The Phenomenon of Chinese Culture

The aim of the presentation is to Define the scope of Chinese Culture 正確的說明中國文化 and to introduce Chinese civilization, history, Chinese religions, Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism (in general but also specific meaning), the concept of Chinese archeology, Beijing man – 北京人, including discoveries like: china-ware, powder, silk 生絲, (Kung-fu, zhonguogongfu 中國功夫, Tai-chi-chuien, taijichuen 太極拳, and famous Chinese medicine, zhongyiao 中藥. Chinese Anthropological philosophy, Confucian ethic – 孔夫子的倫理. Silk road which linked Rome 羅馬 to Xian – 西安. The idea of harmony 和諧: joy of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism 佛家, 道家, 孔教 is included in Christianity. Taking into account Confucian humanism and traditional Chinese society 傳統的社會… Summing up everything is embraced by the definition of Chinese culture 中國文化.

‘Humane Governance’ as the Moral Responsibility of Rulers in East Asian Confucian Political Philosophy

This chapter explores the East Asian Confucian political thought centred on Humane Governance, and their internally imbedded theoretical issues. Humane Governance is a critical core value in East Asian Confucian political thought. It examines the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Confucians’ discourses on Humane Governance, employing analyses of their political thoughts and the theoretical dilemmas embedded therein. It reaches a critical conclusion that Confucian ethic remains largely internal and does not develop clear lines of external accountability. At the same time this ethic is at a personal level very demanding in terms of the concern rulers should display towards the governed.

The Confucian ethic and the spirit of capitalism

The aim of this article is to examine the relation between the religion of fast-developing China and its economy. This paper refers also to the Max Weber’s thesis who regarded protestantism to have the best impact on economic development. The view of this paper’s author is that confucianism is positively correlated with the economic development of China, although its influence is ambiguous. The article is to raise the point in discussion on causes of growth of the Chinese economy. It underlines the cultural factors. They are not the only ones but they help to understand the sources of economic successes of the Chinese. Their actions are based on values different from those present in the Western countries. The globalisation process has not eradicated cultural differences which still exist and which are of great meaning to both the theory and practice of economy. The author analises the existing literature on this topic and refers the the Weberian thought in order to achieve this article’s aim. The descriptive method and theoretical deliberations are present as well as practical implications.

Confucian Trustworthiness and the Practice of Business in China

Confucius’s teachings fall under four headings: “culture, moral conduct, doing one’s best, and being trustworthy in what one says” (7/25). Trust or, more precisely, being trustworthy, plays a central role in the Confucian ethic. This paper begins by examining the Confucian concept of trustworthiness. The second part of the paper discusses how the ideal of trustworthiness makes itself felt in business practices within China. The paper concludes by raising and addressing several objections to the Confucian emphasis on trustworthiness.