The document discusses several key cultural values in China:
1. Harmony is the most important Chinese traditional value, embodying benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, honesty, loyalty, and filial piety. It advocates for "harmony but not uniformity."
2. Benevolence prioritizes family and stems from Confucianism. It produces values like justice and commitment.
3. Righteousness refers to justice and correctness, seeking benefits for individuals and society.
4. Courtesy stresses modesty and respecting laws/rituals.
5. Wisdom requires distinguishing right from wrong and placing capable people in positions to promote good.
The document discusses several key cultural values in China:
1. Harmony is the most important Chinese traditional value, embodying benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, honesty, loyalty, and filial piety. It advocates for "harmony but not uniformity."
2. Benevolence prioritizes family and stems from Confucianism. It produces values like justice and commitment.
3. Righteousness refers to justice and correctness, seeking benefits for individuals and society.
4. Courtesy stresses modesty and respecting laws/rituals.
5. Wisdom requires distinguishing right from wrong and placing capable people in positions to promote good.
The document discusses several key cultural values in China:
1. Harmony is the most important Chinese traditional value, embodying benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, honesty, loyalty, and filial piety. It advocates for "harmony but not uniformity."
2. Benevolence prioritizes family and stems from Confucianism. It produces values like justice and commitment.
3. Righteousness refers to justice and correctness, seeking benefits for individuals and society.
4. Courtesy stresses modesty and respecting laws/rituals.
5. Wisdom requires distinguishing right from wrong and placing capable people in positions to promote good.
The document discusses several key cultural values in China:
1. Harmony is the most important Chinese traditional value, embodying benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, honesty, loyalty, and filial piety. It advocates for "harmony but not uniformity."
2. Benevolence prioritizes family and stems from Confucianism. It produces values like justice and commitment.
3. Righteousness refers to justice and correctness, seeking benefits for individuals and society.
4. Courtesy stresses modesty and respecting laws/rituals.
5. Wisdom requires distinguishing right from wrong and placing capable people in positions to promote good.
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Maxion, Daceler B
BSA 1L
Cultural Values of China
Harmony: the most important Chinese traditional value. It embodies other Chinese traditional cultural values of benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, honesty, loyalty, and filial piety that are manifested in China’s diplomacy. (Zhang, 2013)
Harmony
Harmony means “proper and balanced coordination between things” and encompasses rationale, propriety, and compatibility. Rationale refers to acting according to objective laws and truths. Propriety indicates suitability and appropriateness. The value of harmony advocates “harmony but not uniformity.” Properly coordinating different things by bringing them together in the appropriate manner allows them to develop from an uncoordinated state to one of coordination; from asymmetry to symmetry; and from imbalance to balance. Modern Chinese society tries to maintain harmony between humankind and nature; between people and society; between members of different communities; and between mind and body.
Harmony but not uniformity
In the 1950s, the People’s Republic of China put forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence—mutual respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty; mutual nonaggression; noninterference in each other’s internal affairs; equality and mutual benefit; and peaceful coexistence. These principles show how China’s diplomatic strategy embodies the value of harmony. Over the past five decades, the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence have been widely accepted by most countries and have become important criteria for standardizing international relationships.
Benevolence
Benevolence, the core value of Confucianism, stems from prioritizing the family and blood connections that is held high by the Chinese. “A peaceful family will prosper” is a famous and widely embraced saying. This benevolence, although based in familial ties, extends to friendships and social relationships, producing a full set of values that include justice, courtesy, wisdom, honesty, loyalty, self- discipline, and commitment.
Righteousness
Righteousness refers to justice and correctness. “The gentleman understands what is moral; the small man understands what is profitable” is a saying by Confucius that talks about righteousness. All people should seek what benefits both the individual and the society. There are not only individual benefits but also collective and social benefits. If the country suffers foreign invasions and perils, the people should “expel the foreign invaders and resuscitate the Chinese nation” brandishing their weapons and struggling for the glory of the country. Courtesy
Courtesy stresses modesty and prudence. It is about respecting laws and preventing misconduct. Traditional Chinese culture respects the importance of rites and has special rites for various occasions, such as the emperor’s sacrifice to heaven, the common people’s sacrifice to ancestors, weddings, funerals, and courteous exchanges. As the saying goes, “It is impolite not to return what one receives” Confucius particularly stressed courtesy in daily life.
Wisdom
Wisdom requires that one distinguish right from wrong, place capable people in suitable positions, and be resourceful. Confucius said, “Benevolence means to love and wisdom means to understand others.” One must have a loving heart to love others, and one must have wisdom to understand others. People should have not only a loving heart but also wisdom to distinguish good from evil and right from wrong. They should have the wisdom and resourcefulness to control evil and promote good.
Honesty
Honesty refers to trustworthiness, integrity, and credibility. “People should obtain their fortunes reasonably and properly through their labor,” said Confucius, “and not through fraudulence and cheating.” He emphasized honesty in daily behavior. Honesty is a moral virtue greatly valued by the Chinese. Many Confucian businessmen insisted on the principle of honesty in running enterprises in the past and established time-honored brands.
Loyalty
Loyalty stresses service to the motherland. It is an emotion and a value that evolves from blood ties and means that in cases of foreign invasion citizens should exert all efforts to protect their country as they would protect their own homes. Loyalty also means faithfulness to family and friends.
Filial Piety
Filial piety is another important value in Confucianism. According to Confucius, “Respecting and supporting the family’s senior members and handling their funeral affairs” are duties of younger generations, and “caring for the old and nurturing the young” are fundamental family virtues.
Questions:
1. In communicating with these people, what cultural barriers and challenges do you think you would experience?
In communicating with the Chinese, who, generally, are people of high values, I think one cultural barrier that would be experienced is behavior and beliefs. In the entire population of China, 73.56% of it belongs to the Chinese for Religion while Filipino people are commonly Christians. That’s why, when Filipinos and Chinese would communicate, it is most likely that talking religions and beliefs would get in the way of a smooth- sailing conversation. Stereotypes and prejudices cannot also be avoided especially when a Chinese would look poorly over a Filipino due to the fact that he belongs to a third-world country or when a Filipino who is fluent in English would make fun of a Chinese who speaks the English language poorly. Stereotypes may manifest when Filipinos would often think that the Chinese people are workaholic and spends almost all of their time working rather than enjoying some days off work.
2. What ethics in intercultural communication do you need to apply and how?
Since most Asian nations and people communicate in an implicit way, it is important to take note that politeness and respect are very important when communicating with these people. That may include addressing them in their proper titles or names and trying our hardest not to use the word “no” as it is seen to be a negative word. Another ethical practice is to avoid making unnecessary physical contacts when communicating with the Chinese people, or even anyone from other nations, especially if it is your first time meeting them. Touch is an expression of having an intimate relationship with the person such as a long term friendship. In cases like this, bowing or maybe even shaking hands would be substantial.
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