The importance of Confucianism for early Chinese society is conditional upon its role in establishing relationships among the citizens. In order to do so, the followers of this approach were guided by five relationships, and they seem quite informative from the perspective of analyzing its structure. However, these aspects had both benefits and drawbacks for people, and their examination is critical for revealing the actual impact of this glue.
One of the areas serving as the evidence of the practical implementation of Confucianism in daily life was husband-wife relationships in which obedience was expected. This requirement was intended to maintain social stability and bring clarity; nevertheless, the original goals were accompanied by significant problems, such as limiting women’s role to domestic servitude (O’Dwyer 171). This lack of flexibility in duties was the main characteristic of interactions in couples while being vital for supporting hierarchy.
Another relationship underpinning societal life in China in the past was ruler-subject communication which was also characterized as that of power. In this situation, the subordinate position of ministers, for example, conditioned the absence of conflicts regulated by the preference of a prince’s standpoint (O’Dwyer 171). However, this dependency did not contribute to the creation of a favorable environment since obedience was expected in all cases (O’Dwyer 171). Therefore, this factor was similar in structure to family life while being limited in terms of a balance of opinions.
In conclusion, the merits and flaws of the early Chinese society discussed above show that strict hierarchy was its cornerstone, which is not applicable to the United States. Hence, the glue holding the country together is practically absent as expectations in all interactions are ambiguous, and all stances are taken into account. It means that America’s future is more difficult to predict, and there is a need for a more solid basis for important decisions on a state level.
Work Cited
O’Dwyer, Shaun. Confucianism’s Prospects: A Reassessment. State University of New York Press, 2019.