孔子的智慧：迈向全球化领导之路(英文版)(txt+pdf+epub+mobi电子书下载)

作者：石滋宜

出版社：外语教学与研究出版社

格式: AZW3, DOCX, EPUB, MOBI, PDF, TXT

孔子的智慧：迈向全球化领导之路(英文版)试读：

Defined Terms

There are two important Confucian terms, Ren (仁) and Junzi (君子), which are not readily translated into English. Rather than provide a translation which does not capture the Chinese meaning in its entirety, the phonetic transcriptions or pinyin of those terms have been used and explanations of their meanings are listed below:“Ren” (仁) has traditionally been translated as “benevolent”. However, the meaning of Ren is broader than that of benevolence. It embodies benevolence, goodness, kindness, love, humanity, justice, motive and philanthropy. It is the highest of the Confucian values. A Ren person refers to a person who has the quality of Ren. Literal definition of “Ren” in Chinese means how people interact with one another with benevolence and respect.“Junzi” (君子) has been translated in various ways, including“gentleman”, “scholar”, “superior person” and “noble man”. But a Junzi is not limited to a person of good manners, position or influence, or learning. The key quality of a Junzi is moral fiber. A Junzi should follow high moral standards and set a good moral example for others.

Author's Preface

When I visited Japan in 2006, I read an article by the former chairman of the Japan Business Federation (and former chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation) Mr. Hiroshi Okuda, saying that the first thing any great leader must do in the 21st century is to study The Analects of Confucius thoroughly.

I must admit I was very dubious at the time. My image of Confucius was still that of the May Fourth Movement in 1919, with its slogan of "Down with Confucius and his followers" and destruction of the statue of Confucius at Peking University. In almost everyone's mind, Confucianism was equivalent to a rotten imperialist school of thought, the exact opposite of the modern ideological trend of democracy, science and liberty.

But I held Mr. Okuda in the highest regard. He definitely must have had his reasons for what he said. Out of curiosity, as I was in Japan, I bought myself a Japanese translation of The Analects. To my surprise, that sage who had been considered by everyone to be a relic of the past opened a new chapter in my life.

At the age of 69, I had my first real encounter with Confucius. For someone like me not trained in the Chinese classics, reading the ancient Confucian texts was very difficult. I purchased and collected numerous translations of The Analects, both in Japanese and modern Chinese language, studying them in depth. The more I came to understand The Analects, the more ashamed I became because I realized that some of the later generations of Chinese had grossly misunderstood China's greatest teacher, whereas Confucian thought had directly influenced neighboring Japan.

The Japanese applied Confucianism to everyday life. When Confucianism was first introduced into Japan over 400 years ago, only the samurai had an opportunity to study it. They converted the concepts of Ren and loyalty into bushido, the samurai code of chivalry. The Analects was subsequently spread among the Japanese as a whole, becoming part of the most popular novels, plays, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, etc. with the result that much of Japanese culture has derived from The Analects. The Japanese also have great respect for Confucian ceremony. For these reasons, I could understand why Mr. Okuda openly told modern leaders that they have to study The Analects well.The Future Path of Modern Leadership Worldwide

In the past, I have mainly provided services to business leaders and have often exchanged views with leaders from different industries. From many years of observation, I have found that business leaders everywhere and the majority of management specialists are searching for a way to achieve sustainable management.

When I re-examined Confucianism, I found that it corresponded with my own experience in life and confirmed my business management strategies, deepening my belief that the Confucian path of Ren is the path of leadership worldwide and that the Confucian Ren person is the leader most needed in the future.

How can I claim this? I have in the last few years refined my understanding of the meaning of The Analects and found that the success of many of my superiors, friends and the thousands of businesses that I have counseled in Taiwan could be explained in terms of The Analects.

It can be said that The Analects not only provides a path of successful self-improvement and conducting oneself in society, but is even more precious for management. It is essential for running a country or a business and is the basis for modern management theory. The Analects emphasizes liberty, democracy, justice, honesty, love and humanity, with particular stress on a Ren-based philosophy of sincerity and consideration.

Confucius said: "Govern with virtue and you will be like the North Star. It stays in place while all the other stars (people, employees) revolve around it." "If you guide the people by virtue and propriety, they will have a sense of shame and integrity (they will manage themselves without the need for managers)." These two simple sentences set the example that a leader should try to achieve and clarify the importance of corporate culture.

While Western experts and scholars only started discussing corporate culture in the 1970s, Confucius had already known that corporate culture was the basis for good management 2,500 years ago.

Confucius also pointed out that the success or failure of a country or an enterprise turns on understanding and using people. Fan Chi asked what is Ren. Confucius replied: "Loving others." Fan Chi then asked what is wisdom. Confucius replied: "Understanding people." Fan Chi didn't follow, so Confucius further explained: "Promote the honest and suppress the dishonest and the dishonest will become honest."

Love is what is referred to in modern management as encouragement. A leader has to understand people in order to use the right people and, even more importantly, has to love those working for him and develop their talents. This is the spirit of management by delegation emphasized in modern organizations.Altruistic Ren Instead of Selfish Capitalism

The greatest problem with capitalism is that it is based on selfinterest. In the words of the president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, "Financial institutions with their own lives, begin selfishly and blindly running in pursuit of pecuniary interests." In the 1990s, I proposed altruism as a way to create a win-win situation, but that line of thinking had not yet become mainstream.

The concept of Ren in The Analects seeks to attain truth, love and beauty. It is an altruistic philosophy. The term Junzi used in The Analects refers to a Ren person, someone whose goal is truth, love and beauty. Truth means putting into practice what you preach, being for real. Love means caring for customers, employees, the earth and your products as you care for yourself. Beauty means seeking perfection, making what is good even better. Isn't this the acme of management?

Problems such as the global financial crisis, global warming, European debt, etc. remind us that, although the end of the world may not be coming, the end of capitalism is nigh. I believe that the altruistic philosophy of Ren in The Analects will gradually replace capitalism which focuses on self benefit. This is the only way that the world economy can be sustainably developed, world peace can be truly realized and people can enjoy true happiness.

Confucius said: "Comfort the aged, trust people, nurture the young." If the elderly can enjoy a peaceful, happy existence, if there is mutual trust between people, if the young can enjoy good education and a happy life and be grateful for that, Ren will achieve the objectives of a utopian society and a social enterprise.

There was no religion in China in the days of Confucius, but his teachings reflect religion's core values of mercy and wisdom. How can we not have the greatest admiration for this unparalleled sage?Ren–The Highest Level of Success

If a leader can fully grasp Confucian philosophy, he can, from putting Confucianism into practice, develop leadership qualities and learn best leadership methods. An altruistic Junzi who follows the path of Ren must be the world's happiest person. Think about it. Can a leader who makes others happy be unhappy?

Confucius said: "Is Ren far away? If you look for it, Ren is right beside you." In other words, Ren is within. You just have to want to be a Ren person, look inward and Ren will be there.

On a personal level, The Analects lays out the fundamental thinking and attitude of a successful person which can be implemented in daily life. The Analects contains a number of passages about brotherly love."Brotherly love is the basis for Ren."

Let me give some examples of entrepreneurs who are my friends, such as the founder of Acer Corporation, Stan Shih (施振荣); the four Wei brothers (魏家四兄弟) from Ting Hsin International Group; the chairman of the Farglory Group, Chao Teng-hsiung (赵藤雄); my good friend Sayling Wen (温世仁) who has now passed away. Why were these people able to achieve success so easily? They all were proponents of brotherly love and Ren. They understood respecting and caring for others, emphasized honesty and gratitude. As a result, even if they encountered some problems, there was always someone willing to help them.

As most of the Chinese books that I found on The Analects focus on explaining the meaning of the ancient texts, people generally consider that The Analects is only about idealized morality. But that's not the case. The Analects should not be literally interpreted. You need to have a thorough understanding of Confucianism to appreciate its real meaning.

So in writing this book about what I have learned over many years of studying The Analects, I hope, by referring to my experiences in life, to be able to put The Analects into the context of modern management and leadership, and individual improvement and behavior, bridge the gap between the ancient texts and the modern world, let everyone readily understand the first master of leadership and, using The Analects as a base, experience the realm of truth, love and beauty.

Foreword

Dr. Casper Shih is an outstanding talent in Taiwan's corporate world. He is outstanding in having the ability to think outside the box rather than within conventional boundaries. His talent in relation to managing an enterprise lies in being able to see what others cannot see rather than being limited to normality. He is a highly respected master of foresight in the corporate world. One does not lightly earn the title "master". His depth of knowledge and understanding of Taiwan industry make him perfectly qualified to point out the path to success. The fact that he identifies The Analects as the key point in success confirms the ancient saying "You can rule the earth with just half of The Analects." The Analects should be compulsory reading for all Chinese. The book explains profound theories in simple language, laying out the path to success for any professional manager. Why? To sum it up in one sentence: The Analects is suited to human nature. It starts with human nature and points out the way to success. Dr. Shih started to study The Analects late in life, but the fact that he could realize these points is truly remarkable. His perception and wisdom serve to inspire us all.

So when one reads Dr. Shih's masterful book Confucius' Wisdom, apart from a feeling of surprise, one cannot but admire his modesty and modernity. Leadership is that type of learning where everyone has a chance, but no one can be sure they will make a success of it. Dr. Shih's book enables us to better understand and evaluate The Analects. We don't have to take half of The Analects to rule the earth, but we must diligently read The Analects over and over again. The result will certainly far exceed our expectations.Dr. Mei Ko-wan, April 2013

Why Confucius Would Be Delighted with Dr. Shih's Book: Confucius' Wisdom

Ron Nahser Ph.D.

Director, Urban Sustainable Management Programs,

Department of Environmental Science and Studies

As a Westerner, I see the primary benefit of Dr. Shih's work is that, like Aristotle pointed out in his Nicomachean Ethics about the same time during the Axial Age–the practice of virtue is learned best by studying and following the practices of virtuous people. Further, he shows we learn through practice, as in the American pragmatic tradition.

This is exactly what Confucius would want us to take from his wisdom: a story of the lessons learned from practice, not analysis. We are to do likewise, following the lessons of Confucius, being inspired by the life learnings of Dr. Shih to find our own pragmatic authentic Confucian virtuous-driven path–not simply as leadership lessons, but as a way of life.

And that is why I think he would approve of this book: to see the impact of his philosophy in guiding the journey of one person's life in the development of wisdom in oneself and others we serve.

Dr. Charlotte M. Roberts

Executive coach, and co-author of

The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook and Dance of Change with Peter Senge and The Mindful Board with Martha Summerville

Dr. Shih's model gives primary focus to people and positive relationships among the people who do the work of the organization. Dr. Shih moves the leader from a singular position at the top of the organization to a position in the center of the organization. The "leader at center" becomes the weaver of the web of relationships and continues to generate positive energy throughout the organization in various ways. He or she is "the North Star around which other people and employees revolve". As a practitioner of Ren, the leader at center can be seen by anyone (not just the small advisory group), and is always in the process of discerning the right action for the benefit of all.

The study and practice of Confucius' teachings will take a lifetime. Dr. Shih's book, Confucius' Wisdom, is an approachable introduction. You will be motivated to develop your own path of learning this ancient and modern model of leadership for the 21st century. With gratitude to Dr. Shih.

William Boyd, Ph.D.

CEO of Yinshida International,

author of China Mirror, media commentator,

business management speaker and cultural entrepreneur

Dr. Casper Shih's masterful work, Confucius' Wisdom, contextualizes the Confucian life ethic in a way that is rarely accomplished in the West. It focuses on the core of Confucius' vision, the process of becoming a fullyrealized leader, a Junzi, and shows how the virtue of Ren is the action of this realized leader, drawing individuals and organizations towards responsibility, kindness, honesty, humility, harmony, and effective life-long learning. While these virtues seem to be diametrically opposed to the qualities appreciated in a modern business context, they are the foundation of sustainability and growth and have been the touchstone for Chinese cultural and business success over the millennia–values that every generation struggles to rediscover.PART 1Character Building and Attitude–Make a Success of Your LifeChapter 1Associate with Wise People

Human nature has both good and bad elements, but our environment and what we learn can change our nature.

Confucius (孔子) did not emphasize the innate character of human nature. He did not conclude that human nature is either good or bad. Confucius considered that people may be born with a good or bad nature, but the environment in which they grow up can gradually influence their direction by nurturing and strengthening the good or bad seeds within them.

A friend of mine who migrated from Puerto Rico to the United States told me that he had a very close friend at junior and middle school. He hadn't seen him for more than a decade. One day out of the blue he read in the newspaper that his friend had murdered someone. He couldn't believe it. He had always been under the impression that his friend was extremely good and kind. How could someone like that become a killer?

But on thinking about it further, he realized that he had chosen a path of study and entered Columbia University, whereas his friend, instead of continuing his studies, had joined a gang after graduating from middle school.

The two of them had taken different directions resulting in different lives.

Confucius said: "People are similar by nature; they diverge as a result of practice."

子曰：“性相近也，习相远也。”（阳货篇，17.2）

We should choose to associate with first-class enterprises and good, humane people. Such people and businesses will also select whom they want to associate with. Therefore, the first thing we need to do is make ourselves the type of people others will want to have dealings with.

People and organizations are strongly influenced by their environment. I regularly encourage enterprises to do business with first-class enterprises so that they can become first-class enterprises themselves. If you can only do business with a third-rate company, your company will also become third-rate.

It's the same for people. No matter whether in daily life or work, we should choose to be with successful, happy people. In that way, we'll never be without hope and will feel anything is possible. As the Bible says: "He who walks with the wise becomes wise."

Do you remember the story about Mencius' (孟子) mother moving house three times? Why was Mencius' mother so concerned that her son grew up in a bad environment? The reason is simple: "Those near cinnabar turn red, those near ink turn black." In other words, we have to decide what environment we want to live in, what organization we want to work in, what friends we want to have. We have the right to decide.

Zigong asked how to become a Ren person. Confucius replied:"A craftsman who wishes to do his work well must first sharpen his tools. Serve ministers who are worthy and befriend people who are Ren in the state in which you live."

子贡问为仁。子曰：“工欲善其事，必先利其器。居是邦也，事其大夫之贤者，友其士之仁者。”（卫灵公篇，15.10）

Confucius considered that a craftsman who wants to do his job well must first prepare his tools. A person who lives in a country should work for those ministers who are worthy and make friends with those officials who are virtuous.

When my friend, Tony Sheen (沈庆京), chairman of Core Pacific Group (威京集团), was young, he used to be rather wild, keeping some bad company. In order to escape their influence, he decided to get a job on a ship where he worked for several years. His previous friends couldn't find him and gradually forgot about him. As a result, he had a chance to start afresh in society. Not only did he become a famous entrepreneur in Taiwan, but he also established his reputation throughout China by developing Living Mall (京华城中城) in Yangzhou.

Another example is my nephew. After entering middle school, he made some bad friends and did a lot of bad things, really breaking his elders' hearts. Some people even thought he was beyond salvation.

I think that a change in environment can give a person the opportunity to re-evaluate himself. So I took my nephew with my family when we migrated to Canada. Our house was very close to the library. Every day I took my son and nephew to the library. In these surroundings, there was a marked change in my nephew's rebellious nature. He obtained his Ph.D. in pharmacy over 20 years ago and is currently working in a large Canadian hospital.

Many people are not satisfied with their lot and constantly complain, blaming everyone and everything except themselves, creating an atmosphere that affects not only themselves but also those around them. They do not have the slightest ability for self-reflection and are totally unaware that all their troubles and unhappiness are self-created. If there is anyone like that near you and you are not able to help him, it would be best to get away from him as quickly as possible.

As discussed in the book Your Best Life Now, "Find a place where people will encourage you and challenge you to be the best you can be. Find a place where people inspire you to reach for new heights. You've been wallowing where you are long enough. It's time to move on, to let go of past hurts, pains, or failures. It's time to believe for bigger things."As long as you are willing to take action and progress to the direction you hope for, you can have a very different life.

Your destiny is in your own hands. The direction you choose and the attitude you take will make your life different.Chapter 2Be Genuine, Practice What You Preach

Be honest and truthful in dealing with people. Have the courage to bear the consequences of your actions without shirking responsibility.

Confucius said that a virtuous person is certain to have something

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