This quote is from the "Chapter on the Beginning of Filial Piety," one of the thirteen Confucian sutras, which is an ancient Chinese political and ethical work, and is as follows:

Zhong Ni lived in the house, and Zeng Zi served him. Zeng Zi served him. Zi said, "The first king had the most virtuous and important way to obey the world. The people are in harmony, and there are no complaints from above and below. You know it?" Zeng Zi avoided the table and said: "Sen is not sensitive, how is enough to know?"

The son said: "The filial piety, the virtue of this also, the teaching of the birth also. Sit down again, I say you. Body hair and skin, received by the parents, do not dare to destroy, filial piety of the beginning. Establishment of the way, and make a name for themselves in future generations, in order to show their parents, the end of filial piety. Filial piety begins with serving one's parents, ends with serving one's ruler, and ends with establishing oneself. The Daya said, "I will not miss my ancestors, and I will cultivate my virtue."

Vernacular Translation

Confucius sat down, and Zengzi accompanied him. Confucius said, "The emperors of former times had their supreme character and most important morals, which were used to bring the hearts of the people of the world into subjection. The common people were thus at peace, and there was no resentment or dissatisfaction among the rulers and officials. Do you know this truth?" Zeng Zi left his seat and replied respectfully, "Zeng Sen does not hook smart, where can I know it?"

Confucius said, "This is filial piety. It is the root of all virtues and the source from which indoctrination arises. Go back to your seat, and I will tell you (this truth). The four limbs of the human body, hair and skin, are all given by the parents, do not dare to be damaged or maimed, this is the beginning of the practice of filial piety. To cultivate one's self, to promote morality and righteousness, and to make one's parents famous and honored by making them famous and honored in future generations is the end of practicing filial piety. Filial piety begins with serving one's parents, continues with serving one's ruler, and culminates in the fulfillment of one's loyalty and filial piety. 'How can one not feel for your ancestors, learn and carry forward their virtues,' says the Poetry Classic - Daya - King Wen."

Word Notes

Body: torso for body, limbs for body. Hair: hair. Skin: skin.

Destruction: damage.

Expanded:

Legend has it that the Book of Filial Piety was written by Confucius, but by the time of the Southern Song Dynasty it was already suspected to have been written by a later hand. In the Qing Dynasty, Jiyun pointed out in the Siku Quanshu General Catalog that the book was the last words of Confucius' "seventy sons and daughters," and that it was written during the Qin and Han dynasties. From the Western Han Dynasty to the Wei, Jin, and North and South Dynasties, there were more than a hundred commentators. The current popular version is written by Li Longji of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, with a commentary by Xing Bing of the Song Dynasty. The book is divided into 18 chapters.

The Book of Filial Piety, centered on filial piety, is a relatively focused exposition of Confucian ethical thought. It affirms that filial piety is a norm ordained by heaven, "filial piety is the scripture of heaven, the righteousness of earth, and the behavior of man." It points out that filial piety is the foundation of all virtues, and argues that "a man's behavior is no greater than his filial piety," and that a ruler can use filial piety to govern his country, and his subjects can use filial piety to establish themselves and their families.

For the first time, the Classic of Filial Piety links filial piety with loyalty, arguing that loyalty is the development and expansion of filial piety, and extends the social role of filial piety to include the following. The social role of filial piety and fraternal duty was generalized, and it was believed that "when filial piety and fraternal duty are attained", it could "reach out to the gods and light up the four seas, and there is no obstacle to it". The requirements and methods of practicing filial piety were also systematically and thoroughly stipulated.

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