| This study examines the exemplary women of "zhen jie", purity and chastity, as recorded by Tao Zongyi (1316-1403) in his Chuo Geng Lu, which covers a decade of his observation and reflection before the fall of the Yuan dynasty. He feels indignant with those ministers and scholars who have switched their allegiance from one regime to another.The tasks this thesis sets out to do are three. The first one is to show that while Tao Zongyi highlights the women's virtue of "zhen jie", he is using them to admonish the ministers who are disloyal. The second task is to discuss that their few worthy male counterparts are scholars and scholar-officials of the lower rank. The final task is to present that Tao Zongyi's appreciation of loyalty and integrity transcends gender, race and dynastic boundaries. He himself observes "zhen jie" by leading the life of a recluse. |
