Four Great Mothers in Chinese History

Madam Yao was renowned for tattooing four Chinese characters on Yue Fei’s back—jing zhong bao guo (serve the country loyally)—to remind him of his duty. Sun Mingguo/The Epoch Times

Our mothers have great influence on us. As our first teachers, they influence us in every way, shaping our personalities and moulding our minds.

There were many prominent figures in Chinese history whose mothers played a significant role in their achievements. Among these mothers were Mencius’s mother, Yue Fei’s mother, Tao Kan’s mother, and Ouyang Xiu’s mother. Revered as the Four Virtuous Mothers of Ancient China, their behavior and character were exemplary.

Mencius’s mother

Mencius’s mother, Zhang, was born in the State of Zou during the Warring States Period (475–221 B.C.). As a widow, she worked hard to raise Mencius (372–289 B.C.) and was very strict with him. That was how Mencius grew up to be a famous philosopher.