Languages & Cultures of East Asia
Trad 101, Sections
18-19-20-21 Fall 2000
Lecture Outline, 9/18/00 - Confucianism and reticence
Confucianism
Who is Confucius?
550 B. C. - 479 B. C.
"The greatest teacher"
had many followers
held many political offices
occupied with ritual behavior and preservation of traditions
Central text of Confucianism is "The Analects"
200-300 A. D.
written by disciples of disciples of Confucius
dialogues between Confucius and his students
1) To instruct people in self cultivation
2) To persuade people into political action
The Jesuit Confucius
mid-16th century
Latinized name
K'ung Fu-tzu to Confucius
Confucian Virtues
1. Humaneness
2. Filial piety
3. Wisdom/knowledge
4. Propriety/ritual
5. Sincerity
Confucian relationships
ruler-subject
father-son
husband-wife
elder brother-younger brother
friend-friend
Underlying principles:
a. hierarchy
b. reciprocity
"Li"= ritual
a codified set of rules of social behavior
how to do things properly
basis for all conduct
Ideal for society: Harmony
Reticence: "inclined to keep silent or uncommunicative"
Cross-cultural study
a. the amount of reticent behavior
b. the interpretation of reticence
c. cultural differences
a. amount of reticence
Asians: formal, polite, reserved
Americans: informal, spontaneous, talkative, expressive
Lunch with professor
Korean lunch: quiet, unassertive, obedient
American lunch: talkative, talked about family, chatted
b. interpretation of reticence
US: a sign of non-normal behavior
perceived unfavorably by others
Communication apprehension:
anxiety associated with communication with another
person
Korea: no such view
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