Child Care and Abuse in China

For many centuries China was the most advanced culture in the world in science, arts, and government in its stability, and in its care for families and children. It was imperfect, but in comparison to the child abuse in Greece or Rome it was very benign. The ancient Chinese viewed their children as empty containers. They were the passive recipients of adult teachings, and it was their duty to study, learn, and imitate. The ancient “Book of Laws” (see Staunton) articulates the following rules concerning families and children:

1. Parents could not punish their children severely, for if the child was injured or died, the parent would be punished with 100 blows or even put to death.

2. Infanticide was illegal for 2000 years in China's history.

3. Intercourse with a female under 12 years of age was considered

   Page 328

   rape, and in all cases rape was punished by at least 100 blows. Anyone forcing a female child to engage in criminal intercourse would be punished with at least 100 blows.

4. Any attempt homosexually to rape a boy under 12 years of age was cause for death.

The most common cause of clan1 punishment was filial impiety.2 Girls or boys guilty of impiety were not only responsible for the act, their parents were held responsible as well. Since filial impiety was such a blot on the clan, the clans would urge the father to exercise his powerful parental authority without abuse, and only for the family's well being (see Bodde).

The concept of filial piety remains one of the most important moral codes that governs the behaviors of family members (see Goodwin & Tang). In brief, filial piety obligates parents to assert authority and inflict punishment on their children, who will obey and support their parents in later years. Chinese parents often exercise stricter discipline when their children grow older in order to maintain their own authority as well as to motivate their children to achieve high academic, social, and moral at