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China Lektion drei: Konfuzius sagt…

4. Oktober 2007 durch Business China Herausgeber

China: gottlos, aber nicht heidnisch!

Durch Ernie Tadla

China Lektion drei: Konfuzius sagtKonfuzius, der einflußreichste Mann in der chinesischen Geschichte, wurde aus Trauung in 551 BC getragen, in fünf heraus und halbe Jahrhunderte vor Jesus. Sein Vater hatte neun Töchter und man verkrüppelte Sohn. An Alter siebzig, er verband in einer anderen Frau, die 15 war und hoffte, einen gesunden Sohn zu erhalten. Sein Vater starb, als Konfuzius drei war und seine Mutter ihn in der Armut anhob.

Er stieg in die Zustandregierung in die Position des Gerechtigkeit-Ministers, aber um das Alter fünfzig, abgefunden und auf einer Zwölfjahr Odyssee um China eingeschifft. Als er nach Hause zurückkam, verbrachte er seine letzten Jahre unterrichtend und schreibend. Er starb bei zweiundsiebzig.

Eins seines tiefsten Unterrichts und schwierigstes, damit Westerners ist die Energie des Beispiels anstelle von den strengen Richtlinien des Verhaltens versteht. Hier sehen wir wieder die Wechselwirkung zwischen dem rechten Gehirn und dem Linkgehirn: hoher Kontext gegen niedrige Kontextart der Kommunikation. Diese indirekte Weise seines Unterrichts durchdringt noch China Kultur.

Als seine Ställe unten brannten, Konfuzius gesagt, „war jedermann verletzte?“ Er fragte nicht nach den Pferden. Zu dieser Zeit war ein Pferd 10mal soviel wie ein Stableman wert. Indem er nicht nach den Pferden fragte, demonstrierte er seine Priorität, die Menschen war. Er bildete seine Punkte durch Umweg, durch beiläufigen Hinweis, geringfügige Erwähnung und Anspielung, sogar ein geringfügiges Kopfnicken.

Er verfocht starke Familie Loyalität, Respekt für älteste und Ahnenverehrung.

Unter den wichtigen ethischen Konzepten seien Sie:

1. Kurzfristiges Vergnügen ist schlecht, beim Versuchen, die korrekten Sachen zur rechten Zeit zu tun ist besser.
2. Sein moralisches System basiert auf Freundlichkeit, empathy und versteht andere, anstatt göttlich ordinierte Richtlinien. Virtue is based upon harmony with other people. This was the root of face and guanxi.

And so this man, who lived 550 years before Jesus, developed a code of behavior on how to treat others. This is not a religion. There are no god, no churches, no bible, no priests, and no dogma, just rational reasons how people and government should behave. Confucius remains the dominant Chinese philosopher, both morally and politically. His ideas are the official moral code and political doctrine of the state.

Politically, his ideas have been and are taught in all public services courses for civil servants, bureaucrats and potential leaders. The government supports and promotes Confucianism as an example for the conduct of government. It was his view that the way to change society is through education. He advocated happiness for the common people rather than pleasure for their rulers, reduction of taxes, mitigation of severe punishments and the avoidance of wars.

If you wish to do successful business in China, you had better have an understanding of the people and their cultural background.

Simply put, Confucianism is:
≺ to love others
≺ to honor one’s parents
≺ to honor elders
≺ to do what is right instead of what is advantageous
≺ to practice “reciprocity”
≺ to not do to others what you would not want done to you
≺ to rule by moral examples instead of by force and violence

The influence of these beliefs can be seen in every-day Chinese society. At work, there is a Confucian emphasis
≺ on interdependent relationships,
≺ on consensus, and
≺ on respect for hierarchy.

Once I became aware of this important part of the Chinese culture, I understood so much more clearly why they acted, behaved and did things the way they did. It was enlightening. Here are some of his authentic quotations:

Confucius says….

To be able to practice five things everywhere under heaven constitutes perfect virtue … gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.

I hear, I know. I see, I remember. I do, I understand.

Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without.

Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

To know what is right and not to do it is the worst cowardice.

The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home.

It is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.

It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.

Taoism
There is an alternative philosophy in China called Taoism, based on the Tao Te Ching, written by Lao Tze. It precepts differ from the practical and rational Confucianism, which urges the individual to follow a logical and constructive path in society.

Yin-YangTaoism urges believers to find The Way within themselves and through Nature. In Taoism we find the concept and yin/yang symbol.

Taoism is about balance and forging harmony out of conflict and tension. Tao (pronounced Dow) can be roughly translated as path, or the way. It is basically indefinable. It has to be experienced. It "refers to a power which envelops surrounds and flows through all things, living and non-living.” The Tao regulates natural processes and nourishes balance in the Universe. It embodies the harmony of opposites (i.e. there would be no love without hate, no light without dark,
no male without female). www.religioustolerance.org/taoism.htm

Quotations:
≺ “Be still like a mountain and flow like a great river." Lao Tze
≺ "We believe in the formless and eternal Tao, and we recognize all personified deities as being mere human constructs. We reject hatred, intolerance, and unnecessary violence, and embrace harmony, love and learning, as we are taught by Nature. We place our trust and our lives in the Tao that we may live in peace and balance with the Universe, both in this mortal life and beyond."

Next week: Lesson Four. Face: It is all about respect.

Ernie Tadla, www.odysseychina.net

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One Response to “China Lesson Three: Confucius Says…”

  1. Paul Clark Says:

    Wow: that is a terrific summary of how Confucian thinking links with the situation in modern China.

    I am really impressed by Ernie’s understanding of Confucius and the cultural nuances - which are tremendous challenges to business success - in China. He is really insightful.

    Thanks, Ernie: I look forward to your future installments.

    Paul

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