Zàijiā jìng fùmǔ; hé yòng yuǎn shāoxiāng？

在家敬父母, 何用遠燒香？

Lit [If one] respects [one's] parents at home, what need [is there to go] afar to burn incense [in temples]?

Fig One's first and highest duty is toward one's parents.

Note [Cf. Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn, chap. 24; note the traditional Chinese belief that the greater the distance one goes on one's pilgrimage, the more efficacious it will be.]

Topics DUTY Érnǚ Yīngxióng Zhuàn FILIAL PIETY PARENTS PILGRIMAGES RESPECT