Description And Discussion Of Xunzi's Filial Piety

As one of traditional virtues of the Chinese nation, filial duty is always in a vital important position in Chinese troditional culture. Before Confucius was born, filial duty was mainly represented as a sacrificial rites, but not formed into moral consciousness and specific ethics. The development and changes of the word "Xiao" is connected with the changes of the ancient society and culture.Xunzi's thought of filial duty, which is a critique, development and succession of Pre-Qin Confucian concept of filial piety, is formed by adapting the variation of the social structure and evolution the productivity in the warring states period. Xunzi believes that people should conform to Li.which means rite, in his behaviour, and maintain the persistence in Yi, which means morality, inside his soul. He emphasizes that people should achieve the level that the true meaning of Li can be seen when Yi deeply comprehended, and the hidden principle of Yi can be called when Li once observed, he not only values the content of "filial piety" and practical social norms, but also pays attention to the influence on the value and significance of the peaceful life within oneself.he thinks it is important that Li and Yi can conduct people's natural emotion, he emphasizes that the objective moral principles should be internalized to rational principles and moral quality, he considers that the process of the practice for filial piety is important, the cordial affection of father and son should be cherished, and sons must constantly serve the parents in the filial way. He attaches importance to funeral, and considers that the reason for the solemnness of the funeral rites is to "understand the significance of life and death", to fulfil the affection for the departed and to express treasuring life rather than to express awe to ghosts and gods. When the fondness of filial duty is infringe the principle of loyalty, Xunzi persists with justice, he thinks that "sons behave with propriety" when "sons dispute with fathers when fathers do against right". He fits the social reality and obey the law of moral authority, and says "believe Tao and the morality instead of the monarch and father". According to the change of the state power and political situation in the warring states period, he says that Tao is superior to loyalty, and loyalty is superior to the filial duty. Xunzi values life of the individual, and the worth of filial caring, he emphasizes the effect of serving parents according to Li and Yi in succeeding and developing the filial duty. Though he emphasizes governing country with rite and morality. He values the function of politics, disciplines and laws in maintaining the filial duty.