Ode of Filial Piety
百孝經
"Classic of One Hundred Xiào (孝)"
天地重孝孝當先
一個孝字全家安
一個孝字全家安
Heaven and Earth esteem filial piety; therefore it must come first.
One single word—“filial”—keeps an entire household in peace.
One single word—“filial”—keeps an entire household in peace.
孝順能生孝順子
孝順子弟必明賢
孝順子弟必明賢
Serve your parents with devotion and you will raise devoted children.
Filial sons and daughters mature into the wise and virtuous.
Filial sons and daughters mature into the wise and virtuous.
孝是人道第一步
孝子謝世即為仙
孝子謝世即為仙
Filial piety is the very first step on the human path.
When a faithful child departs this life, spirits honor her as an immortal.
When a faithful child departs this life, spirits honor her as an immortal.
自古忠臣多孝子
君選賢臣舉孝廉
君選賢臣舉孝廉
Since ancient days, loyal ministers were almost always good sons.
Thus rulers, seeking the worthy, first look for men renowned for filial deeds.
Thus rulers, seeking the worthy, first look for men renowned for filial deeds.
盡心竭力孝父母
孝道不獨講吃穿
孝道不獨講吃穿
Pour heart and strength into serving father and mother.
Filial piety is not only food on the table and clothes on the back;
Filial piety is not only food on the table and clothes on the back;
孝道貴在心中孝
孝親親責莫回言
孝親親責莫回言
Its highest value is a reverent heart.
When parents correct you, accept—do not argue back.
When parents correct you, accept—do not argue back.
惜乎人間不識孝
回心復孝天理還
回心復孝天理還
Alas that so many in the world fail to recognize filial devotion!
Turn your heart again to filial duty and Heaven’s order is restored.
Turn your heart again to filial duty and Heaven’s order is restored.
諸事不順因不孝
怎知孝能感動天
怎知孝能感動天
When nothing seems to go right, look first for a lack of filial respect.
Few realize that filial love can move the very skies.
Few realize that filial love can move the very skies.
孝道貴順無他妙
孝順不分女共男
孝順不分女共男
Its secret is simple obedience—there is no deeper magic.
Filial devotion draws no line between daughter and son.
Filial devotion draws no line between daughter and son.
福祿皆由孝字得
天將孝子另眼觀
天將孝子另眼觀
Blessings and long life all flow from that single word, “filial.”
Heaven regards the devoted child with special favor.
Heaven regards the devoted child with special favor.
人人都可孝父母
孝敬父母如敬天
孝敬父母如敬天
Everyone can honor father and mother—nothing prevents it.
Revere your parents as you would revere Heaven.
Revere your parents as you would revere Heaven.
孝子口裡有孝語
孝婦面上帶孝顏
孝婦面上帶孝顏
A filial child’s words are gentle and respectful.
A devoted daughter-in-law’s face shines with filial joy.
A devoted daughter-in-law’s face shines with filial joy.
公婆上邊能盡孝
又落孝來又落賢
又落孝來又落賢
Serve parents-in-law with all your heart,
and you gain both the names “filial” and “virtuous.”
and you gain both the names “filial” and “virtuous.”
女得淑名先學孝
三從四德孝在前
三從四德孝在前
A woman who seeks a good reputation begins with filial devotion.
Of the “three obediences” and “four virtues,” filial piety comes first.
Of the “three obediences” and “four virtues,” filial piety comes first.
孝在鄉黨人欽敬
孝在家中大小歡
孝在家中大小歡
A filial name wins respect throughout the village.
In the home it fills young and old alike with delight.
In the home it fills young and old alike with delight.
孝子逢人就勸孝
孝化風俗人品端
孝化風俗人品端
A devoted child urges everyone he meets to practice filial ways,
refining customs and perfecting character wherever he goes.
refining customs and perfecting character wherever he goes.
生前孝子聲價貴
死後孝子萬古傳
死後孝子萬古傳
While alive, the filial child enjoys the highest esteem;
after death, her name is sung for ten thousand ages.
after death, her name is sung for ten thousand ages.
處世惟有孝力大
孝能感動地合天
孝能感動地合天
Nothing in life wields power like filial devotion—
it moves the earth below and Heaven above.
it moves the earth below and Heaven above.
孝經孝文把孝勸
孝父孝母孝祖先
孝父孝母孝祖先
Scriptures and essays alike exhort us to be filial,
to father, to mother, and to the ancestral line.
to father, to mother, and to the ancestral line.
父母生子原為孝
能孝就是好兒男
能孝就是好兒男
Parents bring forth children in hope of their devotion;
to honor them is to be a true son or daughter.
to honor them is to be a true son or daughter.
為人能把父母孝
下輩孝子照樣還
下輩孝子照樣還
Serve your parents well,
and the next generation will repay you in the same way.
and the next generation will repay you in the same way.
堂上父母不知孝
不孝受窮莫怨天
不孝受窮莫怨天
If parents sit before you and you still show no devotion,
blame not Heaven when hardship comes.
blame not Heaven when hardship comes.
孝子面帶太和象
入孝出悌自然安
入孝出悌自然安
A filial child’s face glows with perfect harmony.
Within he is filial, without he is brotherly—peace follows him.
Within he is filial, without he is brotherly—peace follows him.
親在應孝不知孝
親死知孝後悔難
親死知孝後悔難
While parents live, seize the chance to serve;
wait until they are gone, and regret is bitter indeed.
wait until they are gone, and regret is bitter indeed.
孝在心孝不在貌
孝貴實行不在言
孝貴實行不在言
True devotion dwells in the heart, not in outward show.
Its worth lies in action, not in empty talk.
Its worth lies in action, not in empty talk.
孝子齊家全家樂
孝子治國萬民安
孝子治國萬民安
A filial child orders the family, and all rejoice.
Give such a child a nation, and the people find peace.
Give such a child a nation, and the people find peace.
五榖豐登皆因孝
一孝即是太平年
一孝即是太平年
Even abundant harvests are Heaven’s reward for filial hearts.
One act of devotion can turn a year into an age of peace.
One act of devotion can turn a year into an age of peace.
能孝不在貧和富
善體親心是孝男
善體親心是孝男
Filial service is not bound by wealth or poverty—
to understand a parent’s heart makes a filial man.
to understand a parent’s heart makes a filial man.
兄弟和睦即為孝
忍讓二字把孝全
忍讓二字把孝全
Harmony among brothers is itself an act of filial piety;
patience and yielding perfect that devotion.
patience and yielding perfect that devotion.
孝從難處見真孝
孝容滿面承親顏
孝容滿面承親顏
True devotion proves itself when circumstances are hard;
a filial smile lights the face and brings comfort to one’s parents.
a filial smile lights the face and brings comfort to one’s parents.
父母雙全正宜孝
孝思鰥寡親影單
孝思鰥寡親影單
While both parents live, it is the right season for service;
for the widowed or solitary, our thoughts of devotion deepen.
for the widowed or solitary, our thoughts of devotion deepen.
趕緊孝來光陰快
親由我孝壽由天
親由我孝壽由天
Time is swift—hurry to honor them while you may;
years belong to Heaven, but today’s service is in your hands.
years belong to Heaven, but today’s service is in your hands.
生前能孝方為孝
死後盡孝徒枉然
死後盡孝徒枉然
Only living devotion counts as filial piety;
offerings after death, though sincere, come too late.
offerings after death, though sincere, come too late.
孝順傳家孝是寶
孝性溫和孝味甘
孝性溫和孝味甘
Pass devotion down as a family treasure—
its nature gentle, its flavor sweet.
its nature gentle, its flavor sweet.
羊羔跪乳尚知孝
烏鴉反哺孝親顏
烏鴉反哺孝親顏
A lamb kneels to drink, knowing instinctively to repay;
a raven feeds its dam in return for its own raising.
a raven feeds its dam in return for its own raising.
為人若是不知孝
不如禽獸實可憐
不如禽獸實可憐
If a human being ignores such simple truths,
he is beneath bird and beast—truly pitiable.
he is beneath bird and beast—truly pitiable.
百行萬善孝為首
當知孝字是根源
當知孝字是根源
Of a hundred virtues and ten thousand deeds, filial piety leads;
know that this single word is the root of them all.
know that this single word is the root of them all.
念佛行善也是孝
孝仗佛力超九天
孝仗佛力超九天
Reciting the Buddha’s name and practicing good likewise stem from filial love,
and with the Buddha’s power filial hearts can soar beyond the ninth heaven.
and with the Buddha’s power filial hearts can soar beyond the ninth heaven.
大哉孝乎大哉孝
孝矣無窮孝無邊
孝矣無窮孝無邊
Great indeed is filial piety—great beyond measure!
Its scope is endless, its reach boundless.
Its scope is endless, its reach boundless.
此篇句句不離孝
離孝人倫顛倒顛
離孝人倫顛倒顛
Every line of this scripture circles back to filial devotion;
without it, the order of human life collapses.
without it, the order of human life collapses.
念得十遍千個孝
念得百遍萬孝全
念得百遍萬孝全
Chant it ten times and a thousand acts of devotion arise;
chant it a hundred times and ten thousand blossom.
chant it a hundred times and ten thousand blossom.
千遍萬遍常常念
消災免難百孝篇
消災免難百孝篇
Recite it thousands upon thousands of times, always keeping it in mind—the Classic of One Hundred Acts of Filial Piety will avert calamity and dispel every danger.
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The above is a line-by-line translation of the original Chinese text. While we have done our best to preserve its spirit and meaning, certain cultural references and nuances may not fully carry over into English or for the Western audience. This is a preliminary version and remains a work in progress. We welcome and appreciate any feedback, and we sincerely apologize for any inaccuracies or deviations from the original intent.
