42．巾部 towel; cloth
巾帼ancient woman’s headdress英雄heroine
巾帼英雄means a heroic woman.
This saying comes from a story that took place in the Northern Song北宋 period (960-1127). China was invaded by the Liao辽 army. The Song General sent two strong soldiers to steal a special wood called Subduing-Dragon Wood降龙木 from the Muke Stockade穆柯寨 to make shafts for axes. When they reached the stockade, the soldiers were captured by Mu Guiying穆桂英, the daughter of the Chief of the Stockade. The Song General came to rescue his men, but he too was defeated by Mu Guiying.
Later, when Mu Guiying learned that the Song army needed the Subduing-Dragon Wood to make weapons, she presented the wood to the general and also requested to join the army. Her request was approved. Mu Guiying led to army to fight against the invaders. Soon, the Song army returned in triumph. Mu Guiying was regarded as 巾帼英雄.
【拼音】jīn guó yīng xióng
【解释】古时候的贵族妇女，常在举行祭把大典时戴一种用丝织品或发丝制成的头饰，这种头巾式的头饰叫巾帼，其上还装缀着一些金珠玉翠制成的珍贵首饰。巾帼的种类及颜色有多种，如用细长的马尾制作的叫“剪耄帼”；用黑中透红颜色制作的叫“绀缯帼”。因巾帼这类物品是古代妇女的高贵装饰，人们便称女中豪杰为“巾帼英雄”，后人又把“巾帼”作为妇女的尊称。
【出处】《晋书》：“亮遗懿巾帼妇人之饰以辱之。”
