The Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety

The Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety is a classic text of Confucian filial piety written by the Yuan Dynasty (1260–1368 BCE) scholar Guo Ju Jing. The images featured in this book are photographed from the 3D plaster relief panels along the walkway near the Hall of Amrita Precepts at Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery in Singapore.

The concept of filial piety has played a strong role in Chinese culture since ancient times. In Chinese Mahayana Buddhism, filial love and devotion is also strongly advocated, as loving-kindness and compassion are precursors to cultivating bodhicitta. The story of Buddha Shakyamuni’s ascension to Trayastrimsa Heaven to convey the Buddha-dharma to his mother, as recounted in one Mahayana Buddhist text is an example of ultimate filial piety.

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