孟母,相傳姓仉(zhǎng)氏,戰國時晉國(今山西省晉中市太谷縣東西仉村)人。據《孟(meng)子(zi)(zi)世家族譜·世譜》記(ji)(ji)載:“亞圣祖系出自魯桓公(gong)允,允生(sheng)莊公(gong)同(tong)(tong),同(tong)(tong)有(you)弟三(san):長(chang)慶(qing)父(fu)為(wei)孟(meng)孫氏(shi)(shi),慶(qing)父(fu)四傳莊子(zi)(zi)速(su),速(su)七傳激(ji),字(zi)公(gong)宜,激(ji)娶仉(zhang)氏(shi)(shi),魏公(gong)子(zi)(zi)(仉(zhang))啟(qi)(qi)女,于(yu)周烈(lie)王四年(nian)四月二(er)日己酉生(sheng)軻,字(zi)子(zi)(zi)車,又字(zi)子(zi)(zi)輿。”又清·張澍《姓(xing)韻(yun)·卷六(liu)十(shi)》記(ji)(ji)載:“仉(zhang),孟(meng)子(zi)(zi)母仉(zhang)氏(shi)(shi)。魯有(you)黨姓(xing),音掌(zhang),掌(zhang)當是黨氏(shi)(shi)之(zhi)族。”這里(li)的“魏公(gong)子(zi)(zi)”即魏國公(gong)子(zi)(zi)仉(zhang)啟(qi)(qi),關于(yu)仉(zhang)啟(qi)(qi),史籍無考。《通志(zhi)·氏(shi)(shi)族略·五》云:“仉(zhang),音掌(zhang),梁(liang)州(zhou)有(you)仉(zhang)啟(qi)(qi)”。
她克勤克儉(jian),含辛(xin)茹(ru)苦,堅守(shou)志節,在(zai)中國(guo)(guo)歷史上受到普遍尊崇。黎民(min)百(bai)姓傳頌著她的故事(shi),文(wen)人(ren)學士(shi)為其立傳作贊,達官顯貴、孟氏后(hou)裔為其樹(shu)碑修(xiu)祠,后(hou)人(ren)把她與“精忠報國(guo)(guo)”岳飛(fei)的母(mu)(mu)親(qin)岳母(mu)(mu)、三(san)國(guo)(guo)時期徐庶的母(mu)(mu)親(qin)徐母(mu)(mu),列為母(mu)(mu)親(qin)的典范,號稱中國(guo)(guo)“賢良三(san)母(mu)(mu)”,而且位居“賢良三(san)母(mu)(mu)”之(zhi)首(shou)。
孟(meng)(meng)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)子(zi)的(de)(de)(de)影響頗(po)為深(shen)遠(yuan),早在(zai)西(xi)漢時期韓(han)嬰的(de)(de)(de)《韓(han)詩(shi)外傳》中(zhong),就(jiu)用(yong)有關(guan)孟(meng)(meng)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)的(de)(de)(de)故事來(lai)解釋詩(shi)義(yi),劉向的(de)(de)(de)《列女(nv)傳》中(zhong),首次出現了“孟(meng)(meng)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)”這個專用(yong)名詞。東漢女(nv)史學(xue)家班昭曾作(zuo)《孟(meng)(meng)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)頌》,西(xi)晉女(nv)文學(xue)家左(zuo)芬也作(zuo)《孟(meng)(meng)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)贊(zan)(zan)》。南(nan)宋時的(de)(de)(de)啟蒙(meng)課本《三字經》引證(zheng)的(de)(de)(de)第(di)一(yi)個典故就(jiu)是(shi)“昔孟(meng)(meng)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu),擇鄰處。子(zi)不學(xue),斷(duan)機杼”,這一(yi)普及(ji)于封(feng)(feng)建社會后(hou)期的(de)(de)(de)啟蒙(meng)讀物(wu),雖經明(ming)、清學(xue)者陸續(xu)修訂補充,而孟(meng)(meng)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)三遷、斷(duan)機教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)子(zi)的(de)(de)(de)故事始終冠于篇首。山東監察御使(shi)鐘(zhong)化民《祭孟(meng)(meng)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)文》贊(zan)(zan)揚道:“子(zi)之圣(sheng)即母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)之圣(sheng)”、“人生教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)子(zi),志在(zai)青紫。夫人教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)子(zi),志在(zai)孔(kong)子(zi)。古(gu)今以來(lai),一(yi)人而已。”隨著孟(meng)(meng)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)故事的(de)(de)(de)廣泛(fan)流傳,封(feng)(feng)建統治者也竭力(li)將其(qi)塑造成符合其(qi)需要的(de)(de)(de)偶像(xiang),封(feng)(feng)建皇帝對其(qi)屢(lv)加封(feng)(feng)謚,直到乾隆二年(nian)(nian)(1737年(nian)(nian))加封(feng)(feng)孟(meng)(meng)母(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)(mu)為“邾(zhu)國端(duan)范宣獻(xian)夫人”。
漢·劉向(xiang)《孟母頌》:“孟子(zi)(zi)之(zhi)母,教化別分。處子(zi)(zi)擇義(yi),使從大倫。子(zi)(zi)學不進(jin),斷機示焉,子(zi)(zi)遂成德,為當世冠。”
晉·左(zuo)貴(gui)嬪《孟母贊》:“鄒母善導,三(san)徙成教。鄰(lin)止庠序,佾豆是(shi)教。斷機激子,廣以墳奧。聰達知禮,敷述圣道。”
明(ming)·劉浚《三遷教(jiao)子(zi)》詩:“孟氏三遷宅(zhai)已荒,至今猶說斷機堂(tang)。絲成交匹勤方得(de),身入芝蘭久自香。俎(zu)豆容(rong)儀非賈銜(xian),經綸事業豈(qi)尋常(chang)。母賢子(zi)圣誰能(neng)似,故里(li)千秋尚有光。”
明·廖森《三遷(qian)教(jiao)(jiao)子》詩:“今古誰知(zhi)孟母賢,殷勤教(jiao)(jiao)子地(di)三遷(qian)。養蒙肯使為屠販,學禮寧教(jiao)(jiao)戲豆(dou)籩(bian)。一旦功(gong)夫私有淑,萬(wan)年道(dao)統(tong)果能傳。看來作圣(sheng)皆由此,盡(jin)說天生未必然。”
明(ming)·鄒(zou)賢(xian)《謁亞圣廟(miao)》詩:“新(xin)廟(miao)巖巖碧漢(han)邊,一(yi)龕香火散(san)輕煙。七(qi)篇仁義扶名教,萬古斯文得正傳。心在(zai)辟邪(xie)兼翼正,氣惟善養更(geng)知言。摳衣此(ci)日趨庭拜(bai),重(zhong)嘆三(san)遷母氏賢(xian)。”