A character to care for and cherish

養(yǎng)生，養(yǎng)性，養(yǎng)浩然之氣

In classical Confucian belief， utopia is where “the old are provided for， the middle-aged are employed， the young are brought up， and all the widowed， orphaned， childless， and disabled are cared for” （老有所終，壯有所用，幼有所長(zhǎng)，矜寡孤獨(dú)廢疾者皆有所養(yǎng)）. First recorded in the “Liyun” chapter of Confucius classic The Book of Rites， this ideal， known as “Great Unity” has influenced many politicians and reformers over the last 2，000 years.

In the Lebanese film Capharnaüm， the 12-year-old Zainin talks about the basic human need to be cared for： “I want adults who cant raise children not to have children.” In nature， wild animals instinctively take care of

their young， while today， Chinese parents can sign up for courses in the art of care， nourishment， and support—all encapsulated in the character 養(yǎng) （y2ng）.

Developed in the Warring States period， the traditional version of 養(yǎng) is養(yǎng)， consisting of a 羊 （y1ng， sheep） radical at the top， which informs its pronunciation， and a 食 （sh！， eating） radical below. It originally referred to raising livestock like sheep and water buffalo， but was later applied to plants. In the Spring and Autumn period， economist and politician Guan Zhong proposed 養(yǎng)桑麻，育六畜 （y2ng s`ng m1， y& li&ch&， “growing mulberry and hemp， and raising six species of livestock”） as the best way to lead the state and people to prosperity.

Today， the character is applied to the raising of all animals. A formal word for raising livestock is 飼養(yǎng) （s#y2ng）. For instance， 中國(guó)飼養(yǎng)豬的歷史可以追溯到新石器時(shí)代。（Zh4nggu5 s#y2ng zh$ de l#sh@ k0y@ zhu～s& d3o X～nsh！q# sh！d3i. “The history of pig-raising in China can be traced back to the Neolithic Age.”）

Indoor plants and small pets， which require special care by humans， also use the character 養(yǎng)， as in 養(yǎng)花 （y2ng hu`， growing flowers） or 養(yǎng)貓 （y2ng m`o， keeping a cat）. When it comes to humans， 養(yǎng) can refer to giving birth to and taking care of a child. For instance， 她養(yǎng)了一個(gè)大胖小子。（T` y2ng le y！ g- d3 p3ng xi2ozi. She delivered a big baby boy.） People traditionally had children to provide security for themselves in old age or 養(yǎng)兒防老 （y2ng9r f1ngl2o）. Those unable to have their own children may choose to adopt （領(lǐng)養(yǎng)， l@ngy2ng）， thus becoming 養(yǎng)父母 （y2ngf&m^， foster parents） to their 養(yǎng)子（y2ngz@， adopted sons） and 養(yǎng)女 （y2ngn）， adopted daughters）.

In a Confucian society， adults had a moral and legal obligation both to provide for （贍養(yǎng)， sh3ny2ng） their parents and grandparents， and to bring up （撫養(yǎng)， f^y2ng） their offspring. They are also responsible for supporting the whole family and feeding its members （養(yǎng)家糊口， y2ngji` h%k6u）.