| | 齊太倉女: |
齊太倉女者，漢太倉令淳于公之少女也，名緹縈。淳于公無男，有女五人。孝文皇帝時，淳于公有罪當刑。是時肉刑尚在，詔獄繫長安，當行會逮，公罵其女曰：「生子不生男，緩急非有益。」 |
| | Qi Taicang nü zhe, Han Taicang ling Chunyu gong zhi daoshou ye, ming Tiying. The daughter of Qi Taicang was the youngest daughter of Han Taicang Ling Chunyu Gong, whose name was Tiying. Chunyu Gong had no sons, only five daughters. During the reign of Emperor Xiaowen, Chunyu Gong was guilty of a crime and should be punished with corporal punishment. At that time, corporal punishments were still in use. The imperial prison was located in Chang'an, and the case would be reviewed at a scheduled session; the official scolded his daughters, saying: "It is unfortunate to have daughters instead of sons; they are of no help in times of crisis."
|
| | 齊太倉女: |
緹縈自悲泣，而隨其父至長安，上書曰：「妾父為吏，齊中皆稱廉平，今坐法當刑。妾傷夫死者不可復生，刑者不可復屬，雖欲改過自新，其道無由也。妾願入身為官婢，以贖父罪，使得自新。」書奏，天子憐悲其意，乃下詔曰：「蓋聞有虞之時，畫衣冠，異章服，以為戮，而民不犯，何其至治也？今法有肉刑五，而姦不止，其咎安在？非朕德薄而教之不明歟？吾甚自媿。夫訓道不純，而愚民陷焉。《》云：『愷悌君子，民之父母。』今人有過，教未施，而刑已加焉。或欲改行為善，而其道無繇。朕甚憐之。夫刑者至斷支體，刻肌膚，終身不息，何其痛而不德也！豈稱為民父母之意哉！其除肉刑。」 |
| | Tiying was deeply grieved and wept, then followed her father to Chang'an. She submitted a petition saying: "My father served as an official; he was universally regarded as upright and fair in Qi, but now he is sentenced to corporal punishment for breaking the law. I am distressed that a dead man cannot be brought back to life, and an amputated limb cannot be reattached. Even if one wishes to reform and start anew, there is no way to do so." "I wish to offer myself as a palace servant in order to redeem my father's crime and allow him the opportunity for self-reform." After the petition was presented, the emperor felt pity and compassion for her intention. He then issued an edict saying: "I have heard that in the time of Youyu, people were punished by marking their clothes and distinguishing their attire as a form of disgrace, yet the people did not commit crimes—how complete was that governance? Now there are five types of corporal punishment in our laws, yet corruption and crime still do not cease. Where lies the fault?" Is it because my virtue is shallow and my teachings unclear? I am deeply ashamed. The moral instruction is not pure, and thus the ignorant people fall into misfortune. "The Book of Songs says: 'A kind and benevolent gentleman is the father and mother of the people.'" Now, when a person has committed an offense, instruction has not yet been given, but punishment is already imposed. Some may wish to reform and do good, but there is no way for them to do so. I feel deeply pity for this situation. Corporal punishment cuts off limbs and scars the flesh, leaving a lifelong mark—how painful and lacking in virtue it is! How can this be consistent with the meaning of being the father and mother to the people?!" Therefore, let us abolish corporal punishment."
|
| | 齊太倉女: |
自是之後，鑿顛者髡，抽脅者笞，刖足者鉗。淳于公遂得免焉。君子謂緹縈一言發聖主之意，可謂得事之宜矣。《》云：「」此之謂也。 |
| | From then on, those who had their heads shaved were instead shaven bald; those whose ribs were extracted were instead flogged; and those whose feet were amputated were instead branded. Chunyu Gong thus managed to be pardoned. The gentlemen said that Tiying's single statement stirred the emperor's virtuous intent; she could truly be said to have acted appropriately. "The Book of Songs says: 'When words are well spoken, the people will not resist.'" This is what it means.
|
| | 齊太倉女: |
頌曰：緹縈訟父，亦孔有識，推誠上書，文雅甚備，小女之言，乃感聖意，終除肉刑，以免父事。 |
| | Ode: Tiying petitioned for her father, and she was indeed very wise. She sincerely submitted a letter to the throne, which was eloquently composed. The words of this young girl moved the emperor's mind; in the end, corporal punishment was abolished, thus sparing her father from his fate.
|
