24 Stories of Filial Devotion

[Jennifer Chang]

I found these comics on filial devotion rather fascinating and some almost appalling to read. I was most shocked at the story of "Burying Son to Save Mother" and how the couple justified their action by saying that "We can have another child but not the mother". It really does showcase (in this case, very extremely), the couple's devotion to their parents. However, it also goes against the core idea of the importance of reproduction. I wonder, in the story, how the grandma would react if she were to find out that the couple had buried her grandson alive in order to save her. Would she be on the same page as the couple? 

I am also very curious to use these cartoons/stories of filial piety with my students. I can already imagine several of my students having very negative reactions and opinions to some of these stories, and am interested to the discussion it would lead to. I also think that these stories are really great to introduce as we do cover Confucianism in our Ancient China unit.