In Confucian philosophy, filial piety is an important virtue and primary duty of respect for one's parents and ancestors. In Pearl S. Buck's novel, The Good Earth, the author implies that pre-Revolutionary Chinese people feel social obligations of filial piety. To the characters of the book, elders are first priority, the young have the obligation to remain silent and to follow their elders' orders without question, and honor the name of the families ancestors.
Wang Lung's obligations to his elders are first priority. During the famine, the rains, "withheld themselves,"(pg 70) and so the Wang family (except the old man), and the entire village starve. "The old man fared better than any, for if there was anything, he was given it" (pg. 74). Because of this, the children, whose bellies "were swollen out with empty wind," starve even more, because Wang Lung gives any remaining food to his father. Another example of filial piety is when the uncle returns. When his uncle comes to Wang Lung's house (which now stands rich from the jewels that O-lan steals during the raid) ,he "helped himself freely to rice and dried salt fish."(pg. 202). Then, the uncle has Wang Lung lead him to the father's bed, where he, "lifted the quilts and felt the good cloth.and.was asleep."(pg. 202) .Wang Lung cannot resist, even when the uncle says, "Now I will fetch my wife and my son" (pg, 203). The uncle demands money and food and does nothing in return, and has previously mistreated Wang Lung and been a disgrace to the family name. The hapless Wang Lung can say nothing but kind words as they eat the food and sleep in the beds that Wang Lung worked hard for. This situation could be difficult for Wang Lung to handle but he has already been taught not to let his tongue slip, like he did before the famine. " 'Now that,' he [the uncle] cried 'for speaking to your father's generation! Have you no religion, no morals, that you are so lacking in filial conduct? Have you not heard it said that in the Sacred Edicts it is commanded that a man is never to correct an elder!?" (pg.
In The Good Earth by Pearl S. ... Some of these themes include filial piety, poverty, and relationships. ... The good earth has provided Wang Lung and his family with life. ... "From the produce, Wang Lung in this good year had a handful of silver dollars over and above what they needed." ... The earth is very important to them and this is one of the main themes of The Good Earth. ...
According to chinese legend, he was riding off to die in the desert because he was sick of how men were on this earth and sick of how they acted, but was persuaded by a northwestern China gatekeeper to write down his teaching for prosperity. ... Chapter eight depicts an analogy of how great good is like unto water. ... Men learn to pretend to be wise and good, but the way of the Tao is forgotten. Filial piety and devotion arise all to often only after conflict and strife. ... Likewise, in chapter 38 it tells us that a truly good man is unaware of all his good doings, and conversely, ...
He believed a good government should fill official positions with individuals who were both well educated and extraordinary conscientious. ... Xiao is filial piety or to have high amounts of respect for one's family. ... He strongly believed that mankind was good. ... The only spirits that have been noticed were spirits of the earth such as a spirit of the water. ...
(Ivanhoe CMSC 2) In other words, his philosophies meant for filial sons and daughters to not just perform the rites and act respectfully to their parents, but to do so out of filial piety. ... Heaven and other metaphysical topics are interesting in Confucianism in that they are rarely discussed in the Analects, and when brought up Confucius" responses tend to say something to the effect of, "worry about your time on Earth because that is all we know of." ... Mencius" core concept of an inherently good human nature greatly differs from Confucius" doctrines. ... Instead of practicing and reflect...
Ancient Koreans believed in a variety of supernatural spirits, both good and evil. ... Those who live morally here on earth will be rewarded by the bliss of the Pure Land Paradise. ... Family life was regulated by the ideal of filial piety. ... Just as brothers and sisters belong to a single family and are guided by the love of their parents, so the entire nation should act like a big family based on filial piety, fraternal affection and parental responsibility. ... Hence, men can have hope because "ta-tung" will come on earth in the last days. ...
