养

A character to care for and cherish

养生，养性，养浩然之气

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” （老有所终，壮有所用，幼有所长，矜寡孤独废疾者皆有所养）. 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 （y2ng）.

Developed in the Warring States period， the traditional version of 养 is養， 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 养桑麻，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 饲养 （s#y2ng）. For instance， 中国饲养猪的历史可以追溯到新石器时代。（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 养， as in 养花 （y2ng hu`， growing flowers） or 养猫 （y2ng m`o， keeping a cat）. When it comes to humans， 养 can refer to giving birth to and taking care of a child. For instance， 她养了一个大胖小子。（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 养儿防老 （y2ng9r f1ngl2o）. Those unable to have their own children may choose to adopt （领养， l@ngy2ng）， thus becoming 养父母 （y2ngf&m^， foster parents） to their 养子（y2ngz@， adopted sons） and 养女 （y2ngn）， adopted daughters）.

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