Chou Collection, Lower Volume Radical: Woman (nǚ) Character: Wife Kangxi strokes: 11 Page 265, Entry 02 Ancient form. Pronounced fu (falling tone). As defined in the Analytical Dictionary of Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), it means to submit. In the Progress of Kinship (Erya), the son's wife is called a wife. Furthermore, a woman who has married is called a wife. The word for wife is related to the word for submit, meaning to submit to one's husband. In the Book of Rites (Liji), specifically the section on Marriage Principles, it states: Before a woman marries, she is taught the four virtues: wife’s morality, wife’s speech, wife’s appearance, and wife’s work. In the section on the Suburban Sacrifice, it states: A woman is one who follows others. In youth, she follows her father and brothers; after marriage, she follows her husband; when her husband dies, she follows her son. Eldest wife, senior wife, and secondary wife refer to the various wives. See the section on Inner Rules (Neize). The office of the supervisor of women oversees the processing of silk and hemp. See the Rites of Zhou (Zhouli), section on Offices of Heaven. The twenty-seven wives refers to an official rank within the inner palace. Dependent wives refers to wives who are destitute, lonely, and in need of support. In the Classic of History (Shangshu), section on Timber for Building (Zicai), it mentions those who are dependent wives. A widowed woman is a widow. In Su Shi's Ode to the Red Cliff (Chibi Fu), it mentions the weeping of a widow in a lonely boat. Refers to a pleasant appearance. In the Xunzi, section on Discussion of Music, it mentions her appearance as being wifely. Objects in nature associated with the yin principle are also called wives. According to the Piya, when the turtledove senses yin, it drives away its mate; when it is sunny, it calls for her. According to the Rhyme Treasury (Yunfu), the cricket is also called a singing insect; in Jinan, it is called the lazy wife. There is a fish in the Yangtze River called the white flag; its fat can be burned for light. If used to illuminate songs and dances, it is bright, but if used to illuminate spinning and weaving, it is dim; people say it is the transformation of a lazy woman. The wren is called the clever wife, and the red-spotted spider is called the silk-spinning wife. See the Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao Gangmu). The Sanskrit term boliye translates to wife. Pronounced fu (falling tone). In the poem Drinking at the Great Wall Cave by Lin, it says: The border cities have many strong young men, while the inner chambers have many widows. Write a letter to the wife in the inner chamber, saying she should remarry and not remain there. Also rhymes with fei (falling tone). In the Verses of Chu (Chuci), section on Heavenly Questions, it says: A tree by the water's edge, obtained by that young boy, why would he despise it, there is the wife from the State of Xin. Commonly written as fu. Also written in a variant form (fu).