This saying advises that when choosing a wife, a man should prioritize moral character, virtue, and inner qualities over physical beauty. It suggests that beauty fades and can even bring trouble, while a virtuous woman ensures a stable and harmonious household. It is a practical guide for marriage selection.
In traditional Chinese marriage philosophy, a wife's virtue (德, dé) was considered essential for family harmony, raising children properly, and managing the household. Physical beauty was seen as secondary and even potentially risky, as it could attract unwanted attention or vanity.
This saying reflects the deep-seated cultural belief that marriage is a lifelong institution for family stability, not a pursuit of personal pleasure. It signals that a man's choice of wife has moral and social implications beyond his own happiness, affecting the entire family line.
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