Quotations and aphorisms about filial piety culture

1. The nature of heaven and earth is precious to man.

Speech from "Xiaojing - Shengzhi" (The Book of Filial Piety - The Holy Rule). Among all things born of heaven and earth, man is the most honorable. This is the opinion of Confucius, which embodies the precious idea of "people-oriented".

2. If a scholar has a friend, his body will not be separated from his name.

This is from the chapter on filial piety and admonition. The word "争" refers to a friend who is able to speak frankly to one another. If a scholar has a friend who is frank in his advice, then he will not make mistakes but will always have a good reputation. This sentence is about the truth that one should make friends when making frank friends.

3. Be careful when you go in and out for support, and don't get tired of serving you night and day.

This is from the Book of Filial Piety: Exhortation to Repay One's Parents' Favor. Parents must be careful to support each other in and out of the house, and must not be tired of serving them in the morning and in the evening.

4. Those who love their parents do not dare to be evil to others, and those who honor their parents do not dare to be slow to others.

Speech from "Xiaojing - Chapter of the Son of Heaven". If one loves one's own parents, one will not be averse to others' parents; if one treats one's own parents respectfully, one will not dare to be slow to others' parents.

5. The body's hair and skin, received by parents, dare not destroy, the beginning of filial piety.

This is from the first chapter of the Classic of Filial Piety. The four limbs of the human body, hair and skin, are all given by the parents, do not dare to be destroyed or maimed, this is the beginning of filial piety.

6. The end of filial piety is to build up one's own body and to make one's name known to one's parents.

This is from the first chapter of Xiaojing (The Book of Filial Piety). It is the ultimate goal of filial piety to follow the principles of benevolence, righteousness, and morality in the world, to make a mark, and to make a name for oneself in future generations, so that one's parents may be distinguished and honored.

7. To teach the people to be dear, there is nothing better than filial piety; to teach the people to be courteous and obedient, there is nothing better than brotherly love; to change customs, there is nothing better than music; to rule the people in peace, there is nothing better than ritual.

The language is from "Xiao Jing - Guang Yao Dao" (孝经-广要道). There is no better way to teach the people to love each other than for the king himself to perform filial piety; there is no better way to teach the people to be respectful and obedient than for the king himself to set an example of respecting and loving one's elder brother; there is no better way to change the people's customs and manners than to use music to sensitize the people; and there is no better way to settle the people than to implement the "Rites". "The first is that the first is to be a good example to the people.

8. The temple pays homage, not forgetting the relatives; cultivation and prudent behavior, fear of insulting the first also. The temple pays homage to the ghosts and gods. The most important thing about filial piety and fraternal duty is that it is not possible to get through to the gods, or to the four seas and the oceans.

This is from the 16th chapter of Xiao Jing (The Book of Filial Piety - Induction). The reason why one goes to the temple to pay respect is that one has not forgotten one's relatives; the reason why one cultivates one's body and mind and acts cautiously is that one is afraid that one's own faults will bring shame to one's ancestors. When one goes to the temple to pay homage, the gods will come out to enjoy themselves. To parents and brothers and sisters filial piety and obedience to the extreme, that can be access to the gods, the light of the world, anywhere can be sensed to communicate.