In
Confucian philosophy,
filial piety (,
xiào) is a virtue of respect for one's father, elders, and ancestors. The Confucian classic
Xiao Jing or
Classic of Xiào, thought to be written around the Qin-Han period, has historically been the authoritative source on the Confucian tenet of
xiào / "filial piety". The book, a conversation between Confucius and his student Zeng Shen (曾參, also known as
Zengzi 曾子), is about how to set up a good society using the principle of
xiào (filial piety). The term can also be applied to general obedience, and is used in religious titles in Christian Churches, like "filial priest" or "filial vicar" for a cleric whose church is subordinate to a larger parish. Filial piety is central to Confucian
role ethics.