What I learn

heritage in chinese civilisation

 

2.5  Respect and reverence

i. respect is external; reverence is internal; respect must be accompanied by reverence at heart

ii. respect your parents do not mean worship them

iii. to disagree with parents is not unfilial; to be filial to the dead means to uphold their values and virtues; to behave in ways in which they would be proud of you if they were alive

Why mourn for late parents for three years?

A baby is carried in his parents' arms for three years, before he can be said to be able to move away freely from his parents.

iv. reverence for spirits/deities:

- Confucius – “While you are not able to serve men, how can you serve their spirits?"
- saying -  "ren zai zou, tian zai kan" (man acts, heaven observes)

2.5.1 Meaning of Qing Ming

i. Life Qing Ming: remember one’s past

ii. Ecology Qing Ming: arrival of spring

iii. Political Qing Ming: remember Jie Tu; Hanshi/Cold Festival

* Heritage in brief, for contemplation