througheye
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70 years after WW II, only very few countries and regions successfully turned from poor developing status into developed status: Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Taiwan. Although Japan was also very poor before WW I, she became a developed country a little earlier before WW II. Now, China is on the fast track to becoming a developed country and I am pretty sure that China will archive this goal soon. Considering the speed, the duration and the scale of the fast development of China, it is something never happened in the history.
The question is why only these countries or regions can become developed ones from very poor conditions? Most of them do not have much natural resource. These countries and regions were deeply influenced by the Confucius culture. This is not coincident. There are some positive factors in the philosophy of Confucius influenced their development.
1) Pragmatism in Confucius's philosophy. As Xiaoping Deng said: no matter black or white, which can catch rats is a good cat. Pragmatism makes the peoples in East Asia willing to and good at learning everything they think is good to their development. They do not deny or reject anything based on the region, or origin from other countries. Their culture is inclusive and approachable.
2) Secularism. Region in these countries did not play a critical role in the politics and economy. Region is more like a philosophy rather than a belief. And many ancient scholars and philosopher emphasized more on the integration of different regions (like Taoism, Confucianism and exported Buddhism). They usually believed in Confucius when they are working as officials and maintained the big family at home, and they became Taoists in personal spirit experience, while most of their spouses were Buddhists. Regions co-exited peacefully in their culture for thousand years. In the long history of east Asia, there was very rare region conflict and no mention the region war.
3) Appreciation to education. Confucius culture emphasize on the education a lot.
4) A strong central government and highly efficient bureaucracy. All the countries above archived their rapid development during the period of authoritarian ruling.
5) The hard working and high disciplined people.
The previously developed countries in north America and Europe became developed ones largely due to the colony culture. After WW II, the age of colony has been gone. Only the countries and regions with Confucius culture could change from poor developing ones into developed one.
For about two thousand years, the civilization with Confucius culture was leading the world. It was surpassed by the western civilization since two hundreds years ago. It will finally be back to the top of the world in the next 50 years.
The question is why only these countries or regions can become developed ones from very poor conditions? Most of them do not have much natural resource. These countries and regions were deeply influenced by the Confucius culture. This is not coincident. There are some positive factors in the philosophy of Confucius influenced their development.
1) Pragmatism in Confucius's philosophy. As Xiaoping Deng said: no matter black or white, which can catch rats is a good cat. Pragmatism makes the peoples in East Asia willing to and good at learning everything they think is good to their development. They do not deny or reject anything based on the region, or origin from other countries. Their culture is inclusive and approachable.
2) Secularism. Region in these countries did not play a critical role in the politics and economy. Region is more like a philosophy rather than a belief. And many ancient scholars and philosopher emphasized more on the integration of different regions (like Taoism, Confucianism and exported Buddhism). They usually believed in Confucius when they are working as officials and maintained the big family at home, and they became Taoists in personal spirit experience, while most of their spouses were Buddhists. Regions co-exited peacefully in their culture for thousand years. In the long history of east Asia, there was very rare region conflict and no mention the region war.
3) Appreciation to education. Confucius culture emphasize on the education a lot.
4) A strong central government and highly efficient bureaucracy. All the countries above archived their rapid development during the period of authoritarian ruling.
5) The hard working and high disciplined people.
The previously developed countries in north America and Europe became developed ones largely due to the colony culture. After WW II, the age of colony has been gone. Only the countries and regions with Confucius culture could change from poor developing ones into developed one.
For about two thousand years, the civilization with Confucius culture was leading the world. It was surpassed by the western civilization since two hundreds years ago. It will finally be back to the top of the world in the next 50 years.
