The Life Wisdom of Chinese Traditional Filial Piety

Abstract

Filial piety is not only the core concept of Confucianism, but also an important category of Mohism, Legalism, Taoism and Buddhism. To analyze the essence of Chinese traditional filial piety, we should explore it from the vast classical works of hundreds of schools of thought, and also from the long-term practice of social life of all nationalities and folk culture. I think that although the content of "filial piety" is constantly changing with the times, the wisdom of life contained therein, especially the dialectical thinking of thinking and dealing with filial piety, is the essence of the most universal and lasting value. there are five so called common unfilial acts: first, be lazy, leaving parents without provision; second, gambling and alcohol abuse, leaving parents without provision; third, be miserly and be partial to wife and children, leaving parents without provision; fourth, indulge in sensual pleasures, bringing disgrace on parents; be aggressive with reckless bravado, placing parents in danger. ( Mencius — Louli II ) parents’ behavior is against principles and moralities, remonstrate with them. If parents reject, the mistake parents make is just like the one you make. It is unfilialnot to remonstrate; it is also unfilial to remonstrate in a rebellious way. A filial son should remonstrate with parents by reasoning things out rather than arguing fiercely. Arguing fiercely is a kind of disobedience and rebellion. If remonstrate with parents for the purpose of avoiding mistakes, the family will be safe and peaceful. If remonstrate with parents for the purpose of showing off superiority, it is unfilial rebellion. ( DaDai Book of Rites — Zengzi Serving Parents ) If the elders are always kind and loving, the younger generation will be obedient and their relationship will become closer and closer. If the elders are not kind and loving but want the younger generation to be filial, the younger generation’s heart will be uneasy, which will cause alienation between them. Alienation will lead to resentment. Resentment in hearts is the most ominous. (1993).