Yeollyeo

Yeollyeo (Korean: 열녀; Hanja: 烈女), also called Yeolbu(Korean: 열부; Hanja: 烈婦) is defined as 'virtuous woman' in Joseon dynasty of Korea.[1]

During the Joseon dynasty, the emphasis was placed on the study of Confucianism, with particular emphasis on loyalty, filial piety and women's virtue. In particular, the duty of enthusiasm was an essential virtue for married women.[2] Gyeongguk daejeon, the best code of law completed in the early Joseon dynasty, stipulated a "prohibition of remarriage of widows" that once married women should not marry. If she remarried for unavoidable circumstances, even if the child had her noble status, she couldn't get out of the way.[3] As well as her husband's death, her wife had to guard her grave for three years after which she was forced to live in mourning for her whole life. There were even instances where her wife took her own life for her deceased husband. In this way, for the wives who kept her fidelity for her life only for one husband, the gate of the virtuous women was granted to the household as a prize.

Widows who lost their virtue were used to suicide or be forced coercively.

See also

References
  1. "열녀". Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
  2. muchadoboutlove (2014-06-14). "Women of the Joseon Dynasty (Part 1)". the talking cupboard. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  3. "Asian Women - The Research Institute of Asian Women". e-asianwomen.org. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
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