In this particular day, I shall discuss the importance of tradition in
the Confucian sense.
Firstly, let us discuss tradition in the Chinese sense. It can be observed that the Chinese people
give such importance to tradition, and their faithful observance of it
justifies this thought. Traditions for
the Chinese signify harmony, for it depicts the standards, norms, and ways of
living properly.
Harmony, on the other hand, is deemed to be the core cultural value of
China. Why is this so?
Zhang Lihua, in her article China’s
Traditional Values and Cultural Identity, explains the notion in relation
to harmony being the core cultural value of China. She writes, “The traditional cultural values
that influence the psyche of the Chinese people are harmony, benevolence,
righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, honesty, loyalty, and filial piety. Of
these, the core value is harmony.
Harmony means ‘proper and balanced coordination between things’ and
encompasses rationale, propriety, and compatibility. ” 1
Lihua is saying that harmony is deemed
as the core cultural value because it is the one which governs the other values
to its efficiency in cultivating an individual and the State. The “harmony”
that she speaks of is the efficiency of each member in the community and each
sector in the government, which in turn aid in furthering the development of
the country by proper behavior and responsibility.
The concept of “harmony” for Lihua
is no different from Confucius during the ancient times of the Warring
States. This concept of “harmony” can
be observed in the Confucian sense of tradition. To Confucius, he means
“tradition” as a way of people to be united and harmonized with each other by
having good manners and by having a sense of responsibility, which is analogous
to Lihua’s statement concerning “harmony”.
In this second point, we shall
apply this concept of the Confucian sense of “tradition” to the philosophy of
Confucius.
The Confucian philosophy revolves primarily on
harmony and self-cultivation, as observed from his verses in the Analects. Tradition plays a crucial role in the
philosophy of Confucius. It plays the
role of a guide in the “social” aspect of living morally. This role is deemed
social for its primacy in interacting with other individuals, and it is with
this interaction that one starts the foundations of harmony. This “social” aspect of tradition can be exemplified
by the concept of relationships in the Confucian sense.
Weisen Li, in his lecture Chinese Culture and Customs, explained
the Confucian philosophy in terms of the concept of relationships.
Li states, “In Confucianism every
relationship has the dual aspect of responsibility and obligation. Therefore the relationship between mother
and child, husband and wife, brother and sister all have responsibilities and
obligations. However, Confucianism
goes beyond the family, and incorporates the relationship of individuals with
the state, subject and ruler, bureaucrat and civilian. If these responsibilities and obligations are
observed, then society will be a just and harmonious one.” 2
Li implies the notion that nurturing relationships
can be a start for nurturing harmony both in the social and individual sense by
being responsible and doing one’s obligation in that particular relationship.
He tries to tell that traditions
help in the long run of attaining harmony, and this can be done by first
checking one’s relationships with one another. In addition to the concept given
by Li, relationships can be checked by specific actions, for example, eating
together with one’s family, going out with friends, etc. The point is that one
“interacts” with each other. It is in
this sense that the foundation of harmony is born. Due to the communication and the constant
growth of one’s self and the interaction of people around him, he realizes his
essence. He cultivates himself for the good because of this realization. It is with these reasons that we can agree to
Li’s conclusion of a harmonious society rooted from the valuing of
relationships.
The statement of Li is similar as
to how Confucius sees tradition in the concept of “interaction”. For Confucius,
traditions can be a way of bringing people together. Traditions are filled with
gestures which symbolize a particular meaning for the people who observe and
understand it. The common appreciation and observance of these gestures makes
people who never knew about each other become united in that special moment. Common
examples of these would be attending church masses, going in a pilgrimage to a
holy land, and many others. One does not need to know everybody to be united
and to be harmonized with each other. Just by doing the same gestures is
already enough to signify the harmony between each individual. This “interaction”
makes him realize his self-worth and his humanity.
In conclusion, the importance of
tradition for Confucius lies not only on the individualistic principles of morality and self-cultivation. It also includes the “social” aspect of promoting unity and harmony by traditions. He emphasizes that by tradition, one can be
united with the community and vice versa.
This unity, as Confucius implies, is not exclusive to the notion of
whether one knows the person or not. Even
with the appreciation of gestures, each person can already be united.
One cannot realize his humanity alone. He
needs other people; his family, friends and others to fill the other parts of his
developing character.
The development of an
individual’s moral character is realized with and through others. It is through
these bonds and these relationships that one’s moral principles blossom and
bear much fruits.
Sources:
1. Zhang
Lihua, “China’s Traditional Cultural Values”, accessed November 20, 2014,
2. Weisen
Li, “Chinese Culture and Customs”.
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