The Study of the Reflection of Filial Piety in Confucianism through The Analects of Confucius: A Case Study of How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Lahn Mah)

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the reflections of filial piety based on Confucian concepts in the Analects as portrayed in the film How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Lahn Mah). This qualitative research gathered and reviewed information from books and previous studies related to filial piety in the Analects, and identified relevant reflections presented in the film. These reflections were then summarized, analyzed, interpreted, and connected with the corresponding Confucian concepts. The findings revealed five key reflections: (1) maintaining close and attentive presence with parents; (2) treating parents with respectful care; (3) advising and understanding parents in their mistakes; (4) performing funerary rites and ancestral offerings according to tradition; and (5) carrying on their legacy. Moreover, the reflections of filial piety in Lahn Mah were not confined solely to the duties of children toward their parents, but also encompassed gratitude toward elders and other family members. Although some characters initially displayed filial behavior driven by self-interest, such actions gradually developed into genuine expressions of filial devotion. This study suggested that Lahn Mah served as a medium for conveying Confucian moral teachings in a contemporary context, enhancing viewers’ awareness of the value of filial piety as a fundamental foundation of family relationships.