J.D. Han with Yang Zheng
Confucius

孔子
His teachings are in
“Dialectics （论语 ) ”
Confucius

1) The Main Difference
Compared with Western Christianity ， the Confucianism is not a religion, but an ethic.
Judgment and morals norm can come from a person himself ,
Ideas come from the Jesus or
God or other systems.

 He disliked the society ruled by Laws,
Regulations, and Punishments.
 He believed that the society should be ruled by educated Leaders with a clear sense of Noblesse Oblige devoted to
Humanity
> ‘Confucian Leadership Model’

(1) Benevolence

The core value of Confucianism is rén
( 仁 ).
- direct translation "benevolence "or Goodness
- in concrete, it means the virtue of perfectly fulfilling one's responsibilities toward others.

 Yì can be translated as righteousness

This is doing the right thing for the right reason.

This balances out with Humanity.

(3) Etiquettes

Li, is described by using some forms of the word ‘ritual’, it has also been translated as ‘etiquette' and ‘rules of proper behaviors’.

智
 Knowledge or wisdom

(6)
中庸

Controlling pleasure, anger, sorrow, or joy, the mind may be said to be in the state of Equilibrium.

This comes from the Judgement to keep balance.

This leads to the state of Harmony ( 和 ).

学 习
 Studying/Learning is a life-long process.
 Leaning is to become a noble person with virtue of noblis = ‘Philosopher’ of Plato
 Emphasizes “Practicing what is learned”
-> Noble persons rule and lead
> ‘Phlisopher King’ of Plato

 Leaders are to be Educated, Ethical,
Benevolent Philosophers
 Education + Bureaucrat Exam + Meritocracy provide competition for leadership
 Members of each level of society follow the leaders without conflicts

 Virtue = Noblesse Oblige makes the difference
- Continuous selection/refinement is needed.
 Revolution against Petty Leaders is justified
Educated People
Philosopher
Leaders
Petty Persons

 Comparable to Plato’s “Philosopher King” in his Republic

Philosopher Leaders are to be devoted to
Humanity, and Justice for members.
-> Ground for political legitimacy
-> Benevolent Dictatorship, not Democracy
-> Efficient and effective.

 What the Confucius said has not changed, but its Interpretation has changed.


Original Confucianism preceded the inflow of
Buddhism in China from India

Confucianism became Tools for Oppression by the Han
Dynasty.
》
-> Feudalistic Confucianism.

Oppressed people relied more and more on Buddhism and Taoism

With the challenge of Buddhism, Confucianism was innovated into Neo-Confucianism in the Song Dynasty(

3. The Innovation of Neo-Classical Confucianism

Ethical Aspect
- Reemphasizing Humanity
- Open up a possible Reform

朱喜
founder of Neo-Confucianism in
Song Dynasty (
A.D 960–1279)
He pushes Confucianism to a higher state, which make it become a Confucianism development milestone of the history


Li (lĭ) is a concept found in Neo-Confucian Chinese philosophy. It’s the principle that is in everything and governs the universe. Each person has a perfect li.

Individuals should act perfectly moral

It may be translated as rational principle or rationality


He added metaphysical dimensions
(ideas from Taoism and Buddhism) into
Confucianism.

Reemphasizing Cultivation of Mind( 心
学 ), Ethic( 道学 ), and Innovation ( 维新 )
 extending this Personal Ethic to Social
Philosophy and National Religion.

( 黄宗羲 1610-95)95)

Huang was notable for being one of the first
Neo-Confucians to stress the need for constitutional law and considered as the father of the Enlightenment -> China’s Rousseau
 “Light Recessed, and Waiting for the Dawn”
（明夷待访录 ) was a summary of ideas about political reform.

The political tract begins with a condemnation of selfish autocratic rule, and declares that the world should belong to the people

康有为

He argued for the combination of
Western Technology ( 西器 )
+ Chinese Neo-Confucianism ( 东道 )
+ Socialist Communism
 Emperor’s tutor; Constitutional
Monarchist;

Neo-Confucian Reformer ( 孔子改制考 )

杜維明
 Professor of Harvard University
 Sponsored by Prime Minister Li Kwan
Yew of Singapore
 He argued that Neo-Confucianism is conducive for personal edification as well as Economic Growth
 Neo-Confucian Leadership is essential for
Economic Growth


Confucianism for Modesty, Thrifty
-> Savings and Investment

Confucianism for Enlightenment
-> Education and Human Capital

Confucianism for Order, Harmony, Doctrine of the
Mean
-> Social Capitial

 Confucianism for Self-Edifying, Virtue, Noblesse-Oblige
-> Governance: Minimum Transactions Cost and Maximum Leadership
-Collectivism vs Individualism
Example: Li Jiacheng ; The Li Ka Shing Foundation
To date, the sponsorships and commitments approx.$ 990 million
Doctrine of the Mean in Business Competition
Stress to moderate and response. Appeal greatly and together and save small difference, oppose competing excessively


Neo-Confucianism spread to Korea and Japan

In Korea and Japan, People have various religions, but regard Neo-Confucianism as the guiding ethical principle for personal, family, society, and national levels.

In China, there was a period of official suspension of
Confucianism between 1949-1980s, which is followed by a revival of Confucianism.

1) Neo-Confucian Experience in
Japan

Neo-Confucianism transplanted to Business
= Zaibatsu
-> Modern Keiretsu in Japan
-> Chaebols in Korea

History
15 th Shogunate ( 德川庆喜 ) resigned his position
November 9, 1867
Boshin War
January, 1868
Edo Period
(Tokugawa
Shogunate)
( 德川幕府 )
Meiji Era
Meiji Restoration ( 明治维新 )

Meiji Restoration Reformers were Samurai class backed up by Neo-Confucians.

Policies
•State Leadership: Uphold the Emperor, and Strengthen the army and Enrich the Nation ( 富国强兵 )
• Economic Development by the State Leader ship
•Education: Compulsory Education
•Open Up to World for Trade and Technology

Japanese government needed
New Class of Entrepreneurs.
Samurai-turned-into-Businessman

Why reformed Samurai?
— Traditional warrior class was detrimental to Social Stability and Industrialization; had to be disarmed.
— Still, well-Educated, noble
Samurai Spirit/Patriotism may be put into use

Modern Japanese Neo-Confucian System
Government
Education
Noble People
Entrepreneurs
(Zaibatsu)
Society Profit

Pre-WW II
Zaibatsu
Mitsubishi
Mitsui
Sumitomo
Yasuda

* Mitsubishi
- One of the Major Zaibatsu
— Established in 1870 by Iwasaki (Yotaro 岩崎 弥太郎 )
— closely related to Meiji Restoration and State Leadership
— Now: Mitsubishi Bank
Mitsubishi Corporation
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Post WW II
 Horizontal Keiretsu
Mitsubishi
Mitsui
Sumitomo
Fuyo
Sanwa
Daichi Kangyo
 Vertical Keiretsu
Toyota
Nissan
Honda
Daihatsu
Isuzu
--------
Hitachi
Toshiba
Sanyo
Matsushita
Sony

 Chaebol:
-LG; Samsung; Hyundai; Daewoo;
Hanhwa
-Neo-Confucian organization and operation
- Effective and efficient in Korean social context

3) In China

This idea deviates China's focus from economic growth to overall societal balance.

Hu-Wen New Administration
President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have adopt more reform-oriented and more open-minded policy.
Premier Wen always wear a overcoat which has ten year history.

 China may unite the East Asia with the doctrine of Neo-Confucianism.
 Hu-Wen government of China supports studies and spread of Neo-Confucianism.

 Not all Confucianism is conducive for
Innovative Society, and Neo-Confucianism is.
 The essence of Neo-Confucianism is Ethic of Humanity.
<- comparable with Protestant Ethic
 Ethic of Humanity is conducive for
Accumulation of Human Capital, Social
Capital, and Government Leadership.