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Confucius’s teachings are highly valued according to the leading cultures of China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Korea. As a result, the phrase refers to the personal ties or contacts that make it possible to collaborate on projects or conduct business with prominent figures. A frequent adage in Confucian societies is “Who you know is more important than what you know” (194). Confucian societies value these kinds of interpersonal connections above all others.
Although these connections are highly appreciated in Eastern civilizations for the success they bring to business relationships, their relevance in Western societies is rather low, as it is stated in the chapter. In reality, most Western civilizations work to hide their interconnectivity, in contrast to Confucian societies, which aim to make it as obvious as possible. I’ve discovered that Westerners perceive disclosure as a danger, despite the reality that every culture places a high value on commercial relationships.
In a Confucian society, one’s circle of friends is more significant, although, in Western civilizations, this information is generally disregarded when made public. Because “guanxi” is commonly mistaken for corruption, Westerners try to keep it a secret. Yet, legitimacy is highly valued in Eastern and Western cultures because it is at the heart of connectedness. As a result, I believe that Confucius’ teachings are some of the oldest that is still highly valued in modern society, not just in civilizations that practice his teachings but also in other cultures. So, it might be claimed that all people appreciate connections in some way, as “guanxi” promotes, even though this is more true in Confucian societies.
