It is said that between heaven and earth, what else can support a vast sky and span the four seas, if not filial piety? What can achieve great accomplishments and be remembered in history, if not loyalty and righteousness? Why do I say this? Filial piety begins with serving one's parents, and only then can one govern the world well; loyalty and righteousness depend on being reasonable and just, and everyone relies on it to perfect their moral cultivation. The wisest individuals adhere to their natural disposition, and even those of average talent can reach this wonderful state.
From a broader perspective, filial piety and righteousness can bring glory to one's ancestors, prosper a nation, and create achievements that flow like an endless river; even if one must sacrifice their lives to uphold their family’s honor, such noble character can endure like bamboo and cypress. On a smaller scale, filial piety and righteousness entail providing warmth and comfort for parents, staying by their side from morning till night; self-sacrifice for the benefit of others enriches societal customs and moral education. Thus, emperors like Yao, Shun, Tang, and Wu all exemplified supreme virtue to educate the people; sages like Confucius, Mozi, Xunzi, and Mencius shaped the moral fabric of society with their teachings. Looking at their achievements, they all stem from filial piety and righteousness!
However, now the foundations of filial piety and righteousness have eroded, while unwholesome trends are on the rise. Etiquette and morality are no longer valued, and integrity and humility are disregarded. Look at those in the court dressed in luxurious clothing, displaying golden and jade vessels; there are indeed families who embody loyalty, filial piety, chastity, and righteousness, even to the point of sacrificing their lives, but such people are indeed too few. Similarly, consider those wealthy families with treasures piled high and granaries full; there are families that value etiquette, study poetry and literature, and uphold righteousness until death, but such people are also extremely rare.
Therefore, compassionate people lament this, and wise monarchs and prime ministers should also take this matter seriously. To solve this problem now, we must strongly advocate for education and moral values, encourage good deeds with generous titles and rewards, guide people towards goodness with a sincere attitude, and persist over the long term to ultimately achieve results. In this way, what seems like a small matter now can become substantial; what appeared difficult in the past can become easy.
Thus, I have extensively collected various strange tales and sought out those forgotten exemplary individuals, documenting their deeds to serve as models for future generations, compiling them into the "Filial Piety and Righteousness" chapter.
Li Tang, whose courtesy name was Changqing, was from Yexian, Hebei. His grandfather, Li Bogu, served as the governor of Lu County during the reign of Emperor Xuanwu of Northern Wei. Li Bogu was a filial son; when his father passed away, he was so grief-stricken that he ultimately died from excessive sorrow. Emperor Xuanwu greatly appreciated him and posthumously awarded him the position of governor of Bohai. Li Tang's father, Li Yuanzhao, held the position of an official in the imperial court. Li Tang lost both parents at a young age, but he was studious and ambitious. At the age of seventeen, during the chaos of the Erzhus' rebellion, he and his brother, Sikong Gao Qian, raised troops in Xindu to resist the rebellion. In the early period of the Northern Wei dynasty's revival, he was summoned to the Wei Army Office as a military officer. During the Taichang era, in recognition of his military accomplishments, he was appointed as General for the Campaign against the Xiongnu and acted as the governor of Donglai County. Later, when Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei moved his court westward, Li Tang was in Aobei; he subsequently served in Eastern Wei.
Later, Gao Zhongmi was appointed governor of Beiyuzhou and invited Li Tang to be his advisor. Before this, Gao Zhongmi had a poor relationship with Cui Xian, an official in the Ministry of Personnel. At that time, Cui Xian was favored by King Wenxiang of Qi, and Gao Zhongmi was worried that Cui Xian would frame him, which left him feeling quite anxious. He sought to win Li Tang over. At that time, the Eastern Wei also sent General Xishouxing to manage military affairs, while Gao Zhongmi was only in charge of civil administration. After Gao Zhongmi took office in the state, he consulted with Li Tang about capturing Xishouxing to consolidate his position. Gao Zhongmi then held a banquet to invite Xishouxing, secretly ambushing warriors, with the hope of capturing him. Xishouxing politely declined the invitation. Li Tang then personally went to see Xishouxing and said, "You and Governor Gao are like brothers. Today’s banquet is in your honor. How can so many guests come, and you do not attend? People from near and far might suspect something and have bad guesses." After hearing Li Tang's words, Xishouxing went to the banquet with Li Tang and was promptly captured by Gao Zhongmi. Gao Zhongmi then led his soldiers to seize control of the city and sent Li Tang to the court to plead for surrender. Emperor Taizu of Northern Wei held him in high regard and appointed Li Tang as General of the Guards, Right Grand Master of the Imperial Household, and granted him the title of Duke of Guangzong County, with a fief of one thousand households. Li Tang firmly declined, saying, "My family has received the court's grace for generations and should be loyal to the country. However, due to the previous wars, I was unable to follow His Majesty on the western tour, which I deeply regret. Today, being spared from punishment is already a great fortune; how could I possibly accept such a high title for my modest accomplishments?" He declined several times in this way until the emperor reluctantly acquiesced. Soon, Li Tang was promoted to Deputy Minister of the Imperial Yellow Gate and was further granted the titles of General of Chariots and Cavalry and Special Assistant to the Three Departments.
In the year 551 AD, during the second year of Emperor Xiaowu of Wei's reign, he led an attack on the Shu region alongside Wei Angong Yuchi Jiong. The people of Shu were initially unwilling to surrender. A man named Tang volunteered to go to Shu and persuade them to surrender. After entering the city of Chengdu, Xiao Hui interrogated Tang for detailed information about Yuchi Jiong's army, but Tang remained silent. Xiao Hui then brutally beat and humiliated him in an attempt to extract information. Tang said, "You are the remnants of a fallen country and do not understand what danger is. I was sent to persuade you to surrender, yet you choose to make this difficult for me. I am a loyal servant of the emperor; even if it costs me my life, it makes no difference. My loyalty will not change because of you!" Frustrated by Tang's silence, Xiao Hui killed him. Tang's son, Chang, succeeded him in his title.
Liu Gui, whose courtesy name was Ji Hua, is the younger brother of the Minister of the Secretariat, Liu Qiu. He has a stoic and unpretentious personality, a bit stubborn, and is not particularly interested in studying or writing, but excels in horseback archery and is decisive. At the age of eighteen, he started working in the court. After his father passed away, he was overcome with grief, becoming thin and bony. After completing his mourning period, he was appointed as the magistrate of Yangcheng County and the commander of the defense forces. In the fourth year of the Datong era, he fought with Emperor Tai Zu of Northern Wei at Heqiao, distinguished himself in battle, and was appointed as the commander, stationed at Shanzhou. Eight years later, he was appointed as the magistrate of Jiaohe County, also in charge of military affairs. Shortly after, he was promoted to General of the East and Grand Master of the Palace. When the Tuyuhun invaded his jurisdiction, Liu Gui had a small force, and morale was low. Liu Gui reassured and rallied his men, stabilizing their spirits. He led dozens of men to attack first, defeated the enemy, and the rest of the soldiers pursued them, ultimately securing a decisive victory, with the Tuyuhun army fleeing. Because of this military achievement, he was granted the title of Viscount Wannian, with a fief consisting of three hundred households. At that time, the Tuyuhun were a formidable force that frequently raided the borders. Since Liu Gui took charge of Shanzhou, every battle against them ended in victory, and a few years later, the Tuyuhun no longer dared to launch invasions. In the fourteenth year, he was promoted to Deputy Prefect of Hezhou, and later promoted to the commander-in-chief. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Commissioner, General of the Military, and Grand Commander. After serving three years as Grand Commander, he was summoned back to the capital by the court.
At that time, Liu Gui's elder brother Liu Qiu was the Secretary, and his younger brother Liu Qing was the Deputy Minister of Personnel. Liu Gui once said to his brothers, "Elder brother oversees documents and files, in charge of personnel evaluations; younger brother manages various departments, serving as an important official of the court. This is quite an honor. However, the situation in all directions remains unstable, with continuous warfare. I can only brave the dangers and face arrows and stones in order to repay the country's kindness!" Soon, the Emperor Taizu said to Liu Gui, "You were very loyal and brave in Shanzhou before. Now that the western border has been pacified, you no longer need to lead military campaigns. Jiuyu is the eastern border of the country, and you should go there to guard it." Thus, Liu Gui was assigned to guard Jiuyu.
General Wang Xiong was dispatched to pacify Shangjin and Weixing, won the battle, and then was appointed as the prefect of Weixing and Huayang. However, the residents of Ankang, led by Huang Zhongbao, rebelled, gathering a following and planning to surround the city. The rebels murmured, "They say that Lord Liu (Liu Gui) is exceptionally brave, and his combat power is unstoppable. He is not in the city now, but has become a major problem for us. It's better to take him out first!" So they surrounded the county of Gui. Gui County's city walls were low, and its troops were few, with hardly any defense measures. After more than ten days of fighting, most of the soldiers were either dead or wounded, and the city was captured. Liu Gui had suffered over ten stab wounds and was taken prisoner by the rebels.
Huang Zhongbao and his men then surrounded Dongliangzhou, tied Liu Gui under the city, and wanted him to persuade the people in the city to surrender. Liu Gui shouted loudly, "You bunch of mob, all the food is gone, get out of here and save yourselves!" Huang Zhongbao was furious and pointed a knife at Liu Gui, saying, "Think about it again! Otherwise, I will kill you!" Liu Gui refused to yield. In the end, Huang Zhongbao killed him and threw his body into the water. The people in the city mourned for him. After Huang Zhongbao withdrew his troops, Liu Gui's nephew Liu Zhige brought Liu Gui's body back to Chang'an, and the court posthumously granted him the title of governor of Dongliangzhou. His son Liu Bin inherited his title.
Liu Bin, styled Boda, was summoned by Duke Xian to serve as a scribe at the age of seventeen. Unfortunately, he died at a young age.
Liu Bin's younger brother, Liu Xiongliang, styled Xincheng, had ambitions from a young age and was particularly fond of learning. When he was twelve years old, his father passed away, leaving him heartbroken and on the verge of collapse. After his father's burial, he vowed to avenge his father. Zhuguo, Duke of Cai, Guangqin, heard of Liu Xiongliang's reputation and character, so he appointed him as a military scribe. Liu Xiongliang had just turned eighteen, and he was entrusted with many bureaucratic tasks in the household. Later, he personally killed Huang Zhongbao in the capital. Both the court and the public admired his integrity, and the Emperor granted him a special pardon. From that point on, Liu Xiongliang's reputation skyrocketed. By the end of the Daxiang period, he held the title of Grand Master of the Ministry of Rites.
Du Shupi, styled Zibi, came from the Du family in Jingzhao, who later moved to Xiangyang. His grandfather, Du Qian Guang, served as the Right Chief Historian in the Qi Dynasty, and his father, Du Jian, was the Prefect of the Border City in the Liang Dynasty. Du Shupi lost his father at a young age but was exceptionally devoted to his mother, a fact well-known at the time. He was bold and ambitious, diligent in his studies, and excelled in the "Zuo Zhuan." Later, he served as an official in the Liang Dynasty and as a military officer under Marquis Xiao Xun of Yifeng.
In the seventeenth year of the Dàtǒng period, Emperor Taizu of Northern Zhou dispatched General Daxi Wu to launch an attack on the Hanchuan region. In the second year, Daxi Wu laid siege to Xiao Xun in Nanzheng. Xiao Xun sent Du Shupi to the court to seek peace. When Emperor Taizu of Northern Zhou saw Du Shupi, he treated him with great courtesy. However, before Du Shupi could return, Xiao Xun's officers, Cao Ce and Liu Xiao, secretly handed the city over to Daxi Wu. At that time, Du Shupi's brother Du Junxi was a military officer under Xiao Xun, his cousin Du Ying was a registrar, and Du Ying's brother Du Xi was a military officer in charge of the troops. These three brothers excelled in both academics and martial arts, each commanding several hundred men. Cao Ce and his cohorts envied the Du brothers, fearing that they would not listen to them, so they falsely accused them of treason and conspired against them.
Later, Xiao Xun discovered Cao Ce and their conspiracy, captured them, killed Liu Xiao, and released Cao Ce. After Xiao Xun surrendered, Cao Ce went to Chang'an. Du Shupi cried every day, submitting memorials to report the injustice and appeal for redress. After deliberation, the court determined that this incident took place before Xiao Xun's surrender and could not hold anyone accountable. Du Shupi felt deeply wronged and wanted revenge, but he feared violating the court's laws and putting his mother at risk, so he hesitated. His mother, upon hearing his thoughts, said to him, “Your brother died a tragic death, and this pain runs deep. If Cao Ce were to die today and I were to die tomorrow, I would accept it willingly. What is there left for you to hesitate about?” After hearing his mother’s words, Du Shupi became even more resolute.
Later, Du Shupi, in broad daylight, personally killed Cao Ce in the capital, severed his head, opened his belly, and dismembered his corpse. He then bound his hands behind his back and voluntarily requested the court to punish him. Emperor Taizu of Northern Zhou greatly admired his courage and specially granted him a pardon.
He was first appointed as Governor, General of the Guard, and Senior Official. Later, when his mother passed away, he was overcome with grief; he could hardly bear the pain of his mother's death. "Suffering from maternal grief, he was so devastated that he could hardly bear the loss." After the mourning period, Duke Jin Hu promoted him to serve as a military officer in the Bureau of Music, both Inner and Outer, and later appointed him as a grand commander. He was subsequently promoted to governor, a general of chariots and cavalry, and a supervisor, and was allowed to return to his hometown to serve as a county governor. Because Jun Xi and others were killed by Cao Ce, and their bodies were left in Liangzhou, he submitted a request to bring back the bodies for burial. Emperor Gaozu approved and ordered the officials to provide everything needed for the funeral. His former properties in Liangzhou that were taken over by others due to his marriage were returned to him, and he was additionally granted two hundred hectares of land. Shortly after, he was appointed as the governor of Xiezhou. In the second year of Tianhe, he accompanied Duke Wei on a southern campaign and was captured by the Chen forces. The Chen forces attempted to persuade him to surrender, but he stayed steadfast and refused to yield; "Uncle Pi did not yield in his demeanor," and he was ultimately killed. His son was named Lian Qing.
Jing Ke was from the Yishi clan in Hedong. He was plain-spoken and stood out in his demeanor. He was extremely filial, working tirelessly to support his mother, making sure she had the best food and drink, and never lacking in the necessities of life. After his mother's death, he went three days without drinking water; "water and gruel did not enter his mouth for three days." Overwhelmed with grief, he fainted and came to four times. "He cried out in anguish, fainted, and came to four times." After his mother was buried, he constructed a shelter beside the grave and took up residence there, crying day and night, and even personally moved earth to build the tomb. His hair was unkempt, and he neglected personal grooming, only eating wild vegetables and drinking water. His family's original burial site was very large, "the burial ground was vast, overgrown with weeds," more than ten miles from home, but he lived there alone, coexisting with wild animals. His deep filial piety touched the hearts of those around him, and the villagers praised him.
During the Great Unity period, the villagers found Jing Ke's devotion to filial piety deeply moving, sufficient to inspire the village, and thus reported it to the court. Emperor Taizu ordered the local officials to commend Jing Ke. After his mourning period, he continued to live in a manner befitting a mourner. The Grand Chancellor Jin Gonghu heard about Jing Ke's filial acts and specifically summoned him. After conversing with Jing Ke, Jin Gonghu greatly admired Jing Ke. Jin Gonghu himself was also very filial; his mother, Yan, died in enemy territory, and her fate was unknown. "Whenever I see him, I feel the pain of my long-lost mother." He held Jing Ke's filial heart in high regard. Even after Jing Ke's death, Jin Gonghu cherished his acts of filial piety, bringing Jing Ke's wife and children to the capital and providing for their food and clothing.
The Qin family hails from Luochuan in Shangjun. His grandfather Bai and father Wan were both renowned for their filial piety in the village. "Grandfather Bai and father Wan both had deep filial piety, known in the neighborhood." During the Taihe era of the Wei dynasty, Qin Bai was appointed as the governor of Yingzhou. During the Great Unity period, Qin Wan was appointed as the governor of Fucheng County.
The Huangfu family is especially known for their filial piety. When Huangfu Xia's father passed away, he was overcome with grief, and his weeping brought tears to the eyes of those around him; passersby were touched. Because his mother was still alive, he suppressed his grief and comforted her. The family enjoyed delicious meals year-round, never short on food. He and his brother Huangfu Rong had a deep brotherly bond, and the family lived in harmony and joy. After his mother passed away, he wept day and night, subsisting solely on vegetables and water. After his mother was buried, he remained vegetarian for many years and had not entered his own room for over twenty years. The villagers regarded him with great admiration, and over seventy neighbors, including Wang Yuanda, wrote to the court on his behalf, prompting the court to honor his family.
His younger brother, Huangfu Rongxian, was also very filial. After their mother passed away, he was heartbroken and ultimately passed away due to overwhelming sorrow. The villagers were deeply moved by his filial piety. Emperor Shizong greatly appreciated him and issued an edict stating: "Filial piety is the foundation of governance, and morality is the precursor to education. It aligns with heavenly principles and human relationships. During the mourning period, Rongxian fell ill due to excessive sorrow. His grief was profoundly touching; he cried out in anguish, refusing to eat or drink, until he could no longer endure. His filial actions set a model for the world, like a brilliant mirror casting light in the darkness. If such a person isn’t honored, what does that say about our values? He is to be awarded the position of Cangzhou's Prefect to recognize his filial piety." "Filial piety is the foundation of governance, and virtue is the precursor to education, aligning with heavenly principles and clarifying earthly righteousness. Rongxian fell ill due to mourning, his grief surpassing that of others, crying out without rest until he nearly lost his life. His actions set a standard for the world, like a mirror reflecting light in the darkness. If he is not recognized, what will be said of governance? He may be awarded the position of Cangzhou's Prefect to honor his exceptional deeds."
Huangfu Xia, styled Yonglan, was from Fen Yin in Hedong. His family had been relatively poor for several generations, but the villagers praised their harmonious living. Huangfu Xia was simple and filial; he lost his father at a young age and served his mother with great devotion, gaining a far-reaching reputation. During the Baoding era, after his mother passed away, he built a shelter beside her grave and personally moved earth to build her tomb. Later, he constructed a meditation grotto to the south of the grave; on rainy days, he stayed in the grotto, and on sunny days, he busied himself with maintaining the grave, working tirelessly from dawn to dusk without interruption. Over time, the grave grew impressively tall, reaching several zhang in height and over fifty steps in circumference. The grotto had two layers, with a total of twelve rooms and a passageway that could accommodate one hundred people. Huangfu Xia lived on simple meals, braving the elements, he became so haggard that his family could hardly recognize him.
When he first started repairing his mother's grave, two pairs of owls hovered and mourned beside it, never leaving, almost as if they were helping him, and only flew away after a month. People nearby heard of his filial piety and sent rice and flour to him. However, he accepted all of it and used it to make offerings to the Buddha. The county reported his deeds to the court, and the court ordered that he be commended for his filial piety.
Zhang Yuan, also known by his courtesy name Shi Chu, was from Ruicheng, Hebei. His grandfather, Zhang Cheng, once acted as the magistrate of Pingyang County. His father, Zhang Yanjun, served as an official in the prefecture and county, holding positions including magistrate and registrar. The father and son were honest and sincere, highly respected in the village. Zhang Yuan was humble and cautious from a young age, deeply filial. Although he didn't know much about classics and history, he was proficient in Buddhist scriptures.
It was an especially hot summer when he was six years old, and his grandfather wanted to take him to bathe in the well. Zhang Yuan resolutely refused. His grandfather thought he was playing around, so he gave him a light tap on the head with a stick and asked, "Why don't you want to bathe?" Zhang Yuan replied, "Clothes are used to cover the body, to prevent others from seeing my privacy. I can't expose my body in broad daylight." His grandfather realized he had a point and dropped the idea. There were two apricot trees to the south of their neighbor's house, and when the apricots ripened, many of them fell into Zhang Yuan's yard. Other kids rushed to pick them up and eat them, while Zhang Yuan returned all the apricots he picked to the neighbors. There was an abandoned dog in the village, and when Zhang Yuan saw it, he picked it up and brought it home to raise. His uncle angrily asked, "Why are you keeping it?" and wanted to throw the dog away again. Zhang Yuan said, "All living creatures should cherish their lives. If aging and death are fate, that is the law of nature. The dog was abandoned by its owner, and it didn’t choose to be in that situation. It would be heartless not to take it in when I see it. That's why I picked it up to raise." His uncle was moved by his words and agreed. Not long after, the dog's mother surprisingly brought a dead rabbit and left it in front of Zhang Yuan before walking away.
When Zhang Yuan turned sixteen, his grandfather had been blind for three years. Zhang Yuan was deeply distressed, crying uncontrollably, reading Buddhist scriptures day and night, and praying for blessings. Later, he read the "Medicine Master Sutra" and saw that the scripture stated blind people could regain their sight. He invited seven monks, lit seven lamps, and recited the "Medicine Master Sutra" continuously for seven days and nights to accumulate merit. While reciting, he said, "Heavenly teacher! My unfilial behavior has caused my grandfather to go blind. I now use the light to illuminate the Dharma realm, hoping my grandfather's eyes can regain sight. I am willing to endure the darkness on behalf of my grandfather." He did this for seven days. That night, he dreamed of an old immortal who healed his grandfather's eyes with a golden needle and told him, "Do not be sad; your grandfather's eyes will surely get better in three days." Zhang Yuan joyfully leaped in his dream and then woke up, quickly telling his family about it. Three days later, his grandfather's eyesight miraculously returned.
Later, his grandfather was bedridden for two weeks, and Zhang Yuan stayed by his side. He ate as much as his grandfather did, was disheveled, and cared for him day and night. After his grandfather passed away, Zhang Yuan cried uncontrollably, even fainting and regaining consciousness repeatedly. Later, he lost his father as well, not having a drop to drink for three days. The people in the village greatly admired him. County scholars, led by Yang Gui and more than two hundred others, jointly petitioned the court, and the court issued a decree to honor Zhang Yuan's family.
The historian said that Li Tang and Liu Hui were both notably brave, completely unafraid of danger, viewing death as no more daunting than going home. Their aspirations and integrity were as pure as green pines and white jade! However, Liu Hui received greater favor, while Li Tang's treatment was significantly less favorable. The politics of the Zhou Dynasty were rather unjust in this regard.
Xiong Liang and Shu Pi were seething with anger over the injustices faced by the country. The two brothers shared a deep bond and were determined to seek revenge for their family in the capital city. What does death mean in the face of such determination? Jing Ke and those from the Qin clan were all commoners, uneducated, yet they acted with integrity, honored their parents, and upheld proper etiquette. If everyone in the country were like them, wouldn't we be on the brink of a golden age like that of Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang? When it comes to moving heaven and earth, filial piety can truly move the heavens; Zhang Yuan's story serves as the perfect example.
