such as China, Korea, and Japan, one reason for the respect and reverent attitude
toward the elderly is ancestor worship. Perhaps more importantly, in all three of these
cultures, there is a strong belief in the“special force”that connects Confucian phi-
losophy to the elderly. Specifically, it is the Confucian notion of filial piety that is
concerned with the correct way to treat one’s parents and grandparents. That
respect and admiration for age even extends after the death of a parent. This belief
is illustrated by the proverb“When eating bamboo sprouts, remember who planted
them.”As Makinen points out, this“2,500-years-old Confucian ideal of filial piety
still runs deep.”^134 The longevity and strength of this devotion can be seen even
today. For example, there is a new“Elderly Rights Law”in China that not only
mandates that children visit their parents frequently but also says that they should
concentrate on the spiritual needs of their elderly parents.^135 In some urban areas
where children are often working and fail to visit their parents or neglect them,
their names are posted on a public notice board.^136In many cultures the
elderly are not only
respected and
venerated, they are
also active members of
the family and help
“teach”young
children about the
culture.
© Steve Harrington94 CHAPTER 3•The Deep Structure of Culture: Lessons from the Family
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