공경(恭敬, 恭-공손할 공 敬-공경할 경, Honor, Respect)
The Chinese characters mean "respectfully serving with all you have".
A typical virtue in Confucian culture is "honor" for superiors:
parents, teachers, adults, leaders.
In Confucian Korean society, you are praised when you honor your superiors.
Nowadays, the situation has changed a lot.
However, this still permeates the Korean culture.
When I was growing up, the children were praised
when they greeted their neighbors on the street and bowed politely:
Adults would say, "How polite. You're a good boy," as they stroked my head.
I heard good words.
The parents of a well behaved child heard a neighbor say "You raised your child well."
There are words that adults say to children who aren't polite: "How rude!"
In school, if you show respect to your teachers, they will greet you with love and praise.
In my experience, this is also true of American schools.
The professors in America also respond nicely to polite students.
You don't get in trouble for being polite and respectful.
The Bible commands us to "honor".
The word "honor" is used in connection with two things:
Honor your parents, and honor God.
Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
"Honor your father and mother"
—which is the first commandment with a promise—
"so that it may go well with you
and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long
in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
Deuteronomy 5:16
"Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you,
so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land
the Lord your God is giving you.
The Bible guarantees blessings to those who honor God and their parents.
Even if you do something any human should do by honoring your parents and God,
you will be blessed.
