One of the most discussed topics of the past years in the economy-related press was the economic and political development of the People's Republic of China. A daily paper without reference to China is hardly conceivable today. Average economic growth rates within the two digit range over the past 30 years, an enormous market with more than 1.3 billion people and economically backward areas woke the pioneer spirit of western gold diggers. The Chinese population is by far bigger than those of the European Union, the United States, Australia and Canada together. In addition to this it comes that China was up to 30 years ago not only ruled by communism, but also robbed of its thousands of years-old traditions by the maoistic Cultural Revolution. The question is how it was possible that this country could ascend in such a short time to one of the most successful economies in the world. That a certain cultural value system or ethics is a fundamental basis for the economic acting of a nation was already determined by Adam Smith in his work “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations”.1 Max Weber also built up on this realization (see chapter two). The following work would like to approach this phenomenom from the cultural point of view and follow the question, which cultural bases rule in the Chinese society. This should be tried by a short representation of the most important schools of thought in China, which cannot happen finally because of the compendiousness of the work. Rather it should be understood as a suggestion for thinking about Chinese culture and its differences. Also this work will not take culture-theoretical factors as a basis for analysis. Rather it is to be tried to represent the most important differences between the European and the Chinese culture and to sensitize for this. It is not an aim of this resignment to set up regularities of the Chinese character but to refer to possible differences.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Approximation to the cultural term
2.1 Max Weber
2.2 Guilt and shame cultures
2.3 Western and eastern understanding of free-market economy
2.4 The role of religion in the social context
3 Prevailing schools of thought in the PR China
3.1 Confucianism (儒学)
3.2 Daoism (道教)
3.3 Buddhism (佛教)
4 Effects on the present behavior
4.1 Guanxi (关系)
4.2 Danwei (单位)
4.3 Hierarchy
4.4 Face saving
4.5 Harmony (xietiao, 协调) and conflict delimitation
4.6 Politeness
5 Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines the influence of traditional Chinese philosophical and religious schools of thought on contemporary social and economic behavior. The research question investigates how historical value systems, such as Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, continue to shape human interaction and business practices in the People's Republic of China today.
- Analysis of the historical and cultural roots of Chinese society.
- Comparison of Western horizontal capitalism versus Chinese relation-based hierarchies.
- Examination of core concepts like Guanxi, Danwei, and face-saving.
- Discussion on how social harmony (xietiao) influences conflict resolution and negotiation.
- Evaluation of the modern relevance of classical Confucian ethics in a fast-growing economy.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1 Guanxi (关系)
The complex relations network of the Chinese among themselves is called Guanxi (关系). As previously mentioned, in China nothing works without close relations. The view prevails that all political and social events which are located in the state or in society are closely connected to the cosmic principles of the sky and the nature. The here specified relations network consists thus of interacting effect forces, which allow for balanced social and cosmic harmony. To lead back this concept leaves itself on the aforementioned Yin-Yang-principle and the concepts of the ideologies of Daoism and Confucianism.
Today each Chinese is in a set of different relations networks, starting with the family, the place of origin up to the attendance of the same school or – since the Maoist-communist society change – also the membership and hierarchical position in the communist party of China. The highest requirement in all these relations is called loyalty. Beyond these existing alliances it is possible to develop new Guanxi by long-lasting friendships and intensive business relations.
If one does not possess connections to a certain contact with which one would like to construct a relationship, often a mediator is engaged, who maintains direct contacts with both partners’ relations and is able to make this new connection possible.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of China's rapid economic development and introduces the central theme of how cultural value systems serve as the foundation for a nation's economic behavior.
2 Approximation to the cultural term: It defines "culture" in an anthropological sense and contrasts Western religious foundations with the Southeast Asian value systems, focusing on the absence of transcendental deities and the emphasis on practical life.
3 Prevailing schools of thought in the PR China: This section explores the three major pillars of Chinese thought—Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism—and their roles in organizing the cosmos, society, and the self.
4 Effects on the present behavior: This chapter analyzes how historical concepts such as Guanxi, Danwei, hierarchy, and face-saving translate into modern social interactions, negotiation styles, and business practices.
5 Conclusion: The final chapter summarizes that while Chinese society has undergone modernization, traditional values remain deeply embedded, influencing contemporary behavior in both conscious and subconscious ways.
Keywords
Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Guanxi, Danwei, Social Harmony, Xietiao, Face-saving, Chinese Culture, International Management, Meritocracy, Hierarchies, Economic Growth, Philosophical Influences, Tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work explores how traditional Chinese philosophy and religion influence the social and economic behavior of people in contemporary China.
What are the primary cultural themes examined?
The study centers on the historical impact of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, and how these ideologies form the basis for modern concepts like Guanxi, Danwei, and face-saving.
What is the central research question?
The paper asks which cultural bases and historical schools of thought rule Chinese society and how they affect the acting of humans in the modern economic and social context.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a qualitative approach, analyzing historical and cultural literature to derive comparisons between European and Chinese understanding of market economy and social structures.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
It covers the definitions of culture, the core tenets of Chinese schools of thought, and their direct application to current social interactions and corporate relationships in China.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Confucianism, Guanxi, Danwei, social harmony (xietiao), face-saving, and meritocracy.
How does "Guanxi" influence business transactions?
Guanxi acts as an informal, confidence-based network that replaces universalistic legal frameworks, making personal relations essential for business success in China.
Why is "Face-saving" considered critical?
Face-saving is a social mechanism to avoid public embarrassment; its protection is vital because failure is seen as reflecting poorly on the individual's family and ancestors.
How does the concept of "Xietiao" affect negotiations?
Xietiao implies bringing things into alignment and striving for consensus, which often results in longer negotiation processes compared to Western, more direct styles.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Philipp Kardinahl (Autor:in), 2008, Prevailing schools of thought in the PR China and their effects on economic and social acting of humans today, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/119410
