The Classic of Filial Piety (孝经) is a Confucian classic treatise giving advice on filial piety. It was composed sometime between the Qin and Han Dynasties, with some scholars attributing it to Confucius. The book deals with the sole subject of filial piety, holding that filial piety is a sign of natural law, a behavioral standard of human beings and the foundation of national politics. It is what a ruler bases his or her state governing principles and what the people follow to behave and manage their families.

The Classic of Filial Piety is composed of 18 chapters, with concise description and profound content. It elaborates on the meaning and function of filial piety through the conversations between Confucius and his disciple Zeng Shen. According to the book, filial piety is mainly demonstrated through supporting and waiting upon one's parents. In other words, one is supposed to care for their parents still living and in good health with heart and soul and to pay tribute to their deceased parents sincerely.In addition, one should protect their physical body and put up a good image, bringing glory to their ancestors and making parents proud. This is also a sign of filial piety. In society, the standards of filial piety for all strata are different. The details of this point are analyzed in the book from five aspects.For the Son of Heaven (or the emperor), filial piety is not only the way to treat his own family members, but also the foundation for educating the people and ruling the country. For Princes of States, filial piety is to protect the country and the people.For High Ministers and Great Officers, filial piety is to follow the correct path in terms of their words and behavior. For Inferior Officers, filial piety is to strike a balance between loyalty and filial piety. And for common people, filial piety is to live and work according to the natural change of seasons.

From a dialectical point of view, The Classic of Filial Piety makes an overall explanation of the exact meaning of filial piety, helping people get a deeper understanding of filial piety, advising them to cherish their lives and to coordinate between themselves and their living environment, so as to rule the country with filial piety. The Classic of Filial Piety was honored as a Confucian classic in the Tang Dynasty and listed as one of the Thirteen Classics after the Southern Song Dynasty. The moral principles stated in The Classic of Filial Piety have become part of the key components of traditional Chinese ideas.