Eastern culture are influenced by Confusianism, Taoism, and Buddishm.
1. Confusianism
Confusianism has two virtue. First is "Kiun-tse" which means the great-hearted one. This is the virtue of the realized man which consists in understanding the reason of the heart, the secret of the transformation of things, the cause of what is mysterious and holy, in penetrating to the source of the wandering principle. The second is "yi" which means equality, justice. Yi is distributive justice of jen within a system of interpersonal relations, It is the acknowledgement between two human beings and which makes it impossible to behave indifferently toward each other as if the bond were nothing.
Situational ethic is the ethic of human being in the society. Ethic for human relationsips, concerning the conduct of life and of society. The strongest doctrine is that the measures of man is man. A doctrine which is following the highest instincts of his own human nature, and not by looking for perfection in a divine ideal.
The concept of Individual for society also appear in the main point of importance of the family. Chinese ethics considered the family as the basis or the centre to which all individuals must be subordinated, that family is everything and the individuals are nothing, that individuals must submit to the family and work for the family.
The word "wu-wei" means non-interference. Wisdom of this virtue has doctrine which is "all under heaven has the Way". This doctrine means purposive will directed at finite particular things in the world, can gain fundamental reality only if it is gathered into a "non-willing". Some westerners use this to point out the passivity of Eastermers.
Softness cover the dominant impressions of extreme tenderness and gentleness.
Humility is the essential component of the attitude of wu-wei. It consists of two main aspect, first in keeping to the core which means in staying close to man's original simplicity and innocence; second is frugality which is a contentment in having little, an earnestness to avoid all excess.
Humility is the essential component of the attitude of wu-wei. It consists of two main aspect, first in keeping to the core which means in staying close to man's original simplicity and innocence; second is frugality which is a contentment in having little, an earnestness to avoid all excess.
Selflesness is the supreme attitude of the Saga, and rejoins the Buddhist idea. This point of view doctrine that you do not own your self. Therefore, the wise people entrusts that which belongs to the universe, to the whole universe.
The core of Buddhist doctrine: the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. The first noble truth is "dukkha". This has translated as suffering or unhappiness. Dukkha is better rendered by "dislocation" which implies painful friction and impeded motion. The second noble truth is "tanha" which point out the cause of life's dislocation. Tanha is the craving for selfish fulfillment, the clinging to one's self separated from others. The third noble truth identifies the cessation of suffering with the uprooting of self craving. The forth noble truth indicates the way to do an eightfold discipline that can be partaken in three points: wisdom, rectitude, and meditation.
The role of moral behavior and meditation, destined to strengthen the right views and thoughts. Buddhistm is not a system of knowledge but a way of life which requires the totality of human being: aspiration, effort, behavior, livelihood, thoughts; also include philosophical understanding, purification of the whole life, and a special activity: contemplation. Contemplation is essential to assimilate the core of Buddhist doctrine, which is only perceived in a suprasensory and supraconscious experience.
The unity with all beings, and of morality, has contributed to the humanization of Oriental people. In spite of wars, violence, severity of natural disasters, it has given them the sense of fratrnity and hospitality, gentle kindness, detachment, inner peace, and sensitivity to beauty which characterize Eastern culture. A total respect for the freedom of man in his most intimate activity is the expression of his faith.
This three above represent searches of equilibrium and balance: the "golden mean" between the human being and society (Confusianism), the human being and the universe (Taoism), the human being and the Absolute (Buddhism). In the East, person is never considered by himself or herself. The individual is always viewed as an integral part of a whole in which he or she finds his or her relative place and role. The totality is first, not the part, however great it may be. The human person is a note of music in the universal symphony, not the conductor of the orchestra.
Oriental peoples are trained in their education to acquire a wisdom which consists primarily in the sense of measure: to know the right proportion in feeligs, thoroughts, actions; never to let a feeling become so so preponderant that it occupies the whole field of consciousness and thus disrupts the psychological balance; to avoid all excess and extravagance. This make Eastern people become polite, courteous, tactful, aware of each other's presence and needs; they want to live on good terms with family, relatives, and neighbours; and sometimes they are wiliing to give up their rights in order to preserve concord. Everything in their personal life, relationships, and material surroundings must look peaceful and harmonious.
