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Wisdom and teachings of
Confucianism

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I t [filial piety] commences with the service of parents; it proceeds to the service of the ruler; it is completed by the establishment of character.

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quote 8939 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter I: The Scope and Meaning of the Treatise

F ilial piety is the root of (all) virtue, and (the stem) out of which grows (all moral) teaching.

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quote 8938 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter I: The Scope and Meaning of the Treatise

T he ancient kings had a perfect virtue and all-embracing rule of conduct, through which they were in accord with all under heaven. By the practice of it the people were brought to live in peace and harmony, and there was no ill-will between superiors and inferiors.

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quote 8937 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter I: The Scope and Meaning of the Treatise

O ur bodies—to every hair and bit of skin—are received by us from our parents, and we must not presume to injure or wound them. This is the beginning of filial piety.

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quote 8936 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter I: The Scope and Meaning of the Treatise

W hen we have established our character by the practice of the (filial) course, so as to make our name famous in future ages and thereby glorify our parents, this is the end of filial piety.

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quote 8935 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter I: The Scope and Meaning of the Treatise

T herefore when they serve their ruler with filial piety, they are loyal; when they serve their superiors with reverence, they are obedient. Not failing in this loyalty and obedience in serving those above them, they are then able to preserve their emoluments and positions, and to maintain their sacrifices. This is the filial piety of inferior officers.

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quote 8934 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter IV: Filial Piety in Inferior Officers

S o even if their words were to pervade the entire earth, no errors would be found in them; even if their actions were to fill the entire earth, nothing contemptible would be found in them.

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quote 8933 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter IV: Filial Piety in High Ministers and Great Officers

T hus none of their words being contrary to those sanctions, and none of their actions contrary to the (right) way, from their mouths there comes no exceptionable speech, and in their conduct there are found no exceptionable actions.

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quote 8932 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter IV: Filial Piety in High Ministers and Great Officers

T hose who threaten the lords have no regard for their superiors, those who vilify the sages have no regard for the law, and those who oppose filial piety have no regard for their parents—these are the root causes of anarchy.

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quote 8931 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XI: Filial Piety in Relation to the Five Punishments

T herefore when a case of unrighteous conduct is concerned, a son must by no means keep from remonstrating with his father, nor a minister from remonstrating with his ruler.

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quote 8930 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XV: Filial Piety in Relation to Reproof and Remonstrance

A nd the father who had a son that would remonstrate with him would not sink into the gulf of unrighteous deeds.

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quote 8929 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XV: Filial Piety in Relation to Reproof and Remonstrance

T herefore, when his conduct is thus successful in his inner (private) circle, his name will be established (and transmitted) to future generations.

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quote 8928 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XIV: Amplification of “Making our Name Famous” in Chapter I

T he fraternal duty with which he serves his elder brother may be transferred as submissive deference to elders.

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quote 8927 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XIV: Amplification of “Making our Name Famous” in Chapter I

T he filial piety with which the superior man serves his parents may be transferred as loyalty to the ruler.

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quote 8926 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XIV: Amplification of “Making our Name Famous” in Chapter I

H is regulation of his family may be transferred as good government in any official position.

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quote 8925 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XIV: Amplification of “Making our Name Famous” in Chapter I

T he teaching of filial piety by the superior man does not require that he should go to family after family and daily see the members of each. His teaching of filial piety is a tribute of reverence to all the fathers under heaven. His teaching of fraternal submission is a tribute of reverence to all the elder brothers under heaven. His teaching of the duty of a subject is a tribute of reverence to all the rulers under heaven.

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quote 8924 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XIII: Amplification of “the Perfect Virtue” in Chapter I

T he superior man serves his ruler in such a way that, when at court in his presence, his thought is how to discharge his loyal duty to the utmost, and when he retires from it, his thought is how to amend his errors. He carries out with deference the measures springing from his excellent qualities and rectifies him (only) to save him from what are evil. Hence, as the superior and inferior, they are able to have affection for each other.

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quote 8923 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XVII: The Service of the Ruler

P erfect filial piety and fraternal duty reach to (and move) the spiritual intelligences and diffuse their light on all within the four seas. They penetrate everywhere.

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quote 8922 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XVI: The Influence of Filial Piety and the Response to It

E ven the king has others to whom he must give honour, namely his parents, and those to whom he must give precedence, namely his elder brothers. When he offers sacrifices to his ancestors, he gives them the highest reverence to show that he has not neglected his parents. He cultivates his moral character and guards his conduct, lest he might disgrace his royal ancestors.

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quote 8921 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XVI: The Influence of Filial Piety and the Response to It

F or teaching the people to be affectionate and loving, there is nothing better than filial piety. For teaching them (the observance of) propriety and submissiveness, there is nothing better than fraternal duty. For changing their manners and altering their customs, there is nothing better than music. For securing the repose of superiors and the good order of the people, there is nothing better than the rules of propriety.

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quote 8920 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XII: Amplification of “The All-embracing Rule of Conduct”

T he rules of propriety are simply (the development of) the principle of reverence.

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quote 8919 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
Chapter XII: Amplification of “The All-embracing Rule of Conduct”

T he services of love and reverence to parents when alive, and those of grief and sorrow to them when dead: these completely discharge the fundamental duty of living men. The righteous claims of life and death are all satisfied, and the filial son's service of his parents is completed.

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quote 8918 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter XVIII: Filial Piety in Mourning for Parents

H e who (thus) serves his parents, in a high situation will be free from pride, in a low situation will be free from insubordination, and among his equals will not be quarrelsome.

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quote 8917 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter X: An Orderly Description of the Acts of Filial Piety

I n a high situation pride leads to ruin; in a low situation insubordination leads to punishment; among equals quarrelsomeness leads to the wielding of weapons. If those three things be not put away, though a son every day contributes beef, mutton, and pork to nourish his parents, he is not filial.

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quote 8916 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter X: An Orderly Description of the Acts of Filial Piety

I n his general conduct to them, he manifests the utmost reverence. In his nourishing of them, his endeavor is to give them the utmost pleasure. When they are ill, he feels the greatest anxiety. In mourning for them (dead), he exhibits every demonstration of grief. In sacrificing to them, he displays the utmost solemnity. When a son is complete in these five things, (he may be pronounced) able to serve his parents.

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quote 8915 | The Doctrine of Filial Piety
The Doctrine of Filial Piety, Chapter X: An Orderly Description of the Acts of Filial Piety

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Wisdom and teachings ofConfucianism

Wisdom and teachings of
Confucianism