Father and mother-in-law
Are your husband’s family.
When you arrive at their threshold
You become a new woman;
Reverence and serve them
As your own parents.
Honor greatly your father-in-law;
Before him, let neither gladness nor sorrow
Show forth in your face.
Dare not even to walk behind him;
Stand not before him when you speak,
But to one side or behind him,
And hasten his every command to obey.
When your mother-in-law sits
Your should respectfully stand;
Obey quickly her commands.
In the morning early rise
And quietly open the doors,
Making no noise to waken her;
Her toilet articles hasten to prepare;
Her washbowl and towel,
Her toothbrush and powder
All bring together.
Let not the water be too cold or too hot.
When the mother-in-law wakens,
All these things respectfully present to her,
Then immediately retire to one side,
Until her toilet is completed.
Then approach and present the morning salutations;
Again retire and prepare her tea.
Quickly and cheerfully carry it to her;
After which the breakfast table arrange;
Place the spoons and chopsticks straight.
The rice cook soft, and
Let the meat be thoroughly done.
From ancient days until now,
Old people have had sick teeth;
Therefore, let not the food be so dry
That your mother-in-law
With labor vainly eats.
Daily the three meals
Thus carefully prepare.
When darkness comes,
And your great one desires to sleep,
Carefully for her spread the bed,
When she may peacefully rest,
And you may retire to your room.
Following these instructions,
All your superiors will praise you,
All that know you will esteem you as good.
Do not imitate that other class
Who care not for woman's duties.
Loudly they talk before their superiors;
When told to do anything,
They ever answer, “My body is tired,”
When truly they are only lazy.
They obey not their superiors,
Nor care whether they are hungry or cold;
The reputation of such is wholly bad;
Heaven and earth have no patience with them!
Thunder and lightning are angry with them!
When their punishment comes
Their repentance is too late,
There is then left no road of escape.
Are your husband’s family.
When you arrive at their threshold
You become a new woman;
Reverence and serve them
As your own parents.
Honor greatly your father-in-law;
Before him, let neither gladness nor sorrow
Show forth in your face.
Dare not even to walk behind him;
Stand not before him when you speak,
But to one side or behind him,
And hasten his every command to obey.
When your mother-in-law sits
Your should respectfully stand;
Obey quickly her commands.
In the morning early rise
And quietly open the doors,
Making no noise to waken her;
Her toilet articles hasten to prepare;
Her washbowl and towel,
Her toothbrush and powder
All bring together.
Let not the water be too cold or too hot.
When the mother-in-law wakens,
All these things respectfully present to her,
Then immediately retire to one side,
Until her toilet is completed.
Then approach and present the morning salutations;
Again retire and prepare her tea.
Quickly and cheerfully carry it to her;
After which the breakfast table arrange;
Place the spoons and chopsticks straight.
The rice cook soft, and
Let the meat be thoroughly done.
From ancient days until now,
Old people have had sick teeth;
Therefore, let not the food be so dry
That your mother-in-law
With labor vainly eats.
Daily the three meals
Thus carefully prepare.
When darkness comes,
And your great one desires to sleep,
Carefully for her spread the bed,
When she may peacefully rest,
And you may retire to your room.
Following these instructions,
All your superiors will praise you,
All that know you will esteem you as good.
Do not imitate that other class
Who care not for woman's duties.
Loudly they talk before their superiors;
When told to do anything,
They ever answer, “My body is tired,”
When truly they are only lazy.
They obey not their superiors,
Nor care whether they are hungry or cold;
The reputation of such is wholly bad;
Heaven and earth have no patience with them!
Thunder and lightning are angry with them!
When their punishment comes
Their repentance is too late,
There is then left no road of escape.
