The Status Of Filial Piety In Chinese Political Ethics

Filial piety is the foundation of ethics and morals in China,which is developed from Confucianism.It plays an important coordinating role in ancient Chinese politics and social life.Confucian ethics is centered on "benevolence" and "filial piety" is the origin of "benevolence".So Confucius has said that “filial piety is the basic principle of benevolence.”It can be seen from the ancestor worship recorded in the oracle in Yin Dynasty that "filial piety" has quite special and primitive religious consciousness,which is exactly the root reason why the Chinese filial piety idea emphasizes mourning and ancestor worship.As for patriarchal clan system in Zhou Dynasty and traditional family system,the emphasis on filial piety lays the foundation of the family harmony,social order and national unity.And the extension of this foundation is just the Confucian aspiration to run the world.In terms of the inheritance of absolute monarchy,“integration of loyal and filial piety” advocated in filial piety idea,is actually closely related with the concept of the syncretic form the syncretic form of country and home,and regarding the monarch as father.The connotation the earlier religious meaning,such as the awe and worship to ancestors,to a good relationship extablished between politics and society.It is combined with Chinese political ethics,thus“ruling the nation by the filial piety” has become an important part in Chinese political ethics.Filial piety develops from the patriarchal ethics and extends to social ethics,so that it can be used to rule the country.Filial piety is also developed as loyalty,thus fulfilling filial duty for the whole nation.Consequently,in China,“ Filial piety ” is an issue not only concerning the amily ethics,but also hinging the whole society and political philosophy.With the invasion of modern western powers,it is difficult for people with lofty ideals to explore the way of saving China from traditional Chinese culture.They turn their attention on the western culture,thereby causing criticism and denial of the traditional Chinese ideology and culture.Therefore,in the process of building socialism with Chinese characteristics,how to specifically treat Chinese traditional culture and how to derive the essence from the cultural accumulation of 5000 years,have become an urgent problem.