[Ancient Women's Title] 'Mian' originates from the Book of Songs' 'Li'er Msian', and Kong Yingda's commentary says, 'Mian' refers to a woman who possesses the virtue of a scholar,' a metaphor for a woman with masculine achievements and talents, that is, an honorific for a woman with knowledge and cultivation. Nüliu: In Chapter 41 of 'The Scholars', it is recorded: 'Seeing her as a woman, she has the bearing of many heroes.' This is a general term for women in ancient times. Nülang: In the ancient Yuefu poem 'Ballad of Mulan', there is the line, 'Traveling together for twelve years, not knowing Mulan was a woman.' It carries the ambitious meaning of 'the gentleman among women' and is also a metaphor for young women. Jinguo originates from the Book of Jin and is an ancient women's headpiece used to represent femininity. At that time, Zhuge Liang attacked Wei and repeatedly challenged Sima Yi, but Sima Yi refused to fight. Zhuge Liang then left behind the women's headpieces, mocking him for being inferior to a woman. Later, people often referred to heroes among women as "female heroes." Nüshi refers to women in ancient times who were learned and served as officials in charge of court ceremonies, classics, and document work. Qun Xi was an ancient women's clothing ornament, generally referring to women. This term often appears in novels and dramas. Chapter 1 of Dream of the Red Chamber: "I am a dignified man with eyebrows, truly not as good as that skirt and slanting." "Lady" refers to a gentle, kind, and beautiful woman, a term often seen in literary works. Book of Songs, Southern Zhou, Guan Sui: "Guan Guan, the dove of the Southern Zhou, in the river islet. A graceful and virtuous lady, a gentleman's good match." "Miaoling Shoujou" refers to a woman in the prime of her youth. "Peerless Beauty" refers to a peerless beauty of the time. Yan and Zhao have many beauties, whose faces are like jade; Therefore, young and beautiful women are always referred to as "jade lady," "bi lady," "handsome lady," "beautiful lady," "jade maiden," "delicate girl," "xi shi," "yuwu," "yuwu," "qing'e," and so on. Talented women with sweeping eyebrows refer to women with literary talent. Those who do not comb the imperial examination refer to women of exceptional talent. Ye Ye Chang Tiao refers to women who are reckless and charming. Ruyu Wenxiang refers to gentle young women. Bitter plums by the roadside refer to women who have been abandoned by others. Xiaojia Biyu refers to beautiful women from humble families. The ancient Yuefu poem "Biyu Ge" contains the line: "Jade girls from humble families dare not seek the noble virtue." Luo Fu: beautiful and steadfast women. Wuyan: women who are ugly but virtuous.Qianjin, Lingyuan, Nügongzi – Honorific titles for others' daughters.
Biyu: "Biyu, a girl from a humble family, dare not aspire to noble virtue." (Ancient Yuefu 'Song of Biyu') "Xi Shi casually says she washes spring gauze, today Biyu competes with Hua in beauty." (Wan Chu 'King Watches *') 'Biyu' originally described a woman's appearance, later used to refer to a beautiful girl from a humble family.
Chanjuan: "A row of decorated towers by the water, every family's reflection shows Chanjuan." (Kong Shangren 'The Peach Blossom Fan') 'Chanjuan' refers to a beautiful woman.
Hongfen: "Horses and swallows shake the ground, self-buried red powder turns white to ash." (Li Shangyin 'Mawei') "Occasionally speaking wildly shocks the whole hall, few rows of red powder appear at once." (Du Mu 'Composed at the Banquet of the Minister of War') 'Hongfen' originally referred to the rouge and lead powder used by women for makeup, later also referring to women themselves.
Hongxiu: "Tonight I will get drunk first again, may the red sleeves assist." (Bai Juyi 'Drinking Chant') "Red sleeves hold candles at the door, relieving fatigue at tonight's grand banquet." (Han Wo 'Watching the Hunt at the Border, Presented to the General') 'Hongxiu' originally referred to the red sleeves of women's clothing, later used to represent beautiful women.
Hongqun: "Rich youths in Chang'an, served with delicacies of meat and fat; unable to read, only able to get drunk with red skirts." (Han Yu 'Drunkenly Presented to Secretary Zhang') 'Hongqun' originally referred to women's skirts, also used to refer to women.
Hongyan: "Mourning the soldiers entirely in white, enraged in my cap for a beauty." (Qing? Wu Weiye 'Yuanyuan Qu') 'Hongyan' originally meant a woman's beautiful face, later used as a reference to a beautiful woman.
Honglou: "Spring in Chang'an originally belonged to no one, throughout history always belonging to the women of the Red Mansion." (Li Bai 'Fulfilling an Imperial Command in the Spring Garden') 'Honglou' originally referred to the residence of ancient courtesans, later used to refer to women.
Hongzhuang: "Only fearing the flowers will sleep deep in the night, lighting tall candles to illuminate the red makeup." (Su Shi 'Begonia') 'Hongzhuang' originally referred to the makeup and adornments of ancient women, later used to refer to beautiful women.
[Introduction to Age-Related Terms for Men and Women in Ancient Times] Since ancient times, China has had a wide variety of terms to refer to different ages of men and women, from infants, young children, adolescents, youth, adults, middle-aged, to the elderly, which can be truly described as numerous, elegant, and interesting.Under one year old — Swaddling 2–3 years old — Toddler Girl 7 years old — Early hair stage Boy 8 years old — Early hair stage General term for childhood — Topknots Under 10 years old — Yellow mouth 13–15 years old — Stirring the spoon years 15–20 years old — Dancing elephant years 12 years old (girl) — Golden hairpin years 20 years old (boy) — Weak crown 13 years old (girl) — Nutmeg years 15 years old (girl) — Coming-of-age hairpin years 16 years old (girl) — Split melon years, Jade years 20 years old (girl) — Peach and plum years 24 years old (girl) — Flower message years Until marriage — Plum years Until 30 years old (girl) — Middle-aged lady 30 years old (boy) — Age of establishment 40 years old (boy) — Age of no confusion, Peak strength years 50 years old — Over half a century, Age of knowing right from wrong, Age of knowing destiny, Moxa years, Great change years 60 years old — Flower armor, Simple six decades, Age of obeying, Village cane years 70 years old — Ancient rare, National cane years, Retirement years, Political retirement years 80 years old — Court cane years 80–90 years old — Advanced age years 90 years old — Old back years 100 years old — Expectancy [Ancient terms for ages] Topknots: Refers to childhood. Originates from the Book of Songs, such as "Topknot feast" in the Wei Wind / Folk Song of the Ballads, and "Topknot" in Qi Wind / Poem of Futiandi. Later, childhood was referred to as "topknot." Tao Yuanming's preface to the poem "Glorifying Trees": "Hearing the Way with a topknot, growing old without achievement." Drooping hair: Refers to childhood. In ancient times, children who had not yet come-of-age wore their hair down, hence "drooping hair" came to represent childhood. Pan Yue's "Relying on Fields": "Wearing coarse clothes and shaking sleeves, drooping hair gathered around." Tied hair: Refers to adolescence. Generally refers to around age 15, when one should learn various skills. From Da Dai's Book of Rites / Baofu: "Tie the hair and attend higher studies, learn major skills, and observe great rituals." Coming-of-age hairpin: Refers to girls at 15 years old. From Liji / Internal Rules: "Girls... at fifteen years old, wear hairpins." 'Hairpin' refers to tying the hair and securing it with a pin, indicating the age suitable for marriage. Waiting-age: Refers to girls of marriageable age, also called 'waiting character'.Source: *Book of the Later Han / Records of Empress Cao* "The young ones wait for the proper age in the country." Later, the age at which a girl is ready for marriage was referred to as 'waiting age.' *Selections of Refined Literature / Eulogy for Empress Yuan of Emperor Wen of Song*: "From the waiting age, the golden sounds resonated early."
Weak Cap (Ruo Guan): Refers to men at 20 years old.
Source: *Book of Rites / Qu Li, Part 1* "Twenty is called weak; then one wears the cap." In ancient times, men celebrated the capping ceremony at 20, marking adulthood. Zuo Si, in one of his *Poems on History*: "At the weak cap, he played with his delicate writing brush, remarkably studying all kinds of books."
Established (Er Li): Refers to 30 years old.
Source: *The Analects / Governance*: "At thirty, one stands firm." Later, 30 was called the 'age of establishment.' *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio / The Monk of Changqing*: "Sometimes friends came to his village, paying their respects, and saw that he was silent and sincere, only thirty years old but already established."
Unperplexed (Bu Huo): Refers to 40 years old.
Source: *The Analects / Governance*: "At forty, one is free from doubt." Later, 'unperplexed' was a synonym for forty years old. Ying Qu, in *Reply to Han Wenxian*: "Your age is just at unperplexed."
Ai: Refers to 50 years old.
Source: *Book of Rites / Qu Li, Part 1* "Fifty is called Ai." In old age, hair becomes white like mugwort. *Popular Romance of the Republic of China*, Chapter 37: "...I have already reached Ai; what is there left to be dissatisfied about?"
Hua Jia: Refers to 60 years old.
The name comes from the complex combination of the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches.
