W’s
When
Mostly present throughout all of imperial China. Heavily popularized by Confucius and his ideas in Confucianism. Largely “ended” as a concept after the fall of the Qing Dynasty, and especially after the New Culture Movement.
What
Values that the Chinese sons and daughters followed.
Family is the most important thing, and respecting and submitting to your parents and elders is the correct thing to do. The belief is that following filial piety will eventually bring wealth and fortunes to a family, even during tough times.
- You must provide for the physical and emotional needs of your parents. The point is you stay obedient to them.
- Protecting one’s body is a sign of respect because your parents were the ones that raised you and your body. This likely made many reconsider reckless decisions.
- It is important to carry on the family line (clan), and have children of your own
- Honor and remember the ancestors. Ties in with carrying on the family line, because having no children means your ancestors will have no future generations to remember them by.
Ideally, the extended family (grandparents, parents, cousins, siblings, children) all lived together under one roof, but financial reality forced a majority of people to simply live with their immediate nuclear family (parents, children).