Resigning Office to Search For His Mother

Resigning Office to Search For His Mother: Zhu Shouchang

　　A man of the Song Dynasty named Zhu Shouchang lost his mother at age seven in this way: His mother was a concubine, and his father's first wife, consumed by jealousy over the concubine's favor with her husband, drove the woman out of the house, thereby cutting off contact between Shouchang and his mother. The boy went to live with his father and step-mother from age seven on.

　　Zhu Shouchang grew up and served the Song Dynasty's "Celestial Ruler" (Shenzong) as an official.

　　Suddenly one day he felt an overwhelming impulse to find his real mother and take care of her in proper style.

　　This impulse continued to grow, until he had to quit his post in the civil service and set off in search of her.