The Search for Roots in Industrial East Asia: The Case of the Confucian Revival

Abstract

Compares the elements of the Confucian revival in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, & Taiwan, seen as a cultural response to modern Western culture, & assesses its implications for their societies & the world at large. An overview of the history & basic tenets of Confucian ethics is given, highlighting their distinct commitment to the sanctity of the earth & sacred nature of human institutions. It is argued that, while the Confucian revival has similarities to fundamentalist movements in North America & the Middle East, it has been motivated by significantly different concerns & beliefs, particularly with regard to dealing with modernization processes. It is shown how, while each country has responded differently, the continuity of Confucian discourse has remained steady, whether allied with Shintoism in Japan, shamanism in South Korea, or popular religion in Taiwan; potential beneficial industrial effects of this pragmatic approach are discussed. Despite the diversity of Confucian revival groups in East Asia, they share the common belief that the search for one's cultural roots is vital to modern consciousness & a universal human concern. Bibliog. T. Arnold