Confucianism was the official state religion in Yi Dynasty (1392-1910) Korea. K'ung Fu Tzu (Latinized as 'Confucius') lived in China from 551 to 479 B.C. Part of the Hsiao Ching (Book of Filial Piety), one of the Chinese classics, is supposed to have been written by Confucius himself. One of his chief disciples is thought to have written the remainder. A hundred or so stories about self-sacrifice on behalf of one's parents have come down to us. Twenty-four became codified early on in a standard series, 'The Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety'. Eight of the twenty-four are illustrated on the present screen, one story per panel. Progressing from right to left in the traditional manner, they are as follows:

Panel 1. Wang Hsiang was an official of the Ch'in Dynasty (221-206 B.C.). Once, in the middle of winter, his stepmother developed a craving for fresh fish. The lakes and rivers were frozen solid. Undaunted, Wang lay down on the ice until his body heat melted a hole through it, permitting him to secure fresh carp for his stepmother.

Panel 2. Yu Ch'ien-lou was a governor during the Southern Ch'i Dynasty (479-502 A.D.). During his father's final illness, Yu prayed all night to the spirit of the north star to spare his fther's life and take his own instead. His prayers went unanswered and his father died.

Panel 3. Tseng Ts'an was a disciple of Confucius who lived from 506 to 437 B.C. As a child, he was severely beaten by his father for accidentally cutting the stalk of a melon while tending the melon patch. Confucius later advised him that he should have run away rather than take the beating, since his father might have killed him, and it would have been unfilial to let that happen.

Panel 4. Han Wen-ti was the third son of the Han Dynasty's founder. Succeeding to the throne in 179 B.C., he proved to be a wise emperor. He is remembered for his great devotion to his mother. During her illness, he remained by her side for three years, never leaving her room for more than a few minutes at a time, waiting on her himself, and tasting her medicine before giving it to her.

Panel 5. Lao Lai Tzu lived during the Chou Dynasty (1122-256 B.C.). When eh was seventy years of age, his parents were still alive. To keep them from feeling old, Lao dyed his white hair black, dressed in children's clothes, and danced with his toys in front of his aged parents.

Panel 6. Lu Su loved his mother very much. Once, when he was six years old, rich neighbors invited him over to eat some oranges. Instead of eating them, Lu hid the oranges in his clothes. When he prepared to leave, the oranges tumbled out on the floor. The neighbors though Lu had taken them for himself, but he explained they were for his mother, who was especially fond of oranges.

Panel 7. Huang Hsiang lost his mother when he was seven and thereafter devoted himslef to the care of his father. On summer nights he fanned his father's bed to cool it, the fanned his father all night after he got in bed. On winter nights ne warmed his fahter's bed with his own body until his father was ready to lie down.

Panel 8. Meng Tsung was a government official of the Ch'in Dynasty (221-206 B.C.). Once, during an especially cold winter, his mother wanted bamboo-shoot soup. Anxious to please her, Meng went to a bamboo grove and started digging, but the ground was frozen and it was too early in the year for bamboo shoots. Meng began to cry. His tears melted the snow and sympathetic gods caused bamboo shoots to sprout before his eyes.