An illness prolonged brings out unfilial children. (Chinese Aphorism)


In most Asian societies there are many children who still look after their parents in their old age. This was, of course, the prevalent practice in the past but this tradition is also slowing fading in such societies.

Like all other aphorisms this one is not a modern creation. It has been around for ages. Though it is ancient, what it expresses has an unquestionable truth.

Sons, daughters and daughters-in-law may all be filial, caring, loving and devoted. Families that appear harmonious, close and happy may be so because there are no taxing circumstances to test the strength of their filial piety.

Sicknesses, illnesses, the monetary strains caused by the illnesses, the drain on the energy caused by the need to attend to the sick parents and the time demand placed on them to attend to all these pressing demands are the real tests. If these taxing factors were to continue for a period of time without any break, stresses would start to build up, and the break-up point would soon emerge.

How this ancient aphorism came into being must have come through the countless such incidences experienced by the Chinese forefathers throughout history. It is surely not something that they pulled out of the blue. Thus, many parents in all Asian societies now take such warnings seriously. More and more of them are accepting the fact they cannot hope to rely upon their children to provide the type of care their grand-parents and parents had been given. They themselves have witnessed enough to accept this warning as valid.

Does the view expressed above give you an uneasy feeling deep in your stomach? Does it  have a ring of truth to it? Is your filail piety yet to be tested by al the taxing demands? Are you apprehensive that it may also be fragile and it may also not hold up?