...Questioning vs. Acceptance, Truth vs. Balance: A Comparison of East and West Canyon Law Western cultures have historically differed greatly from their far Eastern counterparts in several ways, be it in lifestyle, government, or worldview. These noticeable differences can be attributed to the West’s and East’s own unique philosophical backgrounds. While Western philosophers such as Locke, John Stuart Mill, and Socrates put large emphasis on the ideals of questioning authority in the search for truth, Eastern dogma—as reflected by Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism—assert very different, conflicting values focused on acceptance and obedience of superiors. Because of this disparity of thought process, East and West subscribe to very different schools of thought with regards to individualism, rationalism, and democracy. Jon Stuart Mill, in his book On Liberty, promotes the importance of constant debate of ideas. He argues that all opinions must be heard, whether they are from the majority or a minority of beliefs. He states that, “Judgment is given to men that they may use it… To prohibit what they think pernicious is not claiming from error, but fulfilling the duty incumbent on them, although fallible, of acting on their conscientious conviction. If we were never to act on our opinions, because those opinions may be wrong, we should leave all our interests uncared for, and all our duties underperformed.” (p. 18). In this passage, Mill argues that “judgment,” in this case the...
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...period of peace, including the longest reigning single emperor, however, this philosophy also led to the degradation of women's place in society and the expungement of freedoms allocated to children. After overthrowing the warmongering Qin, Emperor Han Wudi declared china a confucian state, implementing the principles of the practice into the lives of all the dynasty’s citizens, including, most notably, the mass education of young children in the confucian ways.(Bentley) It was Confucius's principal, along with that of Han Wudi and the disciples of confucius, that if a citizen is properly educated they will not need law to correct their behaviors because they will guide themselves on a morally upright path path....
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...Chinese culture and society remarkably, especially in education and how people should behave themselves. With guidelines telling people what is acceptable, how to act like a nobleman and what is unethical, Confucianism shaped modern social norms in China, and its impact is also spreading to other countries that are beginning to practice Confucianism. The Analects was composed by Confucius’s student after his death to pass on his great teachings and completed in the Warring States period. It contained fundamental ideas and beliefs of Confucianism; across dynasties and generations, people have been implementing Confucian thoughts and the sayings from Analects as guidelines to their behaviors. In this paper, we will look at the meanings of several Analects’ passages, how they relate to Confucianism and what are their social significance to descendants. Perhaps one of the most famous sections from the Analects, the following saying from Analects of Confucius Book 1(Xue Er), verse 1 told us a little bit about how he thought about learning and how people should behave in certain circumstances: The Master said, "Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and application? Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters? Is he not a man of complete virtue, who feels no discomposure though men may take no note of him?" (Legge, book 1) This quotation appeared in the very first section in the Analects. It showed how Confucius emphasized the importance of learning...
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...Convergence of the Confucian Ethics and the Rituals: Examining the Esthetic Culture within Li Ye In Christopher Kwon A&I: Confucius and His Critics Professor Seungjoo Yoon November 21, 2014 Confucius remarks, “In referring time and again to observing ritual propriety (li), how could I just be talking about gifts of jade and silk? In referring time and again to making music (yue), how could I just be talking about bells and drums?” There is an implied intersection between arts and ethical morality in Confucian thoughts. The arts allow one, a particular student, to enrichment of self-cultivation, observance of the esthetic aspect of the ritual propriety, and the development of an artistic expression of the self- that is subject to ethical and moral questions; therefore, artistic work such as the traditional Chinese calligraphy (though not music) is an exhibition of Confucian moral quintessence that embody one’s character and the corporeality. The Analects place a great deal of importance on ritual propriety and the practice thereof. More specifically implicated within this context is the appreciation of arts such as music, poetry, and archery. To the extent to which Michael Nylan and Thomas Wilson elevate Confucius as the “Exalted King of Culture,” the cultural and artistic aspect of the rituals is significant in Confucianism. In defense of his fervent advocacy of the esthetic culture, Confucius refers to the Zhou Dynasty that “looked back to the Xia and Shang Dynasties...
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...* Background to Business in South Korea Korea is probably more influenced by Confucian values. the value of collective group harmony, respect for authority (and therefore management), as well as the embracing importance of family, clan and friendship. the value of collective group harmony, respect for authority (and therefore management), as well as the embracing importance of family, clan and friendship. Confucian Ethics Confucian Ethics Thus, as in countries like Japan and China, the quality of the relationships developed are the real key to business success at both a personal and corporate level. The key to creating good relationships lies in one’s ability to play Confucian game….. “make a friend first and a client second” “make a friend first and a client second” * Honorable * Trustworthy * Respectable person The economic downturn experienced in South Korea during the Asian currency crisis (as well as many other Asian countries) precipitated a period of great introspection which has in many traditional beliefs and approaches being challenged both internally and externally. Thus, South Korea is a business culture at a significant crossroads with a great need to find an accommodation between traditional values and modern management practice. * South Korea Business Structures Korean companies have traditionally been characterized by a high degree of both centralization...
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...educational systems of China. Throughout the modern era, the moral teachings that form the heart of Confucianism have continued to shape the attitudes and behaviors of millions of people worldwide.(Coogan, 1998) The contemporary issues can be understood by examining the common characteristics of Confucianism and other eastern religions, analyzing the interactions between the modern world and Confucianism, and studying how those interactions influence Confucianism and the modern world. Common Characteristics Among Eastern Religions Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism are three religions that make up the essence of traditional, Chinese culture. While all three religions have differences, the religions also share fundamental elements such as purpose, principle, and teachings that have created a strong and long lasting way of life for the Chinese culture. When comparing religions a person can deduce that all religions have a purpose and follow a specific set of rules, guidelines, and traditions. The vessel that leads each individual to their ultimate purpose can be different, as well as where the instructions originate from. The similar purpose of these Eastern religions is for the attainment of inner harmony with self and nature.(Coogan, 1998) This purpose can be achieved by living by a set of principles. The principles of these religions vary slightly but essentially, all lead to the same path. These principles teach believers to learn...
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...Doing Business in the 21st Century with the New Generation of Chinese Managers: A Study of Generational Shifts in Work Values in China Author(s): David A. Ralston, Carolyn P. Egri, Sally Stewart, Robert H. Terpstra and Yu Kaicheng Reviewed work(s): Source: Journal of International Business Studies, Vol. 30, No. 2 (2nd Qtr., 1999), pp. 415-427 Published by: Palgrave Macmillan Journals Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/155320 . Accessed: 30/01/2013 16:57 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. . Palgrave Macmillan Journals is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of International Business Studies. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded on Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:57:29 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Doing the A New Business Generation in the of 21st Century with Chinese Shifts Managers: in Study of Generational Work China Values in DavidA. Ralston* UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA P. Carolyn Egri** SIMON...
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...THE CHINESE MANAGEMENT Confucius on Management History has shown that China is a significant creator and repository of great philosophies, yet we know little of Chinese philosophies on leadership. With China becoming a global economic and political force, we need to learn from and to understand Chinese leadership philosophies. We must also consider that China is now in the process of blending its tradition, customs and practices with Western concepts and ideas. In the business world, it is the blending of its wisdom and Western practices. Successful leadership behavior of today's more culturally diverse workforce is one of the most important challenges organizations face. CHINA The People's Republic of China today seems to be entering the modern world, coming out of the shadow of the warlords, the 20-year struggle between communism and nationalism, and the Cultural Revolution. Moves are afoot to shift the Chinese economy more toward the market-oriented end of the spectrum. China’s 1978 open door policy initiated rapid economic development, and consequently exposed china to a flood to Western management practices. CHINA 2 China is a country of old and new and one that is in transition. With the rise of China in the global economy, it has never been more important for business leaders to understand Chinese leadership philosophies and practices. Ancient Chinese thinking and Western ideas have shaped the development of leadership styles in China. Leadership theories (paternalistic...
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...broadcasted through the news media almost daily. These reports and events are insane and cause some to fear, some to be dismayed while others grieve. The different aspects of our environment can place individuals in a state of insanity. If individuals are unaware of history, they are more prone to repeat the devastating acts such as cannibalism. When Lu Xun asserts, " There were no dates in history, but scrawled this way and that across every page were the words benevolence, righteousness, and morality. Since I couldn't get to sleep anyway, I read that history very carefully for most of the night, and finally I began to make out what was written between the lines; the whole volume was filled with a single phrase: Eat people!" (1240). The importance of history is seen as an illusion through the author's 2 point of view. History is a reflection of its environment, and through the author's perspective, he observes an elusive world that is slowly deteriorating from cannibalism. This reality is...
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...A conceptual approach developed from personal interviews. Findings – This study reveals that the Chinese negotiator does not possess an absolute negotiating style but rather embraces a mixture of different roles together: “Maoist bureaucrat in learning”, “Confucian gentleman”, and “Sun Tzu-like strategist”. The Chinese negotiating strategy is essentially a combination of cooperation and competition (termed as the “coop-comp” negotiation strategy in this study). Trust is the ultimate indicator of Chinese negotiating propensities and role choices. Research limitations/implications – The focus of this study is on Chinese negotiating style shown in large B2B negotiations with Chinese SOEs. Originality/value – Differing from most other studies on Chinese negotiating style which tend to depict the Chinese negotiator as either sincere or deceptive, this study points out that there exists an intrinsic paradox in Chinese negotiating style which reflects the Yin Yang thinking. The Chinese negotiator has a cultural capacity to negotiate both sincerely and deceptively and he/she changes coping strategies according to situation and context, all depending on the level of trust between negotiating partners. Keywords China, National cultures, Negotiating, Management skills, International business Paper type Research paper An executive summary for managers can be found at the end of this article. The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has emerged as one of the most dynamic elements in the global...
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...will act, he will decide, he will accomplish the times”. Confucius, whose actual name was Kong Qiu and courtesy name, was Zhongni, lived between 551 and 479 BC during the late years of China's Spring and Autumn Period (770- 476 BC). He was born in the city of Qufu, which was located in the ancient Chinese state of Lu. A great thinker, educator and statesman as well as one of the most learned people of his time; Confucius was also the founder of a school of moral doctrine that encourages "justice" and "peace," known today as Confucianism. The philosophy of Confucius emphasized personal and government morality, correctness, of social relationships, justice and security. Confucianism has a decisive influence on traditional Chinese culture. Later generations honored Confucius as "the sage of sages" and "the teacher of all ages." Confucius exposed the well-known principle “do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself”, an early version of the golden rule. Confucius taught more than 3,000 disciples, regardless if they were rich or poor. Those who really wanted to learn were all accepted by Confucius as his disciples and had an equal opportunity to be educated. Confucius is the founder of Confucianism. In its early years, Confucianism was regarded as a radical philosophy and strongly denounce by other high beings in philosophy. Confucianism is often defined as conduct of respect, such as women obey and defer to men, younger brothers to elder brothers, and...
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...The power behind the recent surge in Asia’ economy may have developed from the s tenets of one of that continent’ earliest philosophers. s The Confucius Connection: From Cultural Roots To Economic Growth Geert Hofstede Michael Harris Bond J n 1968,the late Nobel-prize-winning mist Gunnar Myrdal published Asian Drama that described tions into the failure in South ment policies different Korea, econo- a book entitled his investigadevelopAsia. a very South however, countries Malaysia, some South and Southeast Asian besides Singapore, such as India, Thailand, and Indonesia drama), (the very also show signs of of economic scene of Myrdal’ s and Southeast drama: Kong, Japan, Twenty years later, we are experiencing kind of Asian Taiwan, Hong an economic takeoff. World Bank data on the average annual growth product rate of per capita gross national the East Asian (see Exhibit 1) confirm and Singapore are now outperforming the United States and Western Europe economically. Western markets are flooded with high-quality, hightechnology products “made in Asia”; the production of cameras, TV sets, and domestic appliances has all but ceased in many Western countries, the automobile business has suffered severely, and President Reagan has had to violate his free-trade principles to save the U.S. microchip industry. It is true that most of the competition is from East, rather than from South or Southeast Asia; lead. The Five Dragons, as these countries...
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...suite their own needs, or to justify their own beliefs. Each religion has its own take on being “religious”; I feel that it is important to have a foundation on which the term religion can be defined. To me, religion can be defined by the following three categories: the belief in a higher power that physically or mentally can have an affect on ones life and is the authority in a “religious culture”; having a set of written or oral scriptures that are passed through the generations, used to teach the people of the culture the ways and traditions of their religion and way of life; and rituals that are carried out within the Religion. A higher power must be one that the “religious culture” believes has an impact on the people and that they view as the one an only higher power. The written or oral scriptures are the center point of the teachings of the religion, detailing the past and helping to pave the future for the religion. Rituals are carried out at certain times, places and events in order to please or praise their “God” or higher power, and as celebrations in the religious culture. These rituals can be but are not limited to, song, dance, praise, worship, meditation, and acts of kindness. The primal religions believe in a “God” or higher power even though they do not identify who or what that higher power is specifically, “The Supreme being is not named because he is unknowable” (“Modes of contemplation through action: North American Indians” in Main Currents in...
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... QUESTION. A thorough understanding of the study of culture and intercultural communication must include the influential work of Professor Geert Hofsted. Examine comprehensively the cultural dimension model he came up with. Are there any additional development done by other Hofstede’s finding on cultural groups? INTRODUCTION International business is different from domestic business because countries are different in all nature. We can say that national differences in political, economic and legal system influences the benefits, cost and risks associated with doing business in different countries in the world. Scholars have never been able to agree on a simple definition of culture. In the 1870s the anthropologist known as Edward Tylor gave a definition of Culture as that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law and other capabilities acquired by man as a member of society. On the other hand Greet Hofsted an expert on cross-cultural differences and management defined culture as the collective programming of the mind which distinguishes the member of one human group from another. He noted that Culture in this sense includes system of values and Values are among the building blocks of culture. While a well renowned Sociologist, by the name Zvinamenwirth and Robert Weber also sees culture as a system of ideas and argues that these ideas constitute a design for living. Greet Hofsted view culture as a system of values and norms that are shared among a...
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...Japan. Both South Korea and Japan are intensely conformist societies (one of the many similarities between the two countries) but they differ in one fundamental thing. When faced with hardship or adversity the Japanese tend to turn inwards and backwards towards the familiar and comfortable whereas the South Koreans are absolute masters of change and rebuild. If things aren’t working, they just change them and they have proved adept at doing this very quickly and very effectively – you only need to look at the contrasting reactions to the crisis that hit Asia in the 1990’s. Japan is, arguably, still recovering while South Korea has long been in rude health. South Korea has also re-invented itself as the cultural epicentre of Asian culture. Korean pop music, or K-pop, has been exported with great success all over the continent and Korean TV dramas are watched from Tokyo to Beijing. South Korean films are the enormously popular throughout Asia (with the exception of India) and the level of Korea’s cultural influence continues to grow. This is not to say that South Korea doesn’t face significant challenges. The inexorable rise of China and the political, cultural and military influence that comes in its wake is something all Asian countries wrestle with. The politicians in Seoul have the...
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