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With the emphasis Confucianism places on social hierarchy, it is no surprise that Chinese are obsessed with status. Individuals within any given social circle know the precise position each holds relative to the others, and this tiny assessment is just the beginning of mental calculations that take place. Chinese understand who is linked to whom, and if one party is indebted to another, each within the group will know the nature and the extent. A holistic comprehension of social relationships helps individual members make optimal use of the social web. Psychology researcher Michael Harris Bond points out that within a network, if an individual (X) needs something from someone not well‐known to him (Y), he can ask a contact they share in common (Z) to get involved. “He is indebted to Z in this case, who can do his collecting from Y.” “Reciprocity is an exact science,” said Arthur Smith, who also pointed out that Chinese make use of a “system of social bookkeeping.” Smith was not describing the art of guanxi, a practice most often associated with government officials (and which was not referenced in English‐language texts prior to around 1980 anyway). Instead, he was commenting on the custom practiced by workaday Chinese who have no connections to power. China's system of reciprocity is complex and is dependent on that almost unfathomable cultural feature—the ability of Chinese to accurately assess the value of any favor performed. In most instances, the value is at once understood, but at other times there may be differences of opinion. Chinese will sometimes speak of “sitting down to tea,” which can be a euphemism for the elliptical chat involving the fine‐tuning of an assessment.
What's Wrong With China
Paul Midler
The simplest, quickest, and surest means to becoming known as a virtuous person is to work on yourself, to actually be virtuous. Examine each virtue, and you will see that they all were achieved with work and exercise. —SOCRATES
A Calendar of Wisdom
Leo Tolstoy and Peter Sekirin
The durability of concrete structures varies widely: while it is impossible to offer an average longevity figure, many will deteriorate badly after just two or three decades while others will do well for 60–100 years. This means that during the 21st century we will face unprecedented burdens of concrete deterioration, renewal, and removal (with, obviously, a particularly acute problem in China), as structures will have to be torn down—in order to be replaced or destroyed—or abandoned.
How the World Really Works
Vaclav Smil
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