East Asia is not Confucian

Materialism of an un-Confucian sort has popped up in various ways of late, and here is one more instance (h/t Western Confucian):

More than two-thirds of Koreans consider money the most important sign of success, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday. Korea and China topped the poll of 24,000 people in 23 countries on the question at 69 percent.

They were followed by India (67 percent) and Japan (63 percent).

But respondents in Western countries regard money as a less important indicator of success. A mere 27 percent of Canadians thought money spells success, followed by Swedes (28 percent), Dutch (29 percent), and French (32 percent).

Even in the U.S., only 33 percent of Americans agreed that money means success, and 67 percent disagreed. The worldwide average is 43 percent.

The young are more materialistic, with 48 percent of the under-35s seeing money as the hallmark of success, compared with 35 percent of those aged 55 and older.

Eighty-four percent of Koreans, Japanese and Chinese said money is more important than it used to be.

East Asia leads the way in the glorification of money.  Let's remember a couple of passages from the Analects:

The Master said: “If there were an honorable way to get rich, I’d do it, even if it meant being a stooge standing around with a whip.  But there isn’t an honorable way, so I just do what I like.” (7.12)      

子曰：“富而可求也，雖執鞭之士，吾亦為之。如不可求，從吾所好.”

The Master said: “Poor food and water for dinner, a bent arm for a pillow – that is where joy resides.  For me, wealth and renown without honor are nothing but   drifting clouds.” (7.16)

子曰：“飯疏食飲水，曲肱而枕之，樂亦在其中矣。不義而富且貴，於我如浮雲.”

The Master said: “How noble Yen Hui is!  To live in a meager lane with nothing but some rice in a split-bamboo bowl and some water in a gourd cup – no one else could bear such misery.  But it doesn’t bother Hui.  His joy never wavers.  O, how noble Hui is!” (6.10)

子曰：“賢哉回也！一簞食，一瓢飲，在陋巷。人不堪其憂，回也不改其樂.      賢哉回也！”

Comments

[Allan Lian]

The quotes really depend on the context.

It would not be meaningful if Confucius were to tell artisans, producers of goods, merchants, and traders not to make profits. They would have in a polite way told him to fly kite. If they cannot make profits, how could they earn a living, employ helpers (workers), enrich themselves and help in enriching the state?

However, rulers and kings could listen and so would scholars and their teachers. For if rulers and kings think about profits, they would raise taxes or conquer neighboring lands.

If scholars and teachers were to think about profits, they may forget about integrity and teaching and do all sorts of things that a Junzi would not do, to make that extra money.

At times, in a rush towards excellence, we may need to pause and ask:
‘Have our studies of ancient Chinese philosophy really reached the depths of humanity?’

[Pete Krop]

There's a large difference between earning a living ("normal profit") and economic rents ("excessive profit"). That is, by definition one does not get rich by merely earning a living. Confucius was right...there is no honorable way to get rich.