Filial piety does not need a code

Almost all Chinese will agree that filial piety is a cultural trait that should be adhered to, and the old saying, "Filial piety is the first among 100 virtues", will be never out of date in Chinese society. Then why has the new code of conduct for filial piety issued by the office of the National Committee for senior citizen affairs created a controversy?

Adult children, according to the code of conduct, are required to do 24 things for their parents in their daily life. By recommending these everyday actions, the authorities paint a vivid picture of a caring middle class family: Adult children are emotionally close to their parents and satisfy their economic and emotional needs by supporting them financially, visiting them frequently and spending more leisure time with them. This is a wonderful picture of a really harmonious family and most of us long for it. But a majority of Chinese would say : "Are we all part of this wonderful picture?"

Responding to an online survey conducted by a newspaper and a website in Henan province, only 16.9 percent people said they met the basic requirements of the code. It would mean that more than 80 percent of the respondents don't (or don't want to) take care of their elderly parents. But we know that is not true. Experience tells us that lack of money and time prevents most of the people from meeting the requirements of the filial code of conduct.