The Tradition of Respecting the Elderly, Part 1 of 2

In this 2-part program, we celebrate the cultural traditions of respecting elders around the world across various religions. In Asian societies, honoring elders is one of the fundamental principles. For example, in the Chinese culture, there is a saying, “among hundreds of moral behaviors, the virtue of being filial comes first” The long tradition of Filial Virtue or Filial Piety is considered the highest virtue in Chinese culture. It is more than just respect, and also includes love, care for, support, and devotion to the elderly. Honoring the elders extends to older siblings, family members, teachers, and citizens of high position in the Chinese culture. This moral principle contributes to establishing a peaceful society. In Âu Lạc, also known as Vietnam, there are usually many generations living together in one household. This allows all the generations to support and care for one another. In almost all the cultures of the Orient, there is a common reverence for elders for their wisdom, lifelong hard work, and all the sacrifices for family.