Min Tzu-chien had lost his mother at a young age. His father remarried and had two more sons with his second wife. She always dressed her own sons in thickly padded robes. But to her stepson she gave only a thin coat. One winter day, when Min Tzu-chien was told to hold the reins of his father's cart, but he was shivering so badly that he dropped the reins.
This was the way his father found out that his wife was dressed his oldest son very poorly. In his rage he decided to dismiss his second wife. Filial piety yes or no and why
Based on the given scenario, Min Tzu-chien's stepmother seems to be treating him unfairly compared to her own sons. Filial piety refers to the virtue of respecting and honoring one's parents. In this case, Min Tzu-chien's father has a responsibility to ensure fair treatment of his children, including his stepson.
To determine whether the act of dismissing the second wife aligns with filial piety, we need to consider the Confucian principles that guide this concept. According to Confucianism, filial piety involves the obligation of children to care for and respect their parents, and parents have a corresponding duty to treat their children with love, fairness, and kindness.
In this situation, Min Tzu-chien's father's act of dismissing his second wife can be viewed as an act of ensuring fairness and protecting the well-being of his son. By dismissing his wife, he is taking action to rectify the unfair treatment and show support for his son. This can be seen as an act of filial piety because he is fulfilling his responsibility as a father to protect and provide for his child.
However, it is important to note that filial piety is a complex concept, and its interpretation may vary depending on cultural and individual perspectives. Ultimately, whether this action truly embodies filial piety can also be influenced by other factors, such as the father's overall behavior and treatment of his son in other aspects of their relationship.