'''Miwnay''' was a 4th-century Sogdian woman, who has been abandoned and left destitute in Dunhuang, China, by her husband Nanai-dhat.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://idp.bl.uk/4DCGI/education/dialogue/abandwife.html|title=A fourth century Abandoned Wife|last=|first=|date=|website=idp.bl.uk|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-08-03}}</ref> Miwnay is known from Sogdian Ancient Letters (I and III).
In the Ancient Letter No. 1, Miwnay writes to her mother, Chatis, and explains her and her child's (Shayn) situation. She says she has tried to find someone to take her to her mother's house, but nobody is willing to help, so ''“I depend on charity from the Zoroastrian priest.”''<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/texts/sogdlet.html|title=Sogdian Ancient Letters|website=depts.washington.edu|access-date=2019-08-03}}</ref>
The Ancient Letter No. 3 is addressed to her husband, Nanai-dhat. She complains to him how he never answers her letters or sends money. “I obeyed your command and came to Dunhuang and did not observe my mother's bidding nor that of my brothers. Surely the gods were angry with me on the day when I did your bidding!” At the end of the letter, Miwnay says ''“I would rather be a dog’s or a pig’s wife than yours!”''<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Livshits|first=Vladimir|date=2008|title=The Sogdian "Ancient Letters" (I, III)|journal=Iran & the Caucasus|volume=12|issue=2|pages=289–293|issn=1609-8498|jstor=25597375|doi=10.1163/157338408X406065}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sogdians.si.edu/ancient-letters/|title=Ancient Letters {{!}} The Sogdians|website=sogdians.si.edu|access-date=2019-08-03}}</ref>
== References == <references />
Category:Sogdians Category:Sogdian people Category:4th-century Iranian people Category:4th century in China Category:Dunhuang Category:4th-century women