The text was most likely written during the late Warring States period and early Han dynasty and claims to be a conversation between Confucius and his student Zengzi.

The text was widely used during the Han and later dynasties to teach young children basic moral messages as they learned to read.

A 12th-century author named He Yin claimed: "The Classic of Filial Piety was not made by Zengzi himself.

The text argues that people who love and serve their parents will do the same for their rulers, leading to a harmonious society.

The text was also important politically, partly because filial piety was both a means of demonstrating moral virtue and entering officialdom for those with family connections to the imperial court.