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Ancient Values that form the basis of modern communication
 ClarkMorgan recognises the importance of cross-cultural communication and the need to train staff in bridging cultural gaps. Just two months ago, in the pages of this very magazine, Naomi Saunders from our Beijing office offered her perspective on the potential pitfalls involved in the meeting of East and West. This time around, we will look at the issue from a different angle, from a more traditionally Chinese perspective. Whilst I may not be able to offer solutions to every little piece of cultural conflict, I hope to offer a view from the other side of the bridge. I want to talk about some of my personal experiences whilst also examining the role, I believe, Confucian values play in modern Chinese thinking.
Confucian ideas flow like a river, twisting and winding through 5,000 years of Chinese culture. Yet, despite traveling such a distance, the current remains remarkably strong today in the nation's psyche. The ideas and sayings of the holiest of all Chinese philosophers may be truly ancient, but they still permeate modern thinking. In the next few paragraphs, I hope to offer some personal insight into the way these ideas impact upon present-day Chinese and the way in which they think and act. It was over five millennia ago when Confucius uttered the words "Restrain One's Self and Restore Rites" and in so doing began to sculpt Chinese minds for generations. To put this chunk of wisdom into slightly plainer English, he was advocating self control, restraint and an adherence to society's rules. There is no other country in which etiquette, manners and restraint feature so prominently throughout history as they do in China. Like the Yangtze or the Yellow River, Confucius's ideas sprang from just one small source, but grew and spread to nourish China. Etiquette, as the great man explained it, wraps the Chinese people like a cloak, maintaining social order.
Since the days of Confucius, China's history has been dotted with lavish examples of such etiquette. To show this, I want us to think as far back as 200BCE when the Han dynasty grew to prominence and to one of the great episodes in Chinese history. At that time, China was a divided nation, split asunder by warring factions. It was only when Liu Bang defeated the Chus that the country finally was united. Pivotal in this success was the great military strategist, Hanxin. However, Chinese history could have taken a radically different course were it not for etiquette. In the early stages of Liu's rise, he failed to recognise the value of Hanxin, inexplicably offering him only a lowly role. This tempted the strategist to switch his loyalties or even to raise an army of his own. Were it not for an act of the highest possible etiquette on Liu's part, Hanxin may well have severed his ties and left Liu Bang in desperate need of military guidance. After realising his mistake, Liu invited Hanxin back to the fold and, in front of his whole army, knelt before Hanxin to offer him the role of general. Even though Liu Bang made this important gesture so long ago, in his actions we can hear distant echoes of concepts that still flourish today, such as guanxi and mian zi.
Diamonds in the rough
Although etiquette may flow through the psyche of Chinese people the same way that blood flows through their veins, this inherent disposition does not always make for perfect manners and propriety - at least when dealing with Westerners. To master these and to feel comfortable exhibiting natural etiquette - to reach the level of Liu Bang - requires life experience. This experience is vital for Chinese keen to display their natural etiquette with Westerners. I like to compare this situation to a beautiful diamond ring. Most of us think of diamonds as the exquisite rocks nestled in engagement rings or dangling on pairs of chic earrings. However, before you can slide one onto your finger, the diamond needs to be cut and refined. Uncut diamonds look simply like lumps of dark rock - the beauty is there, but we cannot see it. It is only through a lengthy process that they begin to glimmer and dazzle. I believe that all Chinese people can be truly stunning diamonds, but they must refine themselves.
To illustrate this, let's take an example given by Naomi in her cross-cultural communication article in which she detailed her experience dealing with a gym manager. Naomi was looking for a refund on her gym membership. When she asked if this was possible, the manager, instead of offering a direct ‘no', told her ‘maybe'. This happened many, many times until Naomi finally felt forced to push him for a definitive answer, which eventually was ‘no'. Quite understandably, she was a little frustrated, but this was not because the manager was impolite - it was because neither side really understood what the other was thinking. Naomi simply wanted a direct answer, but the gym manager did not want to seem too direct and, in so doing, cause offense. Naomi was adopting a Western perspective, whilst the manager was showing that the Confucian influence remains strong.
I have certainly found myself in similar situations. I have worked alongside and socialised with Westerners for many years. Now, I feel comfortable and I am confident that I conduct myself with the type of etiquette of which Confucius or Liu Bang would have been proud. However, at first I found this to be very challenging. You may think the thoughts I am about to share area little strange, but I feel that they illustrate a small part of Chinese thinking that stretches all the way back to Confucius. The very first time I met foreigners I found myself startled at their open and direct introductions. I found it curious that they were happy to walk up to a complete stranger, offer their hand and begin a conversation. I found it even more astonishing that within a few minutes they were chatting like old friends, sharing jokes and even discussing business deals. It seemed to me that something was missing. Surely, they needed time to build those relationships. I did not feel comfortable chatting so openly with people until I got to know them much better. This scene may sound very simple, but on many occasions I simply stood by and watched. As I did so, I muttered to myself "Can I do this?" The natural restraint that coursed though my veins made it difficult for me to join in. It felt alien to me to be so direct. It was not until a foreign woman offered her hand to me, that I began to feel comfortable. This gave me the courage to take the initiative myself - she helped me to shine, to be a diamond. Now, the natural, Confucian etiquette within me is free to display itself, to dazzle and to glimmer.
Confucian Quotes
"In education sentiment is called out by the study of poetry; judgment is formed by the study of the arts; and education of the character is completed by the study of music."
"Listen not to what is contrary to propriety and look not at what is contrary to propriety"
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