Ask WSP
Chopsticks and CultureQ: What does it say on this vase (or pair of chopsticks, or any other Chinese shop object)?
A: Well, we would have to see it to be sure. But chances are 8 out of 10 that it says some variant of "Long Life and Happiness." Happiness being defined as wealth and political position. There speaks the dominant culture: wanting to get ahead.
But defining happiness as wealth and political position has its hazards. As Mencius pointed out, it leads to a bad society if everybody is on the make, and on the take. Chinese culture has a protective against those hazards; it is the native tradition of honor and high principle, of doing the right thing regardless. That tradition is strongly stated in the sayings attributed to Confucius. Most of those sayings were written by his later followers, but they express a helpful devotion to what is right, against what pays.
Analects 2:24: "To see what is right, and not do it, is to lack courage.
You don't know all of China until you know Confucius, and by Confucius we don't mean the guy in the fortune cookie, we mean the Chinese tradition of private honor and public dedication.
14 Mar 2004 / Contact The Project / Exit to Implications Page
