Bù xiào yǒu sān; wú hòu wéi dà.*

不孝有三, 無後為大。

Lit [As to] unfiliality, there are three [types, and the] greatest [of these] is to have no descendants.

Fig There are three major offenses against filial piety of which not producing an heir is the worst.

Note [The others are: (1) not supporting one's parents when they are alive and (2) not giving them a decent burial when they pass away; cf. Mencius, Mèngzǐ: Lī Lóu, Xià.]

Topics CHILDREN FAMILIES FILIAL PIETY GENERATIONS Lí Lóu, Xià Mencius