Confucianism is China; China is Confucianism.

This is no mistake, rather a deliberate process over time. Although Confucius’s writings were never intended to be a cultural guide, rather a political treatise, they have been strongly intertwined with Chinese (and adjacent) culture for centuries.

As in every country, there are good actors and bad actors, but the fact that China and other East Asian countries can be categorized as collectivistic rather than individualistic speaks to the influence of Confucius. For well over a billion people to unconsciously adhere to these values, you must figure that there is something in his writings that helps provide guidance in the way of a life philosophy.

Continue reading “Confucius and the Five Relationships”