Filial Piety for Parents and Affection for Kin

Filial Piety for Parents and Affection for Kin

This concept captures the traditional Chinese virtue of respecting and caring for elders and loving one's family. Filial piety not only includes sincere affection and support for parents but also care for the elderly throughout all of society. Affection for one's kin is manifest in parents' selfless love of their chil- dren, and on the flipside, children's reciprocal gratitude to their parents and spontaneous actions to repay them. Filial piety requires both material and spiritual support. The notion reflects the importance Chinese people place on the emotional bonds between family members, especially genuine and spontaneous love among them.

An old saying goes, extend respect for seniors in one's family to those from other families and expand love for the young in one's family to other families. The Chinese nation fostered a tradition of valuing family and nurturing affection between family members. Family is not just a group of people living together; the concept features a strong emotional bond between members and a sense of belonging. This notion captures the Chinese people's deep attachment to family and reflects the importance of family as the basis of Chinese culture.

孝老爱亲

孝老爱亲是中华民族的传统美德，意为孝敬老人、爱护亲人。“孝”字表达了中华儿女对父母孝养、孝敬的真挚感情，体现了全社会对老年群体的关爱和帮助。“爱”字道出了千万父母对儿女的真挚感情，也表达了千万儿女对父母养育之恩的真诚回报。“孝老”不仅包括物质上的供养，还包括精神上的慰藉。中国人非常重视亲人之间的情感，这种孝敬老人、爱护亲人的情感真挚纯粹、由心而发。

中华民族自古以来就重视家庭、重视亲情，倡导“老吾老以及人之老，幼吾幼以及人之幼”。家不仅是饮食起居的场所，还是亲情血缘的纽带，更是个体情感的归宿。孝老爱亲的道德观念生动表达了中国人深厚的家庭情结，反映了中国人浓厚的家文化传统。