Lezione tre della Cina: Confucius dice…
La Cina: godless, ma non heathen!
Da Ernie Tadla
Confucius, l'uomo più influente nella storia cinese, è stato sopportato BC dal matrimonio in 551, in cinque e mezzi secoli prima di Jesus. Il suo padre ha avuto nove figlie ed una ha paralizzato il figlio. All'età settanta, si è corrisposto con un'altra donna, che era 15, sperante di ottenere un figlio in buona salute. Il suo padre è morto quando Confucius era tre e la sua madre lo ha alzato nella povertà.
È aumentato nel governo di dichiarare alla posizione del ministro della giustizia, ma intorno all'età cinquanta, dimessa ed intrapresa un odyssey di dodici-anno intorno alla Cina. Quando ha rinviato a casa, ha speso i suoi anni scorsi che insegna e che scrive. È morto a settantadue.
Uno dei suoi insegnamenti più profondi e più difficile affinchè Westerners capiscano sono l'alimentazione dell'esempio anziché le regole rigorose di comportamento. Qui vediamo ancora l'interazione fra il cervello e il di sinistra-cervello di destra: alto contesto contro stile basso di contesto della comunicazione. Questo senso indiretto del suo insegnamento ancora pervade la coltura della Cina.
Quando le sue scuderie bruciate giù, Confucius detto, “era chiunque danneggi?„ Non ha chiesto notizie sui cavalli. A quel tempo, un cavallo ha valso dieci volte tanto come stableman. Non chiedendo notizie sui cavalli, ha dimostrato la sua priorità, che era esseri umani. Ha fatto i suoi punti da indirectness, con riferimento casuale, da menzione leggera e dal innuendo, persino un cenno del capo leggero.
Ha sostenuto la lealtà forte della famiglia, il rispetto per i elders ed il culto di antenato.
Fra i concetti etici importanti sia:
1. Il piacere di breve durata è difettoso, mentre prova a fare le cose adeguate al giusto tempo è migliore.
2. His moral system is based on kindness, empathy and understanding others, rather than divinely ordained rules. 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.
Taoism 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




































October 4th, 2007 at 11:07 pm
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