Dong Yong's Filial Piety Touched the Heavens
 
Filial piety is one of the Chinese traditional virtues. Kindhearted and capable emperors in Chinese history promoted filial piety among their people. Only when a person respects and loves his parents at home can he respect the elderly in society, humbly learn from the seniors in the work place, devote himself to the country, and sacrifice his life to defend the country. Filial piety's true meaning and its derived characteristics were used to educate children and people, and the results were very good. Filial piety is one of the great virtues and should be valued and promoted among humans.
 
Below is a story about Dong Yong, a son with filial piety who was rewarded by Heaven. Dong Yong was a real person in the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 200 AD).
 
Dong Yong was from the Qianchen area of the Han Dynasty. This is currently a place north of Gaoyuan Town, Gaoqing County, Shandong Province. After his mother died when he was a child, he did his best to serve and care for his father. He worked hard to give his father a happy life. When he went to the field to farm, he pulled his father on his cart to the field. His father rested besides the field so he did not feel lonely. After his father died, he did not have money to bury him, so he sold himself to be a servant and used the money to bury his father. Recognizing his kindness and virtue, his master gave him a fair amount of money and let him go home.
 
Dong Yong stayed home and mourned his father. After three full years, he left home for his master's home to work as a servant. On his way there, he met a lady. She said to him, "I'd like to be your wife." So Dong Yong and his new-found wife arrived at his master's home.
 
His master told Dong Yong, "The money I gave you was a present. You can go home." Dong Yong said, "With your kind gift, I was able to bury my father properly. Although I am poor and my status is low, I do have my dignity. I want to work for you to pay back your kindness and graciousness." His master asked, "What can your wife do?" He replied, "She can weave." His master said, "If that's the case, your wife can weave one hundred rolls of silk for me, and then we are even." Dong Yong's wife then began to weave cloth for the master. It only took her ten days to weave one hundred rolls of silk.
 
Dong Yong and his wife said goodbye to his master. After they left the master's home, his wife told him, "I am a weaver in the heavens. Because of your filial piety to your father, the Heavenly God asked me to help you pay back your debts. Now I have completed my mission, so I will say goodbye." Right after she spoke, she flew up to the sky.
 
Dong Yong's historical account is found in Gan Bao's book, Searching Deities. Gan Bao lived in the Dongjin Dynasty (317-420 AD).
 
董永孝行感天帝
 
孝敬父母是中华民族的传统美德，历代仁厚贤能的君主，也都提倡孝道。因为在家能孝敬父母之人，出门在外，才会尊敬长者；在单位里，才会虚心向贤德的前辈学习；对待国家，才会真心实意的去报效、去奉献，为国家民族而英勇献身。用孝的内涵和外延，去教育子女和人民，确实能收到良好的效果。孝敬父母是一种很好的品性，值得嘉许和表彰！
 
下面讲一个神助孝子董永的故事：
 
这里讲的是汉代历史上的真实的董永。
 
董永是汉代千乘（古地名，在今山东高清县高苑镇北边）人。小时候死了母亲，他尽心尽力的侍候父亲，尽量使他过得幸福愉快。他到田里干农活时，用小车载着父亲，让父亲在旁边休息，使父亲不感到孤独。父亲死后，他无钱安葬，就自己卖身为奴，用卖得的钱，给父亲办丧事。买主见他非常贤德，给了他一万文钱，让他回家去。
 
董永在家中，为父亲守丧三年期满，就起身到买主家去，从事劳动，做奴仆应尽的本份。他走在通往买主家的半路上，遇见一位妇女对他说：“我愿意做你的妻子。”董永于是带着这位刚刚捡来的妻子，高高兴兴的来到主人家。
 
买主对董永讲：“那一万文钱，是我送给你的。你还是回去吧。”董永说：“承蒙您的恩惠，父亲已得到妥善的收殓和安葬。我虽然是一个地位贫贱的人，但我人穷志不穷，一定要尽力做活，来报答您的大恩大德。”主人问：“你的妻子能做些什么？”董永说：“她会织布。”主人说：“如果是这样的话，就让你妻子给我织一百匹双丝细绢，就行了。” 就这样，董永的妻子，给主人家织绢。只用了十天，就织好了一百匹双丝细绢。
 
董永和他的妻子，告别了主人。出了门，妻子对董永讲：“我是天上的织女。因为你对父亲非常孝敬，天帝命令我来帮助你，偿还这笔债务。如今，我的任务完成了，就此与您告别。”说完了这话，她就凌空而去。
 
（事据干宝《搜神记》卷一）。