Topic 46 Important qualities of a good son or daughter. In Chinese culture, a person who is filial (дочерний, сыновний) and obedient (покорный, послушный) to his parents is regarded as a good son

In Chinese culture, a person who is filial (дочерний, сыновний) and obedient (покорный, послушный) to his parents is regarded as a good son. Confucianism, an ideology that had great effect on the Chinese society, stresses the importance of harmonious interpersonal relations between family members, particularly that between parents and children. Judgment on a man is often based on his attitude toward his parents.

Confucian classics contain many principles regarding (касающиеся) the "right" conducts (вести себя) people should have to handle the relation with their parents. For instance, people in the past were required to pay respects to their parents everyday in the morning. Children should follow whatever orders or instructions their parents issued (выпущенный, изданный). A person who was most respectful to his parents was highly praised (ценим, хвалить) and often set up (устанавливаются) as a model in the society.

The ancient Chinese thought that there was a connection between the relations within the family and political institutions of the country. They extended the formula of administering a family to social and political affairs (политическим вопросам). In other words, the Chinese people ran the country on the principles based on family life. The emperor was respected by his subjects as a father was by his children. An official faithful (верный, преданный; стойкий) to his lord was often compared to a son filial to his father.

However, China has undergone great changes over the past century (претерпел большие изменения за последние сто лет). Influenced by western thoughts, the Chinese people have revised and transformed many traditional ideologies and ways of thinking. Parents have no longer had absolute authority over their children. Now young people may stand on an equal relation with their parents and they stress more personal freedom and independence. But the traditional ideology remains to be very influential, a good son who is respectful to and takes cares of his parents is considered by others as one of high moral character.