Which Confucian text records the dialogue between Confucius and his disciple Zengzi on filial piety?

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The Confucian text recording a dialogue between Confucius and Zengzi on filial piety is the Classic of Filial Piety.

Known in Chinese as the Xiaojing, the work presents filial piety as a fundamental virtue beginning with respect for parents and extending to wider obligations in family, society, and government. Its traditional opening frames filial conduct as the root of virtue.

The text is organized as a series of questions and answers. Confucius is presented as the speaker, while Zengzi, one of his disciples, asks questions. Modern scholars generally regard the work as a later compilation rather than a verbatim record of a historical conversation.

The Classic of Filial Piety became important in imperial China because it connected family ethics with political order. It is sometimes confused with the Analects, but the Analects is a broader collection of sayings and conversations associated with Confucius.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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