I nodded. "Come with me!" When I took out my blankets from a corner of the school, I saw tears in your eyes; and I couldn't hold back anymore and burst into tears. You took the blankets, took my hand, and walked towards the dormitory building.     I've always thought of myself as a stubborn child, someone no one could melt the thick ice in my hea...
Post a Comment
Read more