Chinese Journal of Sociology ›› 2019, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (5): 127-161.

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A Sociological Inquiry of the Way of “Filial Piety”

ZHAI Xuewei   

  1. Department of Sociology, School of Social and Behavioral Science, Nanjin University
  • Published:2019-09-19

Abstract: The idea of filial piety and its practice have paramount importance in Chinese history and culture. A sociological inquiry is called for to study the social practice of the idea, that is how the Confucian concept was internalized to become integrate part of the Chinese heart and mind. The origin of filial piety is about devotion to one's elders, however, under Confucianism it is regarded as a path to fulfill morality of benevolence. Filial piety thus becomes an actionable manifestation of benevolence, a thought-action process.In this process, the sociological significance is reflected in the notion of "Heaven and Men", an explanatory framework derived from the meaning of "repay the gift of life and return to the origin" embedded in filial piety.The reciprocal parent-child relation and its emotional roles are operated within this framework. At its core, the parent-child relationship is unequal and this inequality is what causes the guilty conscience and the forever gratitude towards one's parents.Filial piety encourages the Chinese to focus their entire social life on things like family continuity, social harmony, ethical behaviors, local networks, authority supremacy, and etc.,in order to promote social bonds in society.It can be said that filial piety is among the most pivotal and stable traditions in Chinese society. Although its dominance may have declined since the New Culture movement, to this day filial piety maintains the same center part of social fabric in China.

Key words: filial piety, return to the original, the framework of the interpretation of heaven and man, gratitude, emotionalize of role-oriented, education mode