Analysis of Confucius Lives Next Door by Reid TR - Book Report/Review Example

Religion and Theology QUESTION: 1 The Confucian Ethos and the Confucian virtues both are the part of Chinese culture. Confucian Ethos is described as Confucianism as per the culture. Confucianism is a study of the ethical and political system of China. Confucianism is developed as a set of ethical and political tools along with bundles of norms. The norms highlights respect for elders, courtesy for humanistic culture and family, along with interaction among the different age groups, their thoughts, cultures, values. The ethics along with the norms, which are followed by the human being, is referred to as Confucian Virtue. As stated in the book, Reid was overwhelmed after experiencing the culture, discipline and loyalty of the Chinese. Reid also mentioned in the book that Confucian virtue not only focuses on the cultures and values but also focuses on the education and group harmony of the people of the countries like Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. QUESTION: 2 According to the assessment about ‘Asian Miracle’, Reid had stated about the Asian countries economic conditions. Before coming to the Asian countries Reid’s view was different about the Countries and about the people. Reid thought that Western countries are more stable than Asian Countries. Therefore, after the stunning economic growth experienced by Japan Reid could no more calculate the country to be poor. Reid was amazed after witnessing the growth and he praised the mix cultures of eastern countries., Reid also mention about the “rice bowl culture” , “chopstick culture”, wet rice cultivation at the time of assessment of the book “Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living in The East Teachers Us About Living in the West.” Reid assessed about the cultural mix, which supported the countries to raise its economy and gain a strong position (Reid 14, 227-28). According to my point view, Reid assessment about the “Asian Miracle” is correct. He had purely described his view about the Asian Miracle. He had correctly explained the post as well as present scenario of Asian Miracle. Besides, He was an American reporter, and had compared the economic as well as culture background efficiently of both west and east QUESTION: 3 According to the Confucianism, Asian Cultures main aspect is to respect humanity and polity interacts with others. During the social interaction people meet others with over politeness and always carry a good posture and gesture among the society as well as create a positive impact in the mind of the people. Reid had also written about the social ethics, culture of Chinese society and how the Japanese culture had created an impact in the mind of the people. Moreover, in the Asian Countries people interact politely to create a good affect and impact over other. This polite nature and culture helps the country to develop to a considerable extent. Contextually, Eastern countries are known for its culture and its hospitality. Eastern countries cultures, discipline and loyalty is different from the western countries. At the time when Raid came to the eastern countries, and started interacting with the Japanese people he found they are very polite as well as well behaves. This behaviour and attitude is a part of their day to day life. Politeness always creates a good impact among the society and the people (Reid 81, 171). QUESTION: 4 East and west, both countries are different from each other in terms of culture as well as economic. People of both countries have different views regarding each other. People of Western countries think they are strong in terms of financial, economical, and cultural aspect. They think they have the power to rule the world. On the other hand, Eastern countries shared the same thought after the global recession, as these countries strongly stood in the economy. Japanese people and its culture are superimposed by the American culture. After the World-War II Japan had faced East Asian Miracle, which helped the Japanese economy very much. Japan is an eastern country but it converted it culture into Westernized format. Moreover, Japan has a democratic government, it have free press and strong protection of human rights. Most of the people had changed their religion into Christianity. According to my view I do not agree with this practice, because Japan is an Eastern country with democratic government and strong culture. Japan follows several aspects that are same as the Western people with regard to the economic evaluation. Therefore, as both the cultures have few things in common both have a positive feeling about each other (Reid 108). QUESTION: 5 According to the Raid, crime rates are low in Japan than any other Western Countries. Among the Eastern Countries Thailand has high crime rate. Thailand is a democratic country, but the government had failed to control the rate of crime and create a peaceful society. Thailand has huge social evils and rising crime rates and is also known for its prostitution industry (Reid 188-89). Therefore, it is witnessed that illegal issues are held more in Thailand as compared to Japan. Japan has to replicate its low crime rate to the Thailand, because Thailand is one of the highest crime rate countries. The Government of Thailand have to take steps in order to reduce its crime rate as like Japan and make it clean (Reid 20-23). Eastern countries along with western countries also need to be more like Japan, to reduce the crime rate. QUESTION: 6 Confucian and Japanese Culture both are very pleasant and create a positive impact among people to create a strong society. In this context, it can be ascertained that Confucian offers different cultural norms, loyalty and ethics among people. The main motto of Confucian is to remain in peace and create a clean and peaceful world for the people to live in. Confucian also states about the importance of relationship and about the graceful attitude a person should have the time of interacting towards other. Moreover, with regard to the Japanese culture it can be stated that although it is democratic country, the crime rate is minimum in this country as compared to Thailand. The writer states that this is due to the influence of Japanese culture over the people. Confucian and Japanese cultural experiences both positive influence for better social experience and improved overview for individuals. Confucian culture influences individual interaction in the society and Japanese culture contribute for clean and peace based culture among the society. Both culture contributes and generates more disciplined society for the human being. QUESTION: 7 Throughout the book, Reid had painted a positive picture of Japanese culture and Confucianism, which implies an optimistic impact among the society. Reid had well structurally written about the Japanese Culture as well as about the Confucianism. The book evaluates the cultural significance of Japanese and their standard of living to upsurge the economic condition to a considerable extent. As an American reporter, he had done a fare job, he had discussed about the positive as well as negative parts of the both cultures to understand the true picture of the cultures. Reid had very creatively printed the picture of all Eastern Countries, which helped to build a positive affect about cultural background, economic side and other sides of each country. Besides, Reid mentioned about the crime related issues that are faced in China, and Japan, Thailand. These countries are democratic in nature and its crime rate is higher than other countries, as was mentioned by the writer. Reid’s never overshadowed the matter while evaluating the cultural aspect. According to my point of view, Reid did not pass over some downsides of both cultures. Reid had equally discussed about the positive sides of Eastern countries as well as negative side of it, to derive a better understanding about the cultures and its significance in the economic stability. From the above discussion, it can be comprehended that Reid has provided an overview about the various cultures of Eastern countries. Moreover, the writing of Reid can be considered as a case study because it contains both the positives as well as negatives of the culture and its impact among the people of the various countries. Through this book, I have experienced the culture through the words. I have been able to analyse that Eastern countries and western countries both are different in matter of culture, fashion, disciplines but these two countries are linked. This sentiment is well portrayed in the book “Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living in the East Teaches Us about Living in the West” by Reid. Thus, it can be stated that the book caters a new experience for the society. Work Cited Reid, T.R. Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living In The East Teaches Us About Living In The West. United States of America: Vintage Book, 2000. Print. Read More