The Xiaojing, or Classic of Filial Piety, is a foundational Confucian text likely composed during the late Warring States period or early Han dynasty. Written as a dialogue between Confucius and his disciple Zengzi, it establishes filial piety (xiao) as the supreme moral virtue and the root of all civilization. The text argues that devotion to one’s parents is not merely a private family duty but the basis for social order and effective governance. By serving parents with reverence, an individual learns the loyalty necessary to serve a ruler. Ultimately, the Xiaojing bridges the gap between domestic affection and political ethics, suggesting that a harmonious state begins with the cultivation of the self within the family unit.