Phận tóc da

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • The duty regarding one's hair and skin: A classical Confucian concept referring to the filial obligation to preserve and protect one's physical body (symbolized by one's hair and skin), as it is a gift received from one's parents. It represents the fundamental duty of filial piety (hiếu).
Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • Làm con phải nhớ đến phận tóc da, không được làm tổn hại thân thể. (As a child, one must remember the duty regarding one's hair and skin and must not harm one's body.)
    • Câu chuyện ấy là một bài học sâu sắc về phận tóc da. (That story is a profound lesson about the filial duty to preserve one's body.)
Advanced Usage
  • The term is primarily used in classical, literary, or philosophical contexts related to Confucian ethics. It is not commonly used in everyday modern conversation but appears in discussions of traditional values, literature, or moral teachings.
Variants and Related Words
  • Hiếu (n): filial piety, the overarching virtue of respect and care for one's parents, of which is a specific aspect.
  • Thân thể (n): the physical body, which is the object of the duty described by .
Synonyms
  • Filial duty to preserve one's body: The obligation to keep oneself unharmed out of respect for one's parents.
  • Bodily integrity as a filial obligation: The concept that caring for one's physical self is an act of piety.
Related Idioms and Classical References
  • "Thân thể phát phu, thụ chi phụ mẫu, bất cảm hủy thương, hiếu chi thủy giã." (This body, hair, and skin are received from father and mother; one dare not damage or injure them—this is the beginning of filial piety.) – A classical quotation that is the direct source of the concept .
  • The concept is closely associated with the disciple Tăng Tử (Zengzi), who emphasized preserving one's body as a paramount filial duty.