Code of conduct just a reminder

Despite the heated debate that has flared up about the new code of conduct for filial piety, which was released by the office of the national committee for senior citizen affairs and related departments on Monday, no one can deny that taking good care of one's parents is a tradition that should be carried on.

The new code of conduct has 24 articles, echoing The Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety, written by the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) scholar Guo Jujing, which as its title suggests, provided 24 examples of children demonstrating their love and respect for their parents in an exemplary manner. For example, one of the stories tells of a son who lies down naked on a frozen river so the ice will melt and he can catch some fish for his father, who loves to eat fish.

The stories, which were denounced as feudalist ideas during the "cultural revolution" (1966-76), actually convey the idea that children owe their lives to their parents and therefore should unconditionally take good care of them and strive to make them happy.