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Q: Do the terms "Morals or Ethics" even exist in the Chinese language?
Between the business men that take great pride in screwing people (figuratively) for a profit (or getting paid off), to the money hungry Chinese girls looking for the easy life, to the poor Chinese men that kill themselves to make money at all costs, to satisfy the expectations of their parents, wives et al. Where does it end? At least in America these types are a rare breed these days (ok...just kidding...a little), but here it is across the board. Why?
道德 and a few others. Ethics are the luxury of those who can afford it. It the west the detailed discussion of ethics was invented by a bunch of comfy Athenian slave owners, when Athens owned overseas trade. In China it was invented by the petty nobility. It India it was a bunch of princess, and in the middle east, people born into the priestly tribe and a dude who controlled the whole Arabic peninsula, for the Jewish people and the Muslims, respectively.
Those Chinese that are screwing us over all the time have probably gone some point in their lives living from meal to meal without any hope of pulling through. Fifteen years ago, the average urban salary was less than 500 yuan a month. Cheers!
More griping about this? Really? Maybe you just "don't understand Chinese people". Isn't that what they usually say when you bring this topic up with them?
I think they remember what it's like to be poor. So they will do anything to avoid it.
Tired of answering that mate.............Once again.......Didn't see much of ethics and morales but sure they exist in the language.........Forget the words in chinese cause i did not use them that much here and didn't hear them that much in my term here in china.
Arguments about other countries are irrelevant. During the great depression in the US, times were extremely hard, but it didn't turn all people in the country into morally bankrupt human beings.
The problem in China stems from Confucian filial obligations. It goes like this:
- Ruler to Ruled
- Father to Son
- Husband to Wife
- Elder Brother to Younger Brother
- Friend to Friend
If you don't fall into one of these categories when dealing with someone, it is seen (contrary to other teaching of Confucianism...) that you are fair game to be lied to, cheated, or stolen from. They justify it by "knowing" that ripping you off will provide to their filial obligations.
Plus, ripping off foreigners gives Chinese people FACE as being clever, and we all know that FACE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER TO EXIST.
So, add all that together and it becomes "a complex social structure" that "you will never understand" because you were not brought up in a society that rewards incompetence and ignorance simply because you bought a hooker for your boss.
Hugh.G.Rection:
NIce points Mr Tibbles, but may I suggest you come to Southern China, Guangxi province, I've been here two years now (just over in fact) and I haven't come across any 'face 'issues in that entire time.
I get the distinct impression that face is more of an issue in Northern China and the big coastal cities, although I cannot be sure as I haven't been there.
mArtiAn:
This idea of 'face' is such a load of utter bollocks. We ALL have it. Don't believe me? Next time some bloke spills your drink in the pub, see how quickly you look for an apology. In my experience, if one is not forthcoming, someone gets hurt.
MrTibbles:
That's common courtesy. If I knock over your drink, you don't "lose face" and if I apologize, I'm not "giving face".
Now if your friends are there, and I didn't apologize, and then your friends thought you were lame for not starting a fight - ie, they lose respect for you because you're not starting a fight - that's face. Also childish.
What would happen in that scenario, is I would apologize for knocking over your drink and offer to buy you a new one. Again, not face.
Even if there are some similarities between Chinese face and concepts in western culture, our society is not based on that. In China, it is.
