User:Jackson Norris 23

Hi, I'm Jackson Norris and I am a Fine Arts Major at UNCA.

Definition of Filial Piety
In Ancient China, "filial piety" or "xiao" is a term that refers to the attitude one holds towards their living parents and their deceased ancestors. Due to the central role that ancestor-worship and family plays in Ancient Chinese society, the term is a very important concept in Chinese philosopher Confucius' The Analects, though it is rarely discussed in its passages. Filial piety is a parallel concept to the "ti", or the dutifulness one has towards elder brothers, yet it is mentioned only once in The Analects. In modern translations, "filial piety" is sometimes written as "filial duty", however "piety" is a much better word than "duty" in this case, as the word contains a sort of religious flavor and suggests that an attitude of reverence and respect characterizes the relationship.

Modern Relevance
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Confucius' Worldview
The Analects displays the ancient worldview of Chinese society that followed Confucius' teachings, which, in regards to filial piety, saw families worship and cherish deceased ancestors almost religiously, and which saw young family members show great respect and dignity to their parents and elders. The Chinese argued that filial piety was the roots to basic humaneness. This worldview was not only existing in ancient China, but in many parts of the ancient world. For example, in ancient Egypt the same worldview of respect towards elders and parents is reflected in The Instruction of Amenemope, a text very similar to China's own The Analects, as it is a book of thirty philosophical teachings written by an Egyptian sage. In the prologue of The Instruction of Amenemope, the text describes itself as the "Beginning of the teaching of life, the instructions for well-being, every rule for relations with elders, for conduct toward magistrates...", which implies that amongst the teachings of life, the rules for conduct and relations to elders was one of the highest priorities, which further indicates a strong prevalence of respect to elders in ancient Egyptian society. In a chapter of The Instruction of Amenemope, the teaching reads: "Do not revile one older than you, he has seen Re before you; Let (him) not report you to the Aten at his rising, saying: 'A youth has reviled an old man.' Very painful before Pre is a youth who reviles an elder. Let him beat you while your hand is on you chest. Let him revile you while you are silent; If next day you come before him, he will give you food in plenty. A dog's food is from its master, it barks to him who gives it." In the quote, Amenemope reflects most of Confucius' teaching that elders should be treated well and with