Furthermore, a book filled with 24 stories of children showing filial piety to their parents was published during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and was popular for several centuries.
In modern times, being filial to your parents carries different meanings. Most people still agree with the first two Mencius examples, but disagree with the third one. Last year, the China National Committee on Ageing released 24 new controversial standards on what it means to show filial piety.
Some of the standards include spending festivals with parents, celebrating their birthdays, cooking for them, calling them frequently if one lives in a different city, taking photos, talking to them, supporting their hobbies, and exercising and travelling with them.
At the end of last year, visiting ones parents' became law. Some people applauded the measure, while others doubted whether it could be properly enforced due to factors such as not having enough holidays and high transportation fees.
Anyway, there is nothing wrong in doing our best to help our parents have a happy life through filial piety.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching and one of the most important themes during this time is getting together with the family. Are you thinking about giving presents to your parents? Traditional presents such as clothes or giving money directly to parents may be practical, but spending time by doing something on hand may make them happier, as most parents are richer than their kids. What parents really need is our care and love.
Here are some ideas to help you get the ball rolling.
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