🗺️ Culture 文化

Cultural Understanding

One major difference between the US and China is that the Chinese are more relationship-based in tasks, and Americans are more transactional in relationships.

Culture brings people together in shared values, practices and behaviors.

The Affable Gua 比挂 is the 8th of the 64 Gua in the Yi Jing 易经 (I Ching). It gives us insight into a post-battle scenario or a situation where a battle was avoided.

The Affable Gua is made up of the trigrams Earth (bottom) and Water (top). This is considered to be a “normal” relation between the trigrams, a relation seen as good. Water on Earth is auspicious. Water nurtures the Earth, fostering growth and abundance.

The Affable Gua suggests supportive relations are relations that foster good outcomes. It guides us to be sensitive outside our own borders and walk lightly to avoid conflict and maintain social harmony and balanced relations.

The Chinese have a long history of war and fierce battles between both friends and foe; they understand the destruction, suffering, and loss of life and wealth wars bring.

Learn more here.

In the Dao De Jing, Lao Zi writes:

道法自然。

The Dao progresses of its own inertia.
Lao Zi

Since nothing exists outside of The Dao. It is the force of all existence. At the core of The Dao is a tendency toward balance—to wax and wane, if you will, as an innate function to maintain harmony. A constant flow and adjust in all situations. This offers insight into the phrase in question.

All that exists exist within a framework of equality; life and death. If we consider the phrase “无为,” literally, “without action,” it does not inform us to do nothing, instead it instructs us to do something; respect the natural progression, and go with the flow—not against the grain.

The Dao De Jing also teaches us that water is the most benevolent of all elements. It adjusts according to its environment and changes its appearance depending on the expressions in different temperatures. While nurturing life and shaping the world around it.

In The Art of War, Sun Tzu referred to water as the “intangible tangible” and the most benevolent of forces. Unlike rigid objects, such as rocks, water is flexible. When water encounters rigid objects, it simply embraces or goes around them.

Because of its flexibility and endurance, water slowly and methodically effects great change within its environment.

Flexibility allows for more creative and strategic success in the face of challenges, which may be the difference between reacting and responding.

[道] 常无为，而无不为。

The progression of The Dao moves ever with the flow and does not antagonize. There is nothing in nature that The Dao does not nurture.
Lao Zi

The ability of water to self-adjust and adapt is considered a trait worthy of practice.

The Chinese often seek common interests to bolster relationships and support success in life and business.

In China, harmonious relationships and friendships lead to “the giving of face,” which paves the way to better opportunities. However, unharmonious relationships lead to “the loss of face,” a cause for embattled and difficult interactions.

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Everyone experiences the world differently. Each of us has distinct hopes, fears and survival mechanisms. This often comes down to upbringing and life experiences—or lack thereof.

“The Western mindset has a tendency to perceive division and separation, which may cause us to falsely view the world through divisions and separations, rather than relations and connections.”

Claiming one’s own ways are, “the right way,” may spawn division and discord.

When we focus on similarities, we support respectful interactions and reduce the illusion of division. Positive interactions create a path for successful cross-cultural endeavors.

Awareness of internal dialogue is imperative to achieving cross-cultural success. A curious spirit is the greatest tool for overcoming negative thoughts.

With the correct guidance and skill sets, you can avoid cultural misunderstandings and incorrect interpretations of meanings or actions, to achieve positive desired outcomes.

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Additional Chinese Culture Resources

Visit the Cultural Revolution Artzeum. A virtual online museum where you can view hundreds of pieces of revolutionary artwork, artifacts, and other collections of Chinese art.

*Workers, Farmers, Soldiers study philosophy*

Check your knowledge about 11 things in Chinese culture and history.

You might be surprised by some of the answers!

Click here or the image below to take the China Trivia quiz.