What Mulan Can Teach Us About Filial Piety
Bringing Honor to Us All
We all admire those movie characters so devoted to someone that they are willing to die for them. Take Mulan, the Disney heroine who chops off her hair and disguises herself as a male warrior in place of her father. Rather than stick to the status quo of domestic life in a Chinese village, she chooses to stand on the front line for the sake of her family and nation. She seems to defy her parents’ wishes, but actually she anticipates her family’s needs with a heart of genuine love. It’s the highest honor Mulan could possibly give her parents. In the tear-jerking final scene, Mulan’s father says to her: “The greatest gift and honor is having you for a daughter.”
This mutual experience of honor is a much deeper kind of love and loyalty—one referred to by Unificationists as “filial piety”. The trusty Oxford Dictionary defines filial as “from a son or daughter”, and piety as “the quality of being religious or reverent.” Kind of unheard of qualities in this day and age, right? Why should we care about them?
Father Moon describes parents and grandparents as symbolically representing God. They have brought children into this world and given them the love that made them thrive and grow. Filial piety is a virtue that guides us to pay the deepest kind of respect to our parents and grandparents. It leads us to a deeper appreciation and love for God. Loyalty and filial piety is not an old traditional outlook that is fading from modern life. It’s a timeless trait that can be renewed in every generation. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we all showed sincere honor and care for our parents and elders? We think so!
A Two-Way Street
Unfortunately it has become common to not care too much about what our parents think or need. In some cases it is the parents who lack respect and love for the children. Either way, it’s gotta start somewhere! Father Moon spoke to this when he said: “The practice of true filial piety is possible only when the relationship between parents and children is based on mutual respect and understanding.” If it doesn’t start from our parents it can start from us! Think about what that could mean for our own children.
As we grow, we can give back to our parents and set a good example in the process. This 3-minute video shows the “repayment” of love a father shows to his aging mother. Despite her seemingly mean and ungrateful demeanor, the father shows unceasing care and attention to his mother’s needs. Meanwhile the father’s son watches and learns how unconditional love works. Think about the positive example you want to set for the next generation!
Filial Piety is Noticing the Details
How can we live our day-to-day lives with filial piety? For one, we can pay attention to the needs of our parents, as well as our grandparents and the elderly. Strike up a meaningful conversation, serve them in some way, get involved in one of their hobbies, call them up and tell them some good news - all these simple things convey a deeper respect and care.
We can reach out and love our parents in one of the simplest yet deepest ways: by going out of our way to show we care about them, just like we see in the bold actions of love by Mulan. That’s some powerful stuff!
Is there something you can do for your parents, or a dear elder, today? Show your gratitude and respect by running their errands, cooking a meal or spending some quality time. Or just even take an interest in how their day has been. Be someone’s Mulan today!