Familial Harmony

Abstract

The harmony of family life is a key Confucian ideal in traditional Chinese culture. Deferential obedience to members of the family who are senior in age is seen as a virtue. Dong’s extended maternal family exemplifies this picture even in testing times. Dong’s mother also upheld this ideal for her own family life, which put its roots down in an urban environment. Visiting the United States brought about Dong’s conversion. In China, after two generations of the One-Child Policy, every four grandparents now enjoy the presence of one grandchild. As a result, educational choices of a nuclear family often involve input and financial contributions from grandparents. After selling a good school-district apartment and deciding to homeschool their daughter, Dong experienced conflicts with her mother.