「豈惟女儀，志士之師」: 尹會一母李氏之生命歷程

Yin Huiyi (1691–1748) was a famous scholar-official during the first half of the eighteenth century who had held offices of a variety of senior government positions. Throughout Yin’s official career, his mother née Li (1667–1744) had provided assistance and guidance for Yin and paved way for his success. The story of Yin’s mother is both amazing and extraordinary. As a learned widow, she did not refrain from actively instructing and supervising her son to carry out his official duties including how to govern at the provincial level. There were records that her filial son, even though already assuming a senior official position, still behaved like a young child before her, as if he was afraid of being reproached by his mother for making mistakes. While her son was away on official trips she almost took up her son’s official roles and often attended various local affairs on her son’s behalf. Yin’s mother, with or without the physical presence of her son, had consistently committed herself to the general welfare of the common people. Many charitable deeds were performed in her name. She received a number of imperial recognitions, including a royal poem and some gifts from the Qianlong emperor (1711–1799; r. 1735–1796). She was so much honoured that temples were built for her even while she was still alive.
If we had discovered more exemplary women like Yin’s mother, perhaps Chinese political history should be somehow revised by shedding more gender perspectives. Unfortunately, more examples like Yin’s mother are yet to be found.