奏請八旗守節婦人不論年紀照舊例發給俸餉以維生計(附件：諭旨一道王常此奏議行wangcang ni ere wesimbuhe be gisurefi yabubuha)
Yongzheng-era memorial

正紅旗滿洲都統大臣王倉上奏說：臣有點自己的想法，恭敬地啓奏，請皇上定奪。臣琢磨，從前八旗裏因病去世的官員、兵丁留下的寡婦，只要自己願意守節，不管多大歲數，都先發給半年一半的俸祿和錢糧，讓她能守住節操，等到五十歲時，再賞三十兩銀子，並給立牌坊表彰。可眼下看，八旗官員、兵丁的寡婦，都得熬到四十歲，有兒有女而且自己情願守節的，還得從兩方宗族那裏得到確切的保結，才發給半年一半的俸祿錢糧來養活；年輕又沒有子嗣的寡婦自願守節的，要由該旗奏報上去，才准許她守節。照這麼個規矩，從八旗裏奏上來的少得可憐。實際上守節把沒爹的孩子拉扯大，這是婦人最大的節義，也是咱滿洲的舊風俗。把閨女嫁出去，喪夫之後逼她改嫁，那可太丟人了。況且要是非要等到四十歲才發給待遇，那過去“從三十歲以下開始守節，到五十歲後給立牌坊”的舊例，等於就給廢掉了。這關係到國家的禮制。臣的愚見是，八旗官員、兵丁的寡婦，不管是有孩子願意守節撫養的，還是沒有孩子但自己甘願守節的，仍然照老規矩，不計年齡，發給半年一半的俸祿錢糧，讓她們活下去。這樣一來，孤兒不會沒人管，年輕寡婦守節到了五十歲，也能得到皇上格外的恩典。臣把這點見識奏上來，行或不行，請皇上聖明決斷。爲此謹奏。雍正十三年十一月初四日。王倉這件奏摺經部議論後批准施行了。

管理鑲紅旗滿洲都統大臣王倉謹奏，為將略知之事恭摺奏聞，請旨定奪事。竊臣伏查，從前八旗病故官員兵丁之寡婦，不論年歲，情願守節度日者，俱給與半年俸餉錢糧，令其守節；自三十歲以下守節至五十歲者，俱賞銀三十兩立坊旌表。今觀之，八旗官員兵丁之寡婦，俱至四十歲且有子嗣而情願守節者，由兩方族人取具保結，方給與半俸錢糧，令其守節；年少無子嗣之寡婦情願守節者，由該旗奏聞，方準守節。定例以來，八旗奏請者甚少。惟守節撫育無父之子，乃婦人之大義，我滿洲舊俗，以女子嫁後寡居復改嫁為恥。況至四十歲始令守節，則三十歲以下守節至五十歲之寡婦，立坊旌表之例即將湮沒。此事關係國家典禮，臣愚昧之見，請將八旗官員兵丁之寡婦，願撫養子嗣者，及雖無子嗣而情願守節者，仍照舊例，不計年歲，給與半年俸餉錢糧，令其守節度日。如此，則孤兒可得倚靠撫養之人，而年少寡婦守節至五十歲，亦可仰荷國家之殊恩。臣就所知具奏，可否之處，伏祈聖主睿鑒。為此謹奏。乾隆十三年十一月初四日，王倉。奉旨：依議。

Wang Cang, Commander of the Bordered Red Manchu Banner, respectfully memorializes on a matter concerning which he has some knowledge, requesting an imperial decision. Prostrating himself, he reflects: Originally, widows of deceased officers and soldiers of the Eight Banners, regardless of age, who were willing to remain chaste and live on, were all granted a half year's salary and rations and allowed to maintain their chastity; those who remained chaste from before the age of thirty until reaching fifty were each rewarded with thirty taels of silver and an honorary arch to display their virtue. Now it is observed that, for widows of officers and soldiers of the Eight Banners, only those who have reached forty years of age and have children or descendants and are willing to remain chaste, after obtaining guarantees from members of both branches of the clan, are granted a half stipend and rations and permitted to maintain their chastity; young widows without children who are willing to remain chaste must be reported by the relevant banner before they are permitted to do so. Since this regulation was established, very few such cases have been reported from the Eight Banners. However, remaining chaste to raise a fatherless child is a great virtue for a woman, and it is an old Manchu custom to consider it shameful for a widow to remarry. Moreover, if the permission to remain chaste is only granted at the age of forty, the regulation of erecting arches to honor those who remained chaste from below thirty until fifty will be practically abolished. Since this concerns the rites of the state, in the servant's humble opinion, for widows of officers and soldiers of the Eight Banners who are willing to raise their children, or who, though childless, are willing to remain chaste, let them still be treated according to the old regulation, regardless of age, and be granted half a year's salary and rations to support their chaste life. In this way, orphans will have someone dependable to raise them, and young widows who maintain chastity until fifty can also receive the extraordinary grace of the state. The servant submits what little he knows for the imperial scrutiny; as to whether it is appropriate or not, may Your Sacred Majesty deign to judge. Respectfully memorialized. Thirteenth year of Qianlong, eleventh month, fourth day. Wang Cang. Rescript: Deliberate and implement.