觀音義疏 2.12

2.12

This again has two parts: first, seeking a boy; second, seeking a girl. The text says: 'A woman seeking a boy: if there is no son, the lineage is cut off; if there is a son, both parents rejoice.' Why does it specifically designate a woman seeking a boy? Commentators sometimes say: 'The woman is weary of the female body, not seeking a child.' Another explanation says: 'The female nature has much affection, and joy in children is especially heavy.' Hence it designates a woman. We now explain: a woman takes being childless as suffering—she is abandoned by her husband, slighted by co-wives, and mocked by onlookers. Furthermore, a wife has seven faults; six can still be endured, but being childless is the most severe: bad appearance, jealous disposition, inability to serve parents-in-law, greed for food, childlessness, and clumsiness. Since childlessness is indeed suffering, it therefore designates a woman seeking a boy.