This lesson plan falls within World History (Modern) and Cultural Anthropology strands.

Understand the role filial piety plays in two Asian societies; identify how formal relationships create social behaviors; describe ways individuals show respect for their elders and ancestors.

In the 6th century B.C.E., Kongfuzi (Confucius) taught that children should practice filial piety, or respect for one's parents and elders. He believed that social order and harmony could be maintained if society were organized around five basic relationships. These were the relationship between ruler and subject, father and son, husband and wife, older brother and younger brother, and friend and friend. Many Asian societies practice filial piety. A son should show devotion to his parents while they are living, take care of them in their old age, and perform necessary rituals for them after they have died and become his ancestors. His devotion might be expressed in excelling in school, or achieving accomplishments that bring honor to the family. A daughter will join her husband's family when she marries so her obedience is to her husband and her in-laws, particularly to her mother-in-law. Her biggest responsibility is to give birth to a son who can carry on the family traditions.

2 class periods

• Student Activity Sheet
• Concept Map Graphic Organizer
• General Writing Rubric

Students have the opportunity to write an Analytical Essay (see Extension below).

How is the concept of filial piety practiced in these Asian societies? What are the challenges to this tradition in modern Korea and Taiwan?

Point of View Students will write a biography in which they assume the point of view of a young person from one of these cultures. Students will write about their grandparent describing their own culture's perspective on what it means to be filial. Students will research the human interactions and demands their culture places on an individual.

Have students research the topic using the provided links. Encourage them to use the suggested graphic organizer as they read the articles.

Korean mourners (women in white cotton, men in hemp cloth).

To further help students think about how an individual practices filial piety in society, have them examine the photograph.

Key questions students should answer are:

• What filial duty are these individuals performing?
• Why might men and women wear different clothing when in mourning?
• What might be a connection between elder respect and ancestor worship?

Text goes here.

• Gender roles
• Language — role of titles and honorifics
• Education
• Funerals
• Festivals
• Marriage
• Government doctrine
• Urban or rural

Remind students that the content of their biography will be shaped by the background of the person from whose perspective they are writing; they should identify the culture, gender, geographic circumstance, and social class of their subject. Students should use at least two specific factual details from their research for each topic they address.

Use the Writing Rubric to assess students' performance.

Have students reflect on their performance and use the list of expectations to judge how well they met the criteria.

Ask students: What degree of filial piety is practiced in the United States?

Analytical Essay Have students use World Cultures Today to research another culture's views on the relationship between children and their elders.