Journals / World Language Studies / 2026 / Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1

MOTHER–SON RELATIONS IN TRADITIONAL CHINA: STATUS, CONSTRAINT, AND THE GUÌ–GUĪ RESONANCE

GELENEKSEL ÇİN AİLE ANLAYIŞINDA ANNE–OĞUL İLİŞKİSİ: STATÜ, SINIRLANDIRMA VE GUÌ–GUĪ ÇAĞRIŞIMI

Mukaddes Koç(Ankara Sosyal Bilimler Üniversitesi)0000-0003-0224-1273
Pages
114–135
Publication Date
2026-07-01
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the position of the mother in the traditional Chinese family order was shaped within a structure in which status and restriction operated together.The study also offers a reading based on the phonetic affinity between the characters "贵 (guì)" and "规 (guī)" in the expression mǔ yǐ zǐ guì 母以子贵.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study examines the mother–son relationship in the traditional Chinese family system within the framework of the principles of 孝 (xiào, filial piety), 子以母贵 (zǐ yǐ mǔ guì, the son is honored through the mother), 母以子贵 (mǔ yǐ zǐ guì, the mother is honored through the son), 夫死从子 (fū sǐ cóng zǐ, after the husband’s death, the woman follows the son).
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Key Findings & Data:While guì (贵) refers to the status and respectability a mother gains through her son, guī (规) indicates the boundaries within which this status operates.
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Conclusion & Impact:In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the position of the mother in the traditional Chinese family order was shaped within a structure in which status and restriction operated together.The study also offers a reading based on the phonetic affinity between the characters "贵 (guì)" and "规 (guī)" in the expression mǔ yǐ zǐ guì 母以子贵.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Anne-oğul ilişkisi · aile · dilsel çağrışım

Abstract

This study examines the mother–son relationship in the traditional Chinese family system within the framework of the principles of 孝 (xiào, filial piety), 子以母贵 (zǐ yǐ mǔ guì, the son is honored through the mother), 母以子贵 (mǔ yǐ zǐ guì, the mother is honored through the son), 夫死从子 (fū sǐ cóng zǐ, after the husband’s death, the woman follows the son). While zǐ yǐ mǔ guì connects the son’s status to the social position of his mother, mǔ yǐ zǐ guì enables the mother to gain status through her son. Fū sǐ cóng zǐ reorganizes the mother’s position within the family around the authority of the son, In contrast, xiào provides moral legitimacy to this entire structure. The common characteristic of these principles is that the mother’s position is defined through the son. By examining both the complementary and conflicting aspects of these principles within the mother–son relationship, this study aims to explain how status and restriction function together within the traditional Chinese family order. The study also offers a reading based on the phonetic affinity between the characters “贵 (guì)” and “规 (guī)” in the expression mǔ yǐ zǐ guì (母以子贵). While guì (贵) refers to the status and respectability a mother gains through her son, guī (规) indicates the boundaries within which this status operates. Drawing on the original meaning of guī (规) as a compass, the son represents the center of the system, whereas the mother moves within the limits determined by that center. Therefore, within the expression mǔ yǐ zǐ guì , elevation and restriction coexist simultaneously. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the position of the mother in the traditional Chinese family order was shaped within a structure in which status and restriction operated together.The study also offers a reading based on the phonetic affinity between the characters "贵 (guì)" and "规 (guī)" in the expression mǔ yǐ zǐ guì 母以子贵. While guì 贵 refers to the status and respectability gained by the mother through her son, guī 规 indicates the boundaries within which this status operates. Drawing on the original meaning of guī 规 as a compass, the son represents the center of the system, whereas the mother moves within the limits determined by that center. Therefore, within the expression mǔ yǐ zǐ guì 母以子贵, elevation and restriction coexist simultaneously. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the position of the mother in the traditional Chinese family order was shaped within a structure in which status and restriction operated together.

Özet

Bu çalışma, geleneksel Çin aile anlayışında anne–oğul ilişkisini 孝 (xiào, iyi evlat), 子以母贵 (zǐ yǐ mǔ guì, oğul anne sayesinde yücelir), 母以子贵 (mǔ yǐ zǐ guì, anne oğul sayesinde yücelir) ve 夫死从子 (fū sǐ cóng zǐ, koca öldüğünde oğula itaat) ilkeleri çerçevesinde incelemektedir. Zǐ yǐ mǔ guì oğulun statüsünü annenin konumuna bağlarken, mǔ yǐ zǐ guì annenin oğul aracılığıyla statü kazanmasını mümkün kılmaktadır. Fū sǐ cóng zǐ annenin aile içindeki konumunu oğul ekseninde yeniden düzenlemekte, xiào ise bütün bu yapıya ahlaki meşruiyet kazandırmaktadır. Bu ilkelerin ortak özelliği, annenin konumunun oğul üzerinden tanımlanmasıdır. Bu çalışma, söz konusu ilkelerin anne-oğul ilişkisinde birbirini tamamlayan ve çatışan yönlerini inceleyerek statü ile sınırlandırmanın nasıl birlikte işlediğini açıklamayı amaçlamaktadır. Çalışma ayrıca mǔ yǐ zǐ guì(母以子贵) ifadesindeki “贵 (guì) ile “规 (guī)” karakterleri arasındaki fonetik yakınlığın oluşturduğu çağrışım üzerinden bir okuma önerisi sunmaktadır. Guì 贵 annenin oğul sayesinde kazandığı statü ve saygınlığı ifade ederken, guī (规) bu statünün hangi sınırlar içinde işlediğini göstermektedir. Guī (规) karakterinin temel anlamı olan pergelden hareketle, oğul sistemin merkezini temsil ederken anne bu merkezin çizdiği sınırlar içinde hareket etmektedir. Bu nedenle mǔ yǐ zǐ guì ifadesinde yükselme ile sınırlandırma aynı anda bulunmaktadır. Sonuç olarak çalışma, geleneksel Çin aile düzeninde annenin konumunun statü ile sınırlandırmanın birlikte işlediği bir yapı içinde şekillendiğini ortaya koymaktadır.Çalışma ayrıca mǔ yǐ zǐ guì(母以子贵) ifadesindeki “贵 (guì)” ile “规 (guī)” karakterleri arasındaki fonetik yakınlığın oluşturduğu çağrışım üzerinden bir okuma önerisi sunmaktadır. Guì 贵 annenin oğul sayesinde kazandığı statü ve saygınlığı ifade ederken, guī(规) bu statünün hangi sınırlar içinde işlediğini göstermektedir. Guī (规) karakterinin temel anlamı olan pergelden hareketle, oğul sistemin merkezini temsil ederken anne bu merkezin çizdiği sınırlar içinde hareket etmektedir. Bu nedenle mǔ yǐ zǐ guì ifadesinde yükselme ile sınırlandırma aynı anda bulunmaktadır. Sonuç olarak çalışma, geleneksel Çin aile düzeninde annenin konumunun statü ile sınırlandırmanın birlikte işlediği bir yapı içinde şekillendiğini ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Koç, M. (2026). MOTHER–SON RELATIONS IN TRADITIONAL CHINA: STATUS, CONSTRAINT, AND THE GUÌ–GUĪ RESONANCE. World Language Studies, Cilt: 6 Sayı: 1, 114–135. https://ajindex.com/articles/1623876

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