良妻賢母 ryōsaikenbo Good Wife Wise Mother

良妻 (ryōsai) is a good wife and 賢母 (kenbo) a wise mother: two old words set side by side. Good Wife Wise Mother is the exact English, word for word, and the English was praise on its own before it carried the Japanese: an American obituary of 1878 calls a woman a good wife, and wise mother.

良妻賢母 is a Meiji pairing of two old words, first found in an 1880 book of morals, which reformers and educators argued over and which the state made the name of its doctrine of women's education from about 1899.

We want you to be as happy with the meaning as you are with Master Takase's art. To learn more, visit Philology of 良妻賢母.

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