thất xuất
Definition
- Noun (Historical/Legal Term):
- The Seven Grounds for Divorce (Repudiation): In feudal Vietnamese society and traditional East Asian legal codes, this term refers to the seven specific reasons a husband could unilaterally divorce or repudiate his wife. These reasons were codified and considered legitimate justifications for ending a marriage.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Trong xã hội phong kiến, "thất xuất" là công cụ hợp pháp để người chồng ly dị vợ. (In feudal society, "thất xuất" was a legal tool for a husband to divorce his wife.)
- Luật cũ liệt kê bảy điều thuộc "thất xuất". (The old law listed seven items belonging to "thất xuất".)
Advanced Usage
- The concept is rooted in historical Confucian-influenced family law and is considered archaic and discriminatory by modern standards. It is primarily encountered in historical, legal, or literary texts discussing traditional customs.
The Seven Specific Grounds (Thất Xuất)
The traditional seven grounds, as historically defined, are: 1. Vô tử (Having no son): Failure to bear a male heir. 2. Dâm (Adultery/Lasciviousness): Being unchaste or engaging in illicit sexual conduct. 3. Bất kính với cha mẹ chồng (Disrespect towards parents-in-law): Failing to serve or show proper respect to the husband's parents. 4. Đa ngôn (Garrulousness): Being overly talkative or causing discord in the family. 5. Trộm cắp (Theft): Stealing. 6. Ghen tuông (Jealousy): Exhibiting excessive jealousy. 7. Ác tật (Incurable Disease): Having a severe or incurable disease.
Synonyms
- Grounds for repudiation: The formal reasons for casting off a wife.
- Seven outs (historical): A direct, informal translation of the term.
Related Terms
- Tam tòng tứ đức (The Three Obediences and Four Virtues): The complementary set of Confucian principles defining ideal female behavior, which provided the social context for rules like "thất xuất".
- Ly hôn (Divorce): The modern, general term for divorce, which implies a legal process not based on the one-sided "thất xuất" grounds.