China Celebrates Elder’s Day This Month, but Just How Filial Are You?

Hannah Feldshuh | Oct 12, 2020 4:00 pm | Add a comment | 321 reads

China’s eighth annual Elder’s Day is quickly approaching! In case you’ve been living under a rock, China’s most exciting holiday takes place on Oct 25 and is meant to promote care and services for our favorite senior citizens, as well as train youngsters in appropriate respect and filial piety for those in their golden years.

Not wanting to miss out on all the geriatric fun, the Beijing Municipal Committee Office on Aging has organized the 2020 Beijing Municipal “Piety Model” selection competition. The competition ran from Oct 1 to 7, during which the public voted up to 20 times for one of ten “filial piety role model” finalists. Categories for consideration included family-directed filial piety, social respect for the elderly, and business assistance for the elder.

The stated selection criteria include: demonstrating community spirit, making meaningful contributions to society, positively influencing others, and guiding others to adhere to principles of filial piety.

Curious what true filial feats justify candidacy as Beijing’s most filial resident? Here are some examples that will knock your nursing home slippers off!

First up: Wang Xiaoyan, champion for the infirm and veterans: Party affairs committee member Wang Xiaoyun knows how to be filial on and off the clock. Not only did she tirelessly care for her ill parents, but she is also on hand 24/7 to help retired veterans navigate professional, personal, and emotional challenges.

Our next contender: Zhang Sihuai, long-distance filial master. Youngest son Zhang Sihuai has been away from home for most of his adult life – whether traveling for work or school, he is frequently kept away from his aging parents. Despite the distance, he calls and writes daily, making sure to carefully save his parents' letters in an ever-growing pile. As both his parents and his in-laws have encountered more health problems, he has taken the time to fully understand their medical conditions and encourage them to take charge of their own health. In addition, whenever he visits his hometown, he goes out of his way to warmly greet and engage with its varied aging residents.

A final example: Cao Ligen, the filial enforcer. Cao Ligen is a long-time police officer who has incorporated protection of the elderly as a core component of his work. Constantly on the lookout for elder abuse, he has won numerous awards for combatting fraud against the elderly and for delivering food and necessities to seniors during the COVID-19 outbreak. In case that wasn’t enough, Cao educates seniors in online literacy during his off time, and diligently cared for his own ailing father.

Already brimming with excitement? Follow the “Are You Filial Today?” (“今天你孝了吗？”) WeChat official account to catch the results when they roll in.

Now that you’re up to speed on the filial heroes of Beijing, its time to get in the mix yourself for The Beijinger 2020 edition of WHO. WANTS. TO. BE. FILIALLLLLL?

Here are the rules – select the filial behaviors below that you have displayed over the past week. Go to the end of the article to find out how you stack up!

In the last week I have:

  • Helped an elderly person cross the street.
  • Avoided getting hit by an elderly person on a scooter and refrained from yelling at them.
  • Wore an “adorable” item of clothing given to you by an older relative, despite feeling it makes you look like a pioneer.
  • Spoken to an elderly relative or friend.
  • Volunteered to help seniors – veterans, comrades, or otherwise.
  • Explained how to use electronics to an older relative, WITHOUT rolling your eyes.
  • Listened to and appreciated an older person’s wisdom.
  • Listened to your grandparents’ favorite story and successfully pretended you hadn’t heard it before.
  • Helped a senior with a chore – and accepting gracefully when they tell you you’re doing it wrong.
  • Express love and affection for the older people in your life – because they’ve given you so much and you appreciate it!

Here’s how to calculate your score:

  • 1-3 points: Get outta here you worthless whippersnapper! Your filial credentials have much to be desired.
  • 3-7 points: You’re on your way young padawan. You may not be an ideal filial offspring, but you’re not a total disappointment either. Keep going and you may find yourself as a candidate for Beijing’s filial role model in 2021!
  • 7-10 points: You’ve done it! You have pleased your elders and ancestors alike and are truly a model of filial observance. Pat yourself on the back and remember to keep it up!

READ: Penny For Your Thoughts? Accessing Mental Health in Beijing

Images: Are You Filial Today?