World Religion Confucius

Confucius Lives Next Door

What makes a nation successful on a social and economic level? I believe that Asian nations have found the key to hose successes and that key is the teaching and accepting of Confucianism. Over the course of decades, East Asia has become very successful industrial societies. As we read in the book, author T. R. Reid notes “that a social miracle has accompanied the economic miracle, social stability.”

For the most part, most of East Asia enjoys low crime rates. Divorce is very rare, public education is top notch and economic equality is very real. What makes these countries so successful? I believe it is the values that the people are taught from an early age that stem from Confucianism. Confucianism preaches social harmony as the ultimate goal. To disregard these social teachings brings shame upon one’s self, family and society. Reid writes, “he doesn’t find Confucian moral values to differ all that much from those of the West and its Judeo-Christian tradition.”

The main difference between the societies of the East and West, lies in the fact that east Asian societies will go to great lengths to instill these values in every member. This is something that Western societies do not place a high emphasis on.

Let’s take Japan for our main example. I lived in Japan for 13 years during the 1990’s and 2000’s and have witnessed many of the same things that Reid mentioned such as, how they have a very successful school system. It is very competitive to get into the best high schools and you have to score extremely well on entrance exams to be accepted. To go along with the Confucian teachings on social harmony, Japan streets are very safe and it is not uncommon for children to travel far distances by themselves, via train. It is safe for children to walk around by themselves, even at night with little worry. In addition to this, it is common for Westerners to install home security systems for fear of break-ins but this not the case in Japan. There is a level of trust that is accepted and there is not the big fear of someone breaking and entering into a home. I believe this shows how the Japanese strive to live in a harmonious environment.

A key moral teaching in Japan is that it is shameful and humiliating for people to divorce. This is something that is not very socially acceptable and is frowned upon. This is not the case in Western society.

Another element to the Japanese society is the level of respect that they have for their elders, and others in general. Not only is this respect important to show to the living it is for the deceased as well. Japanese often set up little shrines for the deceased and will often kneel and pray to the deceased member for guidance. They have the same amount of respect for someone that is deceased as the living.