Xiao is the Chinese name for the Confucian concept of filial piety.
Written 孝, xiao refers to respect, care, loyalty, and proper conduct toward parents and elders. In Confucian thought, family relationships are a primary setting for moral education. A person learns responsibility and consideration in the household, then extends those habits into wider social and political relationships.
Filial piety does not mean only obedience. Classical discussions also connect xiao with supporting parents, honoring family obligations, maintaining the family line, and advising parents respectfully when their conduct is wrong. The exact balance between obedience and moral judgment has been debated in different periods.
Xiao became an important theme in Confucian texts, including the Classic of Filial Piety. It is distinct from ren, which means humaneness, and li, which concerns ritual and proper conduct. The term also influenced East Asian ethics, family practices, literature, and political ideals.