The "Classic of Filial Piety" says: "Filial piety is the way of heaven, the righteousness of earth, and the conduct of people." The "Analects of Confucius" states: "A noble person focuses on the roots; when the roots are established, the Way is born. Filial piety and brotherly respect are the roots of benevolence!" The "Lv's Discourses" notes: "Filial piety is the foundation of the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns, the thread that holds everything together. Adhering to one principle leads to a hundred virtues, eliminates a hundred evils, and brings order to the world; is it not all due to filial piety!" As you can see, filial piety represents the highest moral standard, the deepest truth, and has the most profound impact on people.
Therefore, those wise emperors of ancient times who promoted filial piety throughout the country could embody great virtues like heaven and earth and shine brightly like the sun and moon. Princes, ministers, and officials who promote filial piety in the country can ensure the longevity of their ancestral shrines and the stability of the state, maintaining their positions and salaries for a long time. Even common people who practice filial piety in their daily lives can earn a good reputation during their lives, passing down their legacy for generations. This is all because they sincerely respect and serve their parents, earning the respect of all beings in heaven and earth, thus gaining the admiration of sages and wise men.
People like Tian Yi and Lang Fanggui may lack extensive knowledge or extraordinary abilities, but they are authentic and express genuine emotions. They are inherently kind, work diligently, and serve their parents with all their might, full of love and respect, only seeking their parents' happiness without ambitious aspirations for high positions and wealth. Their quiet acts of filial piety resonate with the heavens and spirits. Although some people may later become prime ministers, hold noble titles, have great wealth, and own numerous horses and carriages, their posthumous reputation may not surpass that of those who genuinely practice filial piety. Isn't this the greatness of filial piety? Thus, I document their stories to compile this book, "Biographies of Filial Piety."
Lu Yanshi, styled Yunfang, was from Linzhang in Wei County. His grandfather, Lu Xidao, served as the governor of Weizhou, and his father, Lu Zhang, served as the Director of the Imperial Secretariat. The entire family held official positions and was quite influential. Lu Yanshi displayed exemplary character from a young age, and he was praised by the people in his village. As he grew up, he had a deep love for learning and excelled in writing. Later on, Prince Weixiangcheng, Yuan Xu, took notice of him and appointed him as a military advisor. After his father's passing, Lu Yanshi was overcome with grief, struggling to cope with his father's death. He and his brother, Lu Ang, lived beside the grave and personally dug the grave. At that time, the court ministers held him in high regard, often visiting the grave to pay their respects and offer condolences. Emperor Wenxuan of Qi was deeply moved by this and erected a stele at Lu Yanshi's residence, naming their home "Filial Piety Lane," which was a tremendous honor. Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Xing Shao, also submitted a recommendation on his behalf. Before the court could respond, Prince of Pengcheng, Xiao Shu, who was appointed governor of Sizhou, recruited him as the chief clerk. Later on, Lu Yanshi held several important positions in the court, such as Grand Scholar of the Eastern Pavilion. His brother Lu Ang could have inherited their father's marquisate of Shiping, but because Lu Yanshi was the youngest among the siblings, his brother willingly ceded the title to him. Despite Lu Yanshi's stubborn refusal, he ultimately did not accept the title. He was regarded as a loving brother, filial to his parents, and embodied all the virtues of the family. He later rose to the position of attendant in the Imperial Secretariat and then became the Deputy Director of the Imperial Stables. Whenever foreign envoys visited, the court would select the most outstanding hosts to receive them, and Lu Yanshi hosted six delegations of envoys, highlighting his skills and standing.
Afterwards, he became the Chancellor of the Yellow Gate. Unfortunately, he was honest and did not flatter the eunuchs, so he was slandered by malicious individuals and demoted to the position of Prefect of Zhongshan. However, he achieved notable political success in Zhongshan. Several years later, he was summoned back to the court and was appointed as a Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Personnel. Later, during the Zhou Dynasty's conquest of the Qi Dynasty, he was granted a junior official title. During the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, he was promoted to a junior official in the Ministry of Internal Affairs and was granted the title of Baron of Linshui, and he also embarked on diplomatic missions to Youzhou and Jizhou. Not long after, Yang Jian became the Prime Minister, and Lu Yanshi fell ill and requested to return home for recuperation. At that time, Wei Jiao was preparing to rebel, and Lu Yanshi vaguely sensed it, so he hurriedly returned to Chang'an with his family secretly. Yang Jian greatly admired him, appointed him as a lower-ranking official in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and granted him a higher-ranking title. After Yang Jian proclaimed himself emperor, Lu Yanshi was appointed as the Deputy Minister of the Left in the Ministry of Personnel, and his title was further elevated to Viscount. Lu Yanshi was originally in poor health, and not long after, his condition worsened due to overwork, so he requested to resign from office. The emperor issued a decree permitting him to rest at home while retaining his official title. Over a year later, he was appointed as the Assistant Minister of Personnel. The Sui Dynasty continued the system of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, where officials did not have clear hierarchical divisions, but during Lu Yanshi's tenure, he was meticulous in talent selection and placed great emphasis on their moral character, which earned him widespread acclaim. Later, he was reassigned as the Governor of Fenzhou due to illness and ultimately passed away while serving in office. Tian Demao was the son of Duke Guanguo Li Rengong. He was renowned for his filial piety and kindness from a young age. During the Kaihuang period of Emperor Wen of Sui, due to his father's military achievements, he was granted the title of Duke of Pingyuan County and also served as the Prince's Chief of Guards. After his father's death, he was devastated by grief and lost considerable weight, living next to the grave and personally shoveling soil to build up the burial mound.
The emperor was very touched when he heard about it and sent the Minister of Rites, Yuan Zhi, to visit and comfort him. The emperor personally wrote a letter saying, "I, the emperor, thank Tian Demao. I know you are grieving deeply, living by the tomb, personally carrying soil to mound the grave. I wish to govern the world with filial piety and to vigorously promote the teachings of filial piety and brotherhood. We have a deep relationship with your family, and I am very moved and impressed by your filial piety. Now that spring is warm, how is your health? You should take care of yourself during this time of grief!" At the same time, he rewarded him with two hundred bolts of silk and one hundred measures of rice, and issued a decree to commend his family.
Later, Tian Demao successively served as an attendant to the Crown Prince and Sima of Yizhou. During the reign of Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he became a Counselor of the Ministry of Justice and a Counselor of the Ministry of Chariots, and eventually passed away while in office.
Xue Jun, styled Daoze, was the younger brother of the Minister of Justice and Duke of Inner Yang. His father, Xue Yan, served as the Prefect of Weinan during the Northern Zhou. Xue Jun lost his father at a young age and grew up as an orphan, but he was devoted to his mother and earned a renowned reputation. He loved learning from a young age, was very ambitious, eventually traveling to Chang'an to study under a master. During the Tianhe period of Northern Zhou, Xue Jun inherited the title of Marquis of Yucheng, and later became a Senior Official and the Magistrate of Xinfeng County. During the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, he was promoted to Deputy Minister of Justice and was soon transferred to Deputy Minister of Civil Service. The emperor learned of Xue Jun's deep filial devotion to his mother, and seeing that his mother was elderly, he rewarded him with carriages, horses, clothes, canes, and seasonal delicacies, which everyone considered a great honor for him.
Later, Xue Jun's mother fell ill, making Xue Jun appear troubled and haggard, unrecognizable even to close friends and family. After his mother passed away, the Emperor dispatched officials from the Honglu Temple to oversee the funeral arrangements and ordered him to bury his mother back in their ancestral home in Xiayang. It was the height of winter, with bitterly cold weather. Xue Jun wore coarse mourning clothes, barefoot, facing the wind and snow while walking over 500 miles from the capital to his hometown. His feet became frostbitten and bled, evoking deep sorrow among the people. Local officials and villagers came to express their condolences and offer help, but he turned down all assistance.
Shortly after, Xue Jun was reappointed as a county magistrate and instructed to resume his duties. He earnestly petitioned the Emperor to permit him to complete his mourning period, but the Emperor refused. When he returned to the capital, the Emperor saw how emaciated and haggard he had become, which caused the Emperor's expression to change as he said to his ministers, "Seeing Xue Jun in such grief and sorrow, I cannot help but feel sorrowful as well." The Emperor sighed for a long time. Ultimately, Xue Jun fell ill from overwhelming grief and passed away soon after. At that time, his brother Xue Mo was serving as a military officer in the Jinwang Mansion in Yangzhou, and before his death, Xue Jun left him a letter.
I come from a poor family and have faced hardship since childhood; life has been very difficult. I traveled far and wide to pursue my education, often going hungry. My parents died when I was young, and I have not read many books, drawing on my father's teachings and my mother's good upbringing. I was determined to pursue my studies, undeterred by the long journey, and wholeheartedly committed to learning. I studied diligently and persevered through all hardships, eventually achieving something. Since I resigned from farming and entered the official career, it has been twenty-three years now. Although I hold a low-ranking official position, my income is sufficient to support my family, and I can also let my parents enjoy their old age and fulfill my filial duty. I never expected my devotion to go unblessed by fate; one disaster after another struck, my brothers were all removed from their posts, and our family had no opportunity to appeal. I was devastated and filled with despair. Disasters kept coming, and after enduring many trials, I was fortunate to return to my hometown. If there is an afterlife and I could meet my ancestors, how wonderful that would be! But thinking of you, alone in a distant post on the border, I feel a deep sadness and regret, unsure of how to express it. I hope this letter finds you well, as I wish to bid you farewell in person. I've been enduring the pain while waiting for you; it's been ten days now. You haven't come yet, and it feels like we are destined to be separated forever, with our souls separated. I can't express how deeply this pains me! Please take care of yourself!
Xue Jun finished writing the book and then passed away at the age of forty-two. The relevant authorities reported the matter to the emperor, who was saddened and shed tears. He even sent someone to deliver a eulogy, in which it was written: "The emperor said to the late Xue Jun, former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites: Alas! You were upright and gentle, fully embodying the expectations of our ancestors; your diligence and integrity were truly remarkable. Unfortunately, you faced personal misfortune and passed away unexpectedly. Your loyalty and filial piety touched my heart; your funeral should be more elaborate than those of ordinary courtiers. Therefore, I have specially sent someone to carry out this decree. If your spirit is aware, may you accept this honor! Alas, how sorrowful!" Xue Jun was known for his honesty and frugality; at the time of his death, his family had no savings.
When Xue Jun was a child, he played by the small river with the children of the family. He spotted a yellow snake with horns and feet and called everyone to look, but no one else could see it. Xue Jun felt it was an ominous sign and returned home very worried. His mother pressed him for the reason, and he revealed the truth to her. At that time, a wandering monk came to their home to beg for alms, and Xue Jun's mother, feeling frightened, shared the incident with him. The monk replied, "This is a good omen for the child. This child will hold a high official position in the future, but his lifespan will not exceed six or seven years." After saying this, he suddenly left, which struck everyone as quite strange. Ultimately, Xue Jun did pass away at the age of forty-two, and the monk's prediction of "six or seven years" came true. His son, Qianfu, served as a warehouse official in Wuan County.
Wang Ban, also known as Jingyan, was from Qixian, Taiyuan. His grandfather, Wang Shen Nian, was the General of the Left Guard of the Liang Dynasty, and his father, Wang Sen Bian, was the Grand Commandant of the Imperial Guard. Wang Ban was handsome and talented from a young age, excelling in both literary and martial arts. When his father pacified the rebellion of Hou Jing, he was taken hostage and left in Jingzhou. Later, when Emperor Yuan was captured by the Zhou army, Wang Ban took the opportunity to enter Guanzhong. He learned that his father was killed by Emperor Chen Wu, and he fainted from grief; when he awoke, he cried uncontrollably and had become emaciated. After the mourning period, he wore rough clothing, subsisted on vegetarian meals, and slept on straw.
Emperor Zhou Ming valued him, summoned him, and appointed him as a Senior Left Attendant, later promoting him to the Governor of Hanzhong, then to the Director of Ceremonial Affairs. In the early years of the Kaihuang era, due to his achievements in pacifying the barbarians, he was bestowed the title of Kaifu and appointed as the Duke of Sheqiu County. He presented a strategy for attacking the Chen Kingdom, which the emperor greatly valued, leading to a personal audience with him. After the conversation, the emperor couldn't help but sigh, his expression shifting. As preparations began for a major assault on the Chen Kingdom, Wang Ban volunteered, leading hundreds of men to cross the Yangtze River at night with Han Qin Nian's vanguard. He was injured in battle and, fearing he could no longer fight, wept in despair. He fell asleep in the middle of the night and dreamed that someone offered him medicine. When he woke up, the pain from his injuries had vanished, and people believed at the time that his filial piety had moved the heavens.
After the fall of the Chen Dynasty, Wang Ban secretly gathered the soldiers who had served under his father, totaling more than a thousand people, and wept uncontrollably before them. One of the soldiers asked Wang Ban, "My lord, you have conquered the Chen Dynasty, destroyed their country, and sought vengeance for past grievances. Why are you still so sad? Is it because Chen Baxian died too early, and you were not able to kill him with your own hands? Why don't we dig up his grave and burn his coffin and bones, so that you can show your filial piety?" Wang Ban knelt down and refused, knocking his forehead until it bled, and replied, "Chen Baxian was an emperor; his tomb is very large. It may not be possible to open it in one night, and if we don't find his body by daybreak, the truth will come to light. What then should we do?" The people asked for tools and worked together. So, they dug up the tomb of Chen Baxian at night, opened the coffin, and found that Emperor Chen Wu's beard had not fallen off; each strand was still attached to his bones. Wang Ban then burned the bones, gathered the ashes, and mixed them with water to drink. He then bound himself and confessed to the Prince of Jin. The Prince reported this to the Emperor, who responded, "I subdued the Chen Dynasty with justice; Wang Ban's actions were also an expression of filial piety. How can I bear to punish him?" Therefore, no further investigation was pursued. His military achievements were officially recorded, and the relevant departments prepared to bestow upon him the title of marquis and reward him with five thousand bolts of cloth. Wang Ban firmly declined, saying, "I sought vengeance with the might of the state; my intention was personal, not national, so I dare not accept the reward of promotion and nobility." The Emperor agreed to his request. Later, he was appointed as the Governor of Daizhou, where he excelled. After his mother passed away, he resigned from his official position. He later served as the Governor of Qizhou and passed away in office at the age of fifty-two. His brother, Wang Hui, is mentioned in the "Biographies of Literature."
Yang Qing, whose courtesy name was Boyue, was from Hejian, Hebei. Both his grandfather and father were renowned for their filial piety. Yang Qing was handsome and intelligent. When he was sixteen, the Confucian scholar Xu Zunming saw him and thought he was exceptional. As he grew up, he read many books. When he was twenty-five, the county recommended him for the title of Filial Son, but he did not go because he was serving his mother. His mother fell ill, and for seventy years he did not untie his belt. After his mother passed away, he was heartbroken and as thin as a rail, and personally carried soil to build her grave. Emperor Wenxuan of Qi commended his family, rewarding him with thirty pieces of cloth, ten bales of cotton, and fifty stones of grain. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he rewarded and promoted him many times, appointing him as a high-ranking official and sending him to Pingyang as the governor. He passed away at the age of eighty-five.
Guo Jun, also known as Hongyi, was from Wenshui, Taiyuan, Shanxi. His family lived harmoniously together, with seven generations all living together. Dogs and pigs nursed together, crows and magpies nested together. People believed this was a good omen resulting from their good deeds. The local authorities reported this to the court, and the emperor sent Prince Pingchang, Yuwen Bi, to visit his family. When the imperial censor Liu Yu inspected Hebei, he also commended his family. When King Han Liang became the governor of Bingzhou, he heard about this and greatly appreciated it, rewarding him and his brothers with a set of clothes each.
Tian Yi, from an unknown location, was exceptionally devoted to his mother and renowned for his filial piety. His stepmother was bedridden for over a year, and Tian Yi personally changed her clothes and took care of her. He would eat only when his mother did, and would abstain if she didn't. When his mother contracted dysentery, Tian Yi thought she had been poisoned, so he tasted the food himself. After his mother passed away, Tian Yi was overwhelmed with grief and fainted. His wife also died from excessive sorrow, and the villagers held a joint funeral for them.
Niu Hui, whose courtesy name was Xiaozheng, was from Anyi in Hedong, Shanxi. He was extremely filial. When his parents passed away during the reign of Emperor Zhou Wu Cheng, he lived next to their graves and personally filled the graves with soil. A hemp plant grew in front of the grave, over ten feet tall, with branches so lush that one could wrap their arms around it. The plant remained green and vibrant in both winter and summer. A crow nested in the branches of the plant, and Niu Hui cried out loudly, causing the crow to caw in mourning. People at the time found this very strange. Emperor Zhou Wu Cheng praised his family and promoted him to be the magistrate of Gantang County. He passed away in the early years of the Kaihuang era.
Liu Shixiong was always known for his righteousness and filial piety. After his father passed away, he set up a simple dwelling beside his father's grave to fulfill his filial duties, and personally filled the grave with soil. There was a locust tree in front of his family's courtyard, which used to be very lush. However, since Shixiong started observing filial piety, the tree suddenly withered. When he completed his period of mourning and returned home, the once withered tree miraculously revived! Emperor Gaozu heard about this and praised the filial piety of the father and son, decreeing to honor them and naming the place where they lived "Leide Li."
Liu Shijun was from Pengcheng and was deeply filial. After his mother passed away, he was so grief-stricken that he fainted multiple times and woke up again. He went without food or water for seven days and nights, remaining by his mother's grave, personally filling the grave with soil, and planting pine and cypress trees. Even foxes and wolves seemed to be moved by his filial piety and voluntarily brought him food. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he particularly honored their family.
Lang Fanggui hails from Huainan. He had grand aspirations from a young age and lived with his cousin Lang Shuanggui. During the Kaihuang period, Lang Fanggui encountered heavy rain while traveling outside, and the Huai River swelled dangerously. While waiting for a boat to cross the river at the ferry, the boatman lost his temper and broke Fanggui's arm. When he returned home, Shuanggui anxiously asked him what had happened, and Fanggui explained the situation in detail. Furious, Shuanggui went to the ferry and killed the boatman. The guards at the ferry caught them and brought them to the county government for questioning. After the trial, Fanggui was deemed the main offender and sentenced to death, while Shuanggui was deemed an accomplice and sentenced to exile. The brothers argued over who should take responsibility, and the county government was unable to reach a verdict, so they reported the case to the prefecture. In the prefecture, the brothers kept passing the blame back and forth, and eventually both contemplated suicide by jumping into the river. The prefecture reported the situation to the court, and the emperor was deeply moved when he heard about it. He pardoned them, honored their family, and rewarded them with one hundred pieces of cloth. Later, Lang Fanggui became the county clerk.
Zhai Pulin is from Chuqiu and is famous for his devotion to his parents. He was repeatedly summoned to serve as an official by the local government, but he firmly declined, choosing instead to farm and care for his parents. His neighbors called him "Mr. Chuqiu." When his parents fell ill, he served them day and night, never changing his clothes for seventy years. In the early days of Daye, his parents passed away one after the other, leaving him heartbroken and nearly crushed. He lived in a shed by their graves, personally moving soil to pile up the graves. Even in the cold winter, he wore only a thin linen robe, eschewing silk and cotton. His black dog at home also stayed by his side at the gravesite, howling in sadness whenever Pulin wept. Onlookers couldn't help but express their admiration. There were two magpie nests on the cypress tree in front of his house, and the magpies frequently entered his shed unafraid. During the Daye period, when the local officials conducted their inspections, they reported his filial piety to the emperor, who subsequently appointed him as the magistrate of Xiaoyang County.
Li Derao was from Bairen County in Zhaojun. His grandfather, Li Che, was the Right Chancellor of the Ministry of Personnel during the Wei Dynasty; his father, Li Chun, served as the Prefect of Jiezhou during the reign of Emperor Wen of Sui. Li Derao was intelligent and studious from a young age, kind-hearted, and highly respected by his family. In his youth, he became an Academician, working in the Ministry of Interior and handling documents. He later rose to become an Imperial Censor, upholding justice, even daring to correct the mistakes of high-ranking officials' relatives. In the third year of the Daye era under Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, he was promoted to an official in the Sili Office, often inspecting various places, vindicating the wronged, and honoring those who were filial and loving. Although his official position was not high, his noble character was highly respected by the people of that time, and his acquaintances included many renowned scholars. He was especially filial to his parents; when they were ill, he neither ate nor changed clothes for ten days. After his parents passed away, he did not drink water for five days and coughed up several liters of blood from grief. On the day of the funeral, amid a heavy winter snowstorm, with a journey of over forty miles, he wore rough mourning garments, barefoot, crying until he nearly fainted. Over a thousand mourners attended the funeral, all shedding tears. Later, dew descended from the trees in his family's yard, and magpies built nests under the eaves of his house. When the Imperial Secretary Yang Da inspected Hebei, he specifically visited his home to offer condolences and renamed the village where Li Derao lived "Xiaojing Village," and the neighborhood was called "Heshun Neighborhood." Later, Li Derao was appointed as the magistrate of Jinhe County, but before he could take office, a wave of banditry erupted. The bandit leader Ge Qian, Sun Xuanya, and more than ten other leaders gathered in the Bohai region. The court issued an order for their surrender, but Ge Qian and others were afraid to surrender. Upon hearing of Li Derao's reputation for integrity and reliability, they sent envoys to report, "If Li Derao comes, we will surrender together." The emperor then sent Li Derao to Bohai to persuade those bandits to surrender. Upon reaching Guan County, he encountered other bandits who were attacking the town, and Li Derao was tragically killed.
Li Derao's younger brother, Li Deliao, was known for his honesty and integrity. Towards the end of the Sui Dynasty, he served as a judicial assistant in Lishi County, and the governor, Yang Zichong, respected him greatly. Later, when the rebel army rose up and Yang Zichong was killed, his body discarded outside the city, Li Deliao wept in grief, organized a proper funeral for him, and buried him. After arriving in Jiexiu, he sought out the rebel army and requested to handle the funeral arrangements for Yang Zichong. The rebel army's general admired him, posthumously awarded Yang Zichong an official title, and appointed Li Deliao as an envoy to return to Lishi to handle the funeral affairs for Yang Zichong.
Hua Qiu, from Linhe County in Jijun, lost his father at a young age and had always been renowned for his filial piety towards his mother. His family was very poor, so he had to take on odd jobs to support his family. When his mother fell ill, Hua Qiu grew haggard, his hair and beard unkempt, and everyone in the county felt sorry for him. After his mother passed away, he stopped grooming himself and lost all his hair. He constructed a small shelter beside his mother's grave and slowly built up the burial mound by himself. When people offered to help, he would kneel to refuse. During the Duyi period, the court issued a decree to collect fox fur, resulting in widespread hunting across the counties. A rabbit, fleeing from hunters, darted into Hua Qiu's shelter, hiding under his knees. When the hunters arrived at the shelter and saw this scene, they were taken aback and decided to let the rabbit go. From then on, the rabbit frequently spent the night in the shelter and became close to Hua Qiu. The locals praised his filial devotion and reported it to the court. Emperor Yang of Sui even sent an envoy to offer him comfort and commended his family. Later, bandits roamed freely, frequently lurking near Hua Qiu's shelter, and they warned each other not to mess with this devoted son. Many villagers owed their lives to Hua Qiu.
Xu Xiaosu is also from Ji County. His family was part of a large clan that included thousands of households, most of whom took pride in their extravagance and luxury, while only Xu Xiaosu was known for his frugality and filial piety. Although he was young, whenever there was a dispute in the family, everyone came to him for judgment, and those he criticized always admitted their mistakes and stepped aside. Xu Xiaosu lost his father at a very young age and did not know what his father looked like. When he grew up, he asked his mother about his father's appearance, then had a painter draw his father's portrait and built a small temple to worship him regularly. He served his mother very dutifully, and for decades, his family had never seen him lose his temper. When his mother became old and sick, Xu Xiaosu personally took care of her, worried for several years, which saddened all who witnessed it. After his mother passed away, Xu Xiaosu lived on a diet of just vegetables and water, even in the cold winter, he only wore thin clothes, becoming emaciated. He personally built tombs for his grandparents and parents, and lived next to the cemetery for over forty years, with disheveled hair and walking barefoot, until he eventually passed away there.
His younger brother Xu Debei was intelligent and knowledgeable, well-versed in the Confucian classics, and was praised as a Confucian scholar in the Hebei region. After Xu Debei passed away, his son Xu Chumo continued the tradition of filial piety by mourning beside the grave, and their family was known for filial piety for generations.
Historical records say that in the past, the promotion of filial piety relied on the nobility, but in recent years, most of the sincere expressions of filial piety come from common folk. People like Yan Shi and Dao Ze, some of whom came from generations of high-ranking officials, some who were determined to defend the country, ended up losing their families and even their lives due to filial piety, some even ending up without a proper burial. Although their actions go against the ancient royal etiquette, their extreme actions also reveal their deep sense of benevolence and righteousness.
The Lang Gui brothers, in order to save their younger brother, almost lost their lives, but in doing so, saved his life; Tian Yifu and his wife both sacrificed for the country, and as a result, became renowned in history. De Rao won over the mountain bandits with his benevolence and righteousness, and De Zhai impressed the king with his loyalty; these acts are also worthy of praise! Niu Hui, Liu Jun, Zhai Lin, and Hua Qiu, their homes are either overgrown with lush vegetation or have birds and animals frolicking around their graves. Isn't this a result of their filial piety and loyalty, which have moved the heavens, earth, and deities?
