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past masters commons

Annotation Guide:

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Chinese Classics I: Philosophy
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孝經 \ Xiao Jing \ The Classic of Filial Piety
孝經 \ Xiao Jing \ The Classic of Filial Piety
《天子 \ Filial Piety in the Son of Heaven》

《天子 \ Filial Piety in the Son of Heaven》

1 子曰:「愛親者,不敢惡於人;敬親者,不敢慢於人。愛敬盡於事親,而德教加於百姓,刑於四海。蓋天子之孝也。《甫刑》云:『一人有慶,兆民賴之。』」

The Master said, "He who loves his parents will not dare (to incur the risk of) being hated by any man, and he who reveres his parents will not dare (to incur the risk of) being contemned by any man. When the love and reverence (of the Son of Heaven) are thus carried to the utmost in the service of his parents, the lessons of his virtue affect all the people, and he becomes a pattern to (all within) the four seas. This is the filial piety of the Son of Heaven.

It is said in (the Marquis of) Fu on Punishments: The One man will have felicity, and the millions of the people will depend on (what ensures his happiness)."