Even the devil is scared of a feminine man

“Even the devil is scared of a feminine man” is a popular saying in Tongzhen and the wider Jiangnan region. It expresses a local superstition about names and character: feminine qualities in a man were thought to balance his nature and help make him exceptional. The saying gives the naming of Jinzhen a private rationale that Young Lillie does not disclose to Duckling.

Meaning and Local Belief

The saying rests on the belief that a man with a feminine quality contains both yin and yang, and that these forces complement one another. Strength balanced by pliability was considered a route to producing the best kind of man, an outstanding individual. In this local understanding, femininity in a boy’s name is not a rejection of masculine strength but a counterweight intended to perfect it.

Naming Custom

The belief had practical consequences: local customs offered many ways to balance yin and yang, including the names given to sons. A father who hoped his son would achieve great things might deliberately choose a girl’s name for him, hoping that the choice would secure him a promising future. The saying thus connects an everyday act of naming to parental hopes and a superstition about how complementary qualities shape a person.

Young Lillie’s Use of the Saying

When Young Lillie decides to change Duckling’s name, superstition is his sole reason. He considers explaining the local belief, then decides it would not be appropriate and keeps that reasoning to himself. Instead, he settles the matter by saying that Duckling will be called Jinzhen, using zhen in the sense of “pearl.” The saying therefore informs the choice without becoming its spoken explanation: Duckling receives the name, but not the belief Young Lillie used to choose it.