What does "inheritance and retribution" in Taoism mean?

Inheritance and retribution is one kind of so-called retribution for good and evil. This theory originated very early in China. The saying "A family that accumulates goodness will surely have abundant happiness; a family that accumulates evil will surely have abundant disaster" is just this kind of theory.

This theory holds that abundant happiness or disaster may be added to one's present life or bequeathed to future generations. When the retribution for good and evil is passed on to future descendants, it is called inheritance and retribution. Just like ancestors accumulating wealth and descendants enjoying it, or ancestors being in debt and descendants repaying it, it is inherited and borne. As written in "The Scripture of Great Peace":

Those who vigorously practice goodness but instead receive evil are bearing the mistakes of their predecessors. Disasters flow before and after and accumulate to harm this person. Those who practice evil but instead receive good are because their predecessors have deeply accumulated great merits, which flow and reach this person.

The theory of inheritance and retribution occupies an important position in the salvation theory of Taoism. It not only persuades people to seek liberation in their present lives, but also reminds people to cultivate and accumulate goodness and accumulate merits and virtues for future generations.