Men that committed suicide in late imperial China were respected if they died for a ‘noble cause’. In ancient China, suicide can be a means to reveal one’s true ambitions, his beliefs or accusations. For example, Quyuan (屈原) was exiled as his diplomatic beliefs are against the king’s interests. After his country’s capital fell to Qin, he sunk himself in a lake as a gesture of grief and anger. In late imperial China, these suicidal behaviour were described as ‘捨生取義’. Translated as ‘forsaking one’s life to achieve justice’. This was seen as a noble and commendable move for many. Since you mentioned late imperial China, I will give some examples for notable suicides from Song dyansty onwards. When the Mongols conquered China, the last Song king, 趙昺 along with remnants of the Song dynasty escaped to Guangdong. As the mongolian army pursuited and decimated this remaining army at 崖山, one official ,陸秀夫 took the emperor with him and jumped into the sea. The imperial harem and civil offices also follower suit. In the ming dynasty the last emperor, 崇禎皇帝. also commited suicide. When rebels under 李自成 entered the capital, he wrote a final will and hung himself on a tree. Here is the text: 朕自登極十七年，逆賊直逼京師，雖朕薄德匪躬，上干天怒，致逆賊直逼京師，然皆諸臣之誤朕也，朕死，無面目見祖宗於地下，自去冠冕，以發覆面，任賊分裂朕屍，勿傷百姓一人。 The emperor took responsbility for the downfall of Ming dynasty basically. Hence, if they commit suicide for a purpose, they will usually gain sympathy and respected by. the society. reference: 宋史 明通鑑