CHINESE STRATEGIC CULTURE

Chinese strategic culture



Chinese strategic culture compared to Daoism and Confucianism

Introduction

To understand the philosophical roots of Chinese strategic beliefs, it is necessary to seek the historical origins of different philosophical beliefs. The Warring States Period (463—222 BC) was the time when major political institutions defining the Chinese state system were created. The creation of the territorial state system was accompanied by the emergence of what later was called a hundred schools of thought, among which Confucianism and Legalism were the major schools. The Qin State succeeded finally in unifying China through Legalistic reformation (Lord Shang Yang was the major figure). However, it was Confucianism that finally won out in the philosophical struggles among different schools. From the Han Dynasty on, Confucianism was the major dominating state philosophy in the institutional and spiritual frameworks of the Chinese state (Little, 2006).

The evolution of military warfare depended on improved productive capability as well as exploitation of the general public. The social, political, and military consequences of constant warfare were two-fold: on the one hand, the Warring States Period produced a large body of interesting military literature with Sun Zi's Art of War the best known. However, the period also saw a “hundred schools of thought blossom, debating how to avoid endless warfare and improve the leaders' ruling strategy and human life. Thus, the Warring States Period is named by David Nivison as an "age of philosophers of exuberant originality and variety that settled into something steadier and less varied in the long subsequent centuries of empire” (Johnston, 1998).

During this period, scholars advocating different philosophies and ideas made consistent efforts to "sell" their ideas on state reforms and warfare to rulers, and successful ones became the advisors to the ruling elites. Their ideas also dominated the administrative and strategic rule of different kingdoms. These scholars arc called persuaders. Their roles resemble today's diplomats or negotiators if authorized to represent a king to approach other kings to form or end an alliance. They also acted as councillors to State leaders in advocating reforms and persuading the rulers of the dangers of certain policies. The best known schools include the Confucian school (rujia),the Legists or Legalists (faija), Daoists (daojia), Mojia and the military strategists (bingia). These schools and their works provide the philosophical underpinnings of Chinese state ruling philosophy and military thought (Feng, 2007).

Confucianism: Confucius and Mencius

The repertory of Chinese philosophers begins with Confucius. Confucius (Kong Fuzi, his personal name is Qiu) was born in 551 BC. As the first philosopher, the impact of his philosophical ideas pervades all dimensions of Chinese social and political life. Confucianism was later further developed by Mencius—the second sage in the Confucian tradition. Confucianism provides the most essential elements in Chinese military thought and Chinese conduct of international relations (Huisken, 2009).

Confucianism emphasizes the rule of virtue for harmony (be), hence the best way to govern for a ruler is through the moral standards of "ren” (benevolence) and "li” (rituals, moral ...