Protecting the Body
Caring for one's body as received from parents.
The Classic of Filial Piety teaches that our body, hair, and skin are received from parents, so protecting them is the beginning of xiao. We should not harm ourselves unnecessarily.
Our bodies, hair, and skin are received from our parents; not daring to damage them is the beginning of filial piety.
Self-care is connected to honoring parents.
Xiaojing
Written about in
- What Confucianism says about family
The Classic of Filial Piety starts xiao at your own skin: your body came from your parents, so not damaging it is where the duty begins.