The Canon of Filial Pietyis the shortest of the Thirteen Classics of Confucianism; nevertheless, it has been one of the most influential Confucian works for more than two thousand years. The Thirteen Classics were writings acclaimed by the government because they embodied the words and acts of the ideal rulers of the golden past: the sage-kings Yao, Shun, and Yu. Much of the Canon of Filial Piety’s success may be attributed to its brevity, which has made it easy to memorize. Another reason it has been so highly regarded is that it heralds one of China’s most treasured values: filial piety, or xiao, which means “to selflessly serve one’s parents.” Equally significant, this classic resolved one of Confucianism’s major contradictions: How can one always show both filial piety to one’s family and loyalty to the state? Because of its emphasis on applying the value of filial piety to the tenets of good government, the Canon of Filial Piety has commanded unremitting attention and admiration from emperors, officials, and scholars throughout East Asia.