Chinese virtue

Chapter 22 Filial Piety (1)
When it comes to the characteristics of Chinese people, one cannot fail to talk about their "filial piety".However, it is very difficult to explain the Chinese people's "filial piety".As mentioned in the previous chapters, what the Chinese call "filial piety" is very different from what we Westerners understand.Many of the meanings are unique to Chinese, and if they are translated into English, no matter how they are translated, they cannot be expressed accurately.The most typical word among them is "li", which is closely related to the previously mentioned "filial piety".In order to explain the importance of "propriety" and to provide a background that can explain Chinese people's "filial piety", we first quote a passage from Mr. Galilei (quoted from "General Discourse on China"): Propriety is the psychological state of all Chinese people. In my opinion, the "Book of Rites" is the most accurate and complete record of the Chinese nation that the Chinese have shown to other countries.Lilly enriches and satisfies the feelings of the Chinese people; fulfills the duties and responsibilities of the Chinese people; measures the good and evil of the Chinese people; and maintains the interpersonal relationships of the Chinese people.In short, how Chinese people treat family, society and religion are all controlled and restricted by Li Li.Dr. Wei Sanwei, an American sinologist, made a very correct comment on this passage. He said: "It is inaccurate to translate the Chinese word 'ceremony' into 'ceremony', because the so-called ritual in Chinese is not only the external performance but also the actions. In addition, it also includes some abstract codes of conduct that regulate people's actions."

Some ancient books such as the Four Books and Five Classics in China, especially the "Book of Filial Piety", have very comprehensive interpretations of filial piety, which fully demonstrates the importance Chinese people attach to "filial piety".So far, we have only noticed the filial piety that Chinese people show in their lives, but how do Chinese people understand "filial piety"? Why does "filial piety" become a unique characteristic of Chinese people?This is not an easy question to figure out.What we must understand is that the Chinese so-called "filial piety" includes many aspects, and it is not simply filial piety in the literal sense.

Dr. Yan Matthew, an American missionary, read a paper on "ancestor worship" at a missionary conference in 1877.This article includes what he has seen and heard in China for more than 30 years.

At the beginning of the article, he stated that ancestor worship is only a form of filial piety, and then he said: "'filial piety' is a very misleading word, which is easy to be misunderstood. As far as I know, Chinese Children are the least filial to their parents among all ethnic groups, they don’t listen to their parents, they start their own way and don’t listen to their parents’ advice from the moment they are sensible.” Dr. Legge, a famous translator of ancient Chinese books, once returned to England Dr. Yan Matthew refuted this statement. Dr. James Legge said that what he saw and heard in China for more than [-] years was completely different from what Yan Matthew said.The reason for this phenomenon is that people’s opinions often diverge, just like the temperature scales displayed by different thermometers are also different. If you want to get the correct answer, you must synthesize the opinions and opinions from all over the place. The opinions vary, but they are comprehensive enough to give a better understanding.

Westerners regard obedience to their parents' orders as the code of conduct for children, but Chinese people don't understand it at all, because Chinese children have not received education in this area.But when these children grow up, they are not as unbearable as Westerners imagine.There is a Chinese proverb, "Treat nature straight", which means that when children grow up, they will naturally understand what is right to do.While the idiom may have other meanings, it also sheds light on what the Chinese call "filial piety" really is.Because Chinese people's education methods and understanding of "filial piety" are different from those of Westerners, they form completely different models from Westerners.

There is a passage in the "Book of Filial Piety": "The five punishments belong to three thousand, and the crime is greater than not being filial." Among all the traditional Chinese virtues, "filial piety" is the most valued by the Chinese, and it should be "respected" from the heart. "One's parents, "obedience" to one's parents, this is "filial piety" and "filial piety".If you are only "filial" in your actions but not in your heart, then you are not considered a qualified filial son.The Chinese believe that any moral defect, no matter what, is due to insufficient filial piety.Because of the lack of filial piety, he rebelled against etiquette; because of the lack of filial piety, he was disloyal to the country; because of the lack of filial piety, he practiced favoritism for personal gain;According to the Chinese understanding, the connotation of "filial piety" is not limited to those understood by Westerners. It goes beyond the scope of behavior and covers a lot of moral content.

Most people think that the foundation of filial piety is gratitude.Regarding this point, there is a special description in "Book of Filial Piety Shengzhi Chapter".The "three years of filial piety" advocated by the Chinese is very reasonable. Confucius once said: "A child is born for three years, and then he is born in the arms of his parents." In China, one of the ways for children to repay their parents' kindness is "Three years of filial piety".The most typical example of filial piety is "the lamb kneeling at the breast".The Chinese emphasize that "body, hair, skin and skin are the parents". Treating one's body well is the most basic filial piety.When parents are alive, they should take good care of their parents' clothing, food, housing and transportation; "The son follows the father's way" is the most basic requirement of filial piety.Regarding this point, Confucius once said: "If you don't change your father's way for three years, you can be called filial piety." Dr. Wei Sanwei excerpted a passage in "Book of Rites": "Parents have done it, and they will be happy. Soft voice Remonstrance, if remonstrance does not enter, start with respect and filial piety, and remonstrance if you are happy. If you are unhappy, it is better to remonstrate than to offend the township party and state. Parents are angry and unhappy, but they bleed. Be respectful and filial." This passage basically means that when children make mistakes, they can give appropriate reminders to make parents correct, but they cannot contradict them too much.If it is in Western countries, children will never admonish their parents for their mistakes, and even if they are admonished, parents may not listen to them.In China, however, this situation is quite common.

Confucius put forward several different versions of "filial piety" in Chapter 2 of "The Analects".With regard to "filial piety", Confucius' explanations will also make corresponding changes under different circumstances.The first is what Confucius said when he answered Meng Yi of the State of Lu.Meng Yizi asked about filial piety, and the son said: "No violation." It means that "filial piety" means not disobeying parents.Confucius did not explain the meaning of "no violation" to Meng Yi. Later, when his disciple Fan Chi sent him off, he mentioned this matter again. Fan Chi didn't understand, so he asked Confucius, "What does it mean without violation?" Confucius explained Said: "In life, things should be done with propriety. When death should be buried and sacrificed with propriety." Apparently, Confucius hoped that Fan Chi could convey the true meaning of "no violation" to Meng Yi.

Another time it was Confucius' answer to Ziyou.Ziyou asked about filial piety, and he said: "Today's filial piety means being able to raise them. As for dogs and horses, they can be raised. If you don't respect them, why should it be different?" That is to say, if filial piety is only about supporting parents, providing them with food and clothing, and feeding them There is no difference between a horse and a dog. "Filial piety" must be obedient and respectful to parents.

In general, what Confucius said means that "filial piety" should not only meet the needs of parents, but also obey the wishes of parents, and treat parents respectfully.This is an ancient concept in China.The reason why Confucius said "those who are filial today are those who can support them" is because he felt that the "filial piety" today is completely different from the "filial piety" emphasized in ancient times.Confucius, on the other hand, hoped to restore the practice of ancient times.Although the words of Confucius are long since modern times, his thoughts have been deeply rooted in the minds of Chinese people and have been integrated into the blood of every Chinese.If Confucius lived in this era, he would have emphasized more on the phrase "today's filial piety means being able to support".

So far, we have roughly understood the relationship between what the Chinese call "filial piety" and other etiquettes and responsibilities, but we still don't know how Chinese people understand "filial piety".

If you ask ten uneducated Chinese people what "filial piety" is, most of them will say, "If you don't make your parents angry, you must be filial." Maybe they will quote what Confucius said, filial piety It means "no violation", if you don't violate the wishes of your parents, your parents will not be angry, this is filial piety.But the special meaning of what Confucius called "no violation" is probably beyond their imagination.

Regarding filial piety in China, if anyone wants to know more, you can read the stories in "24 Filial Piety", which are widely circulated among Chinese folk.Among them is a story about a six-year-old boy at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty. When he went to meet an official, the official entertained him with oranges.The little boy wanted his mother to taste the oranges, so he hid two oranges in his sleeve.As a result, when he was leaving, the orange rolled from the sleeve to the ground, and the scene became very embarrassing.But the little boy knelt down in front of the officials without changing his face and said: "My mother's love, I want to return to my stepmother." This sentence and the name of this little boy have been eulogized by later generations for 2000 years.In the eyes of Westerners, this little boy knows how to use the opportunity to satisfy his mother's wishes, very clever.For the Chinese, this boy is a typical example of "filial piety", because he knows how to be filial to his mother and think about his mother since he was a child.There is also a story about an eight-year-old boy in the Jin Dynasty. Because his family was poor and his parents did not have a mosquito net, he came up with a way to keep his parents from being infested by mosquitoes: lie down on the bed early, and then He didn't move, and didn't even shake his fan, so the mosquitoes only bit him, and his parents could sleep peacefully.There was also a boy in the Jin Dynasty who lived with his stepmother. The stepmother liked to eat carp very much, but there was no way to catch carp in winter, so the boy took off his clothes and lay on the ice to beg for fish. The carp broke through the ice and jumped into his arms to express his gratitude for his filial piety.

(End of this chapter)