Filial Piety

Content

Filial piety is more than just simple respect for parents. It means repaying the life and love that parents have given with a reverent heart. In the Joseon Dynasty, filial piety was emphasized not only within the family but also as a fundamental value for social harmony. In Joseon, which placed great importance on Confucian ethics, filial piety towards parents was the foundation of moral norms, and further, it became the foremost teaching extending to society and the state.

Samgang Oryun
Samgang Oryun refers to the three basic principles and five practical moral guidelines of Confucian ethics. In 1434, under King Sejong's order, it is also the name of a book that was created by gathering exemplary behaviors for the king and his subjects, husbands and wives, and parents and children from books in Joseon and China.

•  Samgang
It refers to the duties that should be observed between the king and his subjects, husband and wife, and parents and children.
•  Oryun
Buja Yuchin: It means that parents should be kind to their children, and children should respect and serve their parents.
Gunsin Yuui: It means that the relationship between the king and his subjects is based on righteousness.
Bubu Yubyeol: It means that husbands and wives should distinguish and fulfill their respective roles.
Jangyu Yuseo: It means that there should be order and hierarchy between the elderly and the young.
Bungu Usin: It means that friends should maintain trust and loyalty in their relationship.

Samgang Haengsildo
The 『Samgang Haengsildo』 is a record of words and deeds compiled under the orders of King Sejong in 1434, gathering the actions of exemplary individuals based on the Three Principles. It serves as a manual of behavior and a book of lessons. This book conveys the principles, including filial piety, and the duties that should be upheld in human relationships through the stories of various figures. Furthermore, the actions of these figures are documented with illustrations to make it easier to understand. In the Joseon Dynasty, filial piety was not just an individual virtue but an important element in maintaining social order and protecting the country. This book was widely read during the Joseon period, imparting significant Confucian teachings to the people, with an emphasis on the practice of filial piety as the foundational virtue.

Myeongsim Bogam
The 『Myeongsim Bogam』 is a book compiled during the reign of King Chungnyeol of Goryeo, containing various Confucian virtues and teachings, including filial piety. "Myeongsim" means to brighten the heart. This book was a classical Chinese educational text for children during the Joseon Dynasty, and it was used as a textbook in homes and schools to teach children.
In this way, filial piety became one of the most important virtues in not only the Joseon Dynasty but also in Korean traditional ethics. The literature and anecdotes that emphasize filial piety show that it became the foundation for maintaining harmony and order throughout society, beyond just family relationships. Even today, filial piety continues to be an important value in the lives of Koreans.

 

Related Image

Source: Theory of Proverbs (Cover of  Sokdamron), Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture

Source: Great Dictionary of Proverbs (Preface of Sokdam Dae Sajeon), Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture

Source: Great Dictionary of Proverbs (Sokdam Dae Sajeon), Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture

Source: Dictionary of Proverbs (Sokdam Sajeon), Encyclopedia of Korean National Culture