On the evening of May 17, 2014, Dr. Casper Shih, chairman of the World Chinese Competition Foundation and Modern Enterprise Management Academic Foundation, was invited to deliver a speech at the Langrun / CITIC Academy’s 6th event in the National School of Development of Peking University. In-depth meaning and value of the Analects of Confucius, cases of behavioral styles of ministers and new interpretations of modern leadership all express how enormous the charm of traditional culture is and explain where the meaning of exploring inner heart lies.
Lin Yifu: Explore Confucian Culture to Fulfill the Chinese Dream
Lin Yifu, Honorary Dean of the National School of Development of Peking University made a welcome speech. He expressed that the true meaning of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese people is Confucian culture, one that has persisted for several thousand years and whose core is benevolence. Only by re-interpreting Confucian culture and its core belief of ‘benevolence’ in a modern context can we understand the true meaning of culture. Exploring the treasure of Confucian culture is essential for fulfilling the Chinese dream and will, to a great extent, promote cultural prosperity around the world. Professor Lin Yifu spoke highly of Dr. Casper Shih’s interpretation of Analects of Confucius and hopes it can propagate its doctrine, impart professional knowledge and clear up any confusion. He also expects that Dr. Casper Shih’s interpretation can guide people away from the culture of egoism and to return to traditional culture.
Dr. Casper Shih laid bare the classic example of the capitalist greed of Wall Street by explaining the monopolistic conduct of the ‘Four Kings’, pioneers in American economy. Founders of the railway empire constantly expanded their influence and power by company acquisition and tried to control their biggest customer, oil tycoon John Rockefeller. Just as the battle for the monopolies was taking place, America developed into an economic giant in less than 50 years.
The internet bubble in 2001 led Dr. Shih to re-evaluate the role and function of internet trading in business in the future and realize that the emerging of financial derivatives gradually deprived real economy of its dominant role in economy. He criticizes unbridled capitalism centering on egoism; blindly pursuing self-interest which can lead to the eventual destruction of oneself.
True Meaning of Analects of Confucius
Dr. Shih noted that a tomb-sweeping visit made him understand thoroughly the Analects of Confucius. Just as Mr. Toyota, president of Japanese Federation of Economic Organizations emphasized, Japan in the 21st century needs great leaders and the first lesson for education of leaders must be the study of Analects of Confucius.
Is Analects of Confucius about attitude? In his 77 years, what Dr. Shih has learned is that attitude determines success or failure. The benevolence that Confucius mentioned means love and it is about attitude.
Dr. Casper Shih believes that only people with abundant life experience can understand the true meaning of Analects of Confucius. Relying on his life experience, Dr. Casper Shih relates the Analects to modern life to make it more relevant.
Taking the phrase from the Analects, “Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and application?” Dr. Shi develops this sentence into “Is it not pleasant to learn the attitude of life and use it to have new understanding of life?”
Taking “How happy we are to have friends from afar!” Dr. Casper Shih interprets it as “It is pleasant to have visitors from unknown places to have a happy discussion on life.” His words are concise and enlightening. In addition, he shared his experience of friendship with John Naisbitt and Steven Covey in order to make the two sentences more impressive and help people to understand.
Three New Interpretations on Analects of Confucius
Dr. Casper Shih believes that Analects of Confucius is a book from heaven sent to mankind. Analects of Confucius adopts simple but vivid language to record contextual descriptions, dialogues and situational migrations. For this great work, Dr. Casper Shih proposes three of his new interpretations:
First, Confucius understands the truth of education. He believes that teaching students must be in accordance with their aptitude and education should make no social distinctions in teaching. Confucius thinks that there is no incompetent learning but only failed teaching. Dr. Casper Shih regards benevolence as a clever and skillful word which tells people how to deal with others, which is the goal of education. Therefore, Dr. Casper Shih praises Confucius’ education ideology as the best he has come across so far.
Second, a nation that practices ideas proposed in Analects of Confucius will become a nation with the most cultured populace. Dr. Casper Shih hopes that China can become the most ethical and benevolent state in the world by learning and spreading the ideas proposed in Analects of Confucius.
Third, only if the altruistic ‘ideology of benevolence’ replaces the egoistic capitalist ideology can the global economy achieve stable and continuous growth and gain real peace; only then can human beings enjoy true happiness. Benevolence is to create value for customers and to achieve success without declaring wars in management. Dr. Casper Shih thinks that the highest state of management is as Confucius advocates, to “make the elder feel safe, and win friends’ trust and youth’s respect.”
Dr. Casper Shih emphasizes that doctrines of “filial piety and fraternal duty”; of “a gentlemen understands what is moral whilst the unscrupulous understand only what is profitable” and of “never doing what you would not want others to do unto you” are what modern people should advocate and abide by. In addition, these are the key success factors for modern companies and managers. However, when studying this classic work, people must avoid quoting out of context. For example, when we practice the doctrine that harmony is the essential part of ritual applications, we cannot ignore the following sentence: “However, if harmony itself is not modulated by ritual, things will still go amiss.” This is teaching us to grasp the comprehensive and general meaning of these classic works.
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Practitioners of Behavioral Styles of Ministers
Dr. Casper Shih says that he met many supportive business leaders and good judges of talent who all displayed behavioral styles of ministers. They are Li Guoding who treated him like his own brother, Zhao Yaodong who loved his people, Sun Yunrui who mastered the strategy of understand and choosing people, Wang Daohan who always accompanies him. It is because of the help and support of these great friends, that Dr. Casper Shih was able to grow and develop successfully.
Dr. Casper Shih says although 27 years older than him, Li Guoding paid him respect and called him Brother Casper in any circumstances. Because of his contribution to the community, Zhao Yaodong still wins respect from his people after retirement. The two recommended him to Australia to deliver keynote speech. With the help of these two friends, he explored his ability in organizing, execution and strategic thinking, and developed his vision. Through this, he understood that a real leader is the one who still has the love of the masses even when he is no longer in power.
Dr. Casper Shih is extremely touched by President Sun Yunrui’s bravery to recognize and correct his mistakes. Sun once admitted and corrected his mistakes in front of a young man which finally pushed forward the great cause of automation of Taiwan. Dr. Casper Shih still remembers when president Sun, suffering from stroke, still went to court and struggled to stand up to salute himself. This is far beyond the doctrine “the king treats his people with respect”. Dr. Casper Shih expresses that the company of Mr. Wang Daohan warmed him and he was really flattered when Mr. Wang called him the Treasure of the Nation.
How to Become the Benevolent?
How to become the benevolent? Dr. Casper Shih emphasized the importance of the cultivation of the inner heart. Correcting mistakes means that people must get rid of the evil buried in their minds and be broad-minded and tolerant. When Zi Xia sought advice from Confucius, Confucius answered that those who covet petty gains cannot achieve great success. Akio Morita, founder of Sony, would never have built the Sony Empire if he just wanted to sell 10,000 radios without his own brand. Guo Taiming from Taiwan is also a representative with great and broad mind who firmly believed that one will become successful by doing business with first-class enterprises. Dr. Casper Shih completely agrees that corporate culture is important. He pointed out that Confucius had already developed corporate culture over 2,000 years ago. To guide the multitude with morality; to educate them with etiquette in order to help them have a sense of shame and be willing to listen to the order is the core value of corporate culture. Corporate culture is invisible, but it works like the orchestra’s conductor who helps to make the music more harmonious.
The most eminent leader will “govern through morality and act like the North Star”. Therefore, a noble man must be true, have and beautiful soul. Individuals should challenge themselves with constant introspection and innovation and finally become a person with a great soul like these leaders. Dr. Casper Shih hopes that the government will work together with companies and leaders from all fields to help every Chinese people understand and practice the ideas in Analects of Confucius and to build China into the number one “benevolent and moral state” in the world.
