The Two Righteousness At Zhu Ya

Here is my summarized and translated version of the story contained in the Chinese Text Book of Virtues, Book two, Chapter on Righteousness( 义). Please pardon my translation errors and let me know if you spot any errors.

During the Han Dynasty in the region of Zhu Ya, there was a county magistrate who passed away. His second wife, with her nine year old son and the daughter of his first wife returned to Zhu Ya to attend to his funeral. The daughter of the magistrate's first wife was called Chu and she was thirteen years old.

During that time, there was strict laws against the possession of pearls. Those who brought in pearls faced the death penalty. Chu's stepmother had a pearl chain which she usually wore at her wrist. Before reaching Zhu Ya's customs, she had removed her pearl chain and threw it away. Without she and Chu noticing, her son went to pick up the pearl chain and put it into her small container.

At Zhu Ya, the custom officers searched and found the pearl chain in the mother's container. They questioned the three of them, "Who should be punished?" Chu immediately replied, "My mum had already thrown away the pearl chain, I secretly went to pick it up and hide it in the container. I should be punished!" Chu's stepmother went on, "I'm the one who love the pearl chain so I should be the one to be punished!" Both stepmother and daughter, with tears flowing down their cheeks, pleaded to be the one to face the death penalty. The custom official greatly admired and respect their righteousness. He was willing to take their place to be punished. He threw away the pearl chain and sent them home.

Original Chinese story available HERE 《德育课本》,二集卷六,《二十四义》, 编号 : dykb2-06, story number 6.