Mythology and Leadership in China

Cultural Revolution (1966 - 1976)

  • Po Si Jiu Campaign

    • Called for the destruction of the Four Old Things:

    • Old thoughts

    • Old Culture

    • Old customs

    • Old habits

    • Aimed at removing obstacles to communism

    • Included destruction of artifacts, statues, and temples associated with mythical beings

    • Storytelling of myths was considered taboo

  • San Tao Jicheng Project (1984)

    • Initiated by the national government

    • Objective: To create a comprehensive collection of myths, stories, songs, rhymes, proverbs, and poetry

  • Chinese leaders often choose auspicious dates for important events/activities to optimize good fortune.

Introduction to Shen-hua (Myths)

  • Etymology of Shen-hua:

    • Shen: meaning "god"/"divine"/"holy"

    • Hua: meaning "speech"

  • China: One of the world's most ancient civilizations with a history spanning over 5000 years.

National Origin and Political Systems

  • Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC):

    • Development of four political systems:

    • Feudal (Before 221 BC)

    • Imperial (221 BC - 1912)

    • Republican (1912 - 1949)

    • Communist (1949 - Present)

  • Chinese Myths:

    • Evolved from fragmented pieces derived from various sources:

    • Bones, shells, pottery, paintings, etc.

Chinese Cosmology

  • Concept of an "Organismic process":

    • All parts of the cosmos are interconnected as one organic whole.

    • Change in one part impacts the entire system.

  • The binary separation of good and evil is deemed illogical.

  • Humans invoke mythical deities for:

    • Bringing good fortune

    • Warding off bad luck/evil.

  • Importance of dates in shaping perception and fortune.

Key Mythological Figures in Ancient China

  • The Yellow Emperor (2697 BC - 2597 BC):

    • His birth timing may influence future significance (similar to horoscopes).

  • Huang Di:

    • First of the legendary sage kings, unifier of tribes.

    • Renowned as “Ancestor of the Chinese” and “Originator of Chinese Culture”.

    • Oversaw a golden age of critical inventions; also referred to as “Son of Heaven” due to his ascension on a dragon.

The First Emperor of China

  • Qin Shi Huang Di (260 BC - 210 BC):

    • Established the Qin Dynasty.

    • Major contributions:

    • United most of China by 221 BC through roads, canals, and the Great Wall.

    • Set the foundational structure for imperial China.

    • Burial site features the terracotta warriors of Xi'an.

The Queen Mother of the West

  • Xiwang Mu:

    • Highest-ranking goddess in Chinese mythology dating back to 985 BC.

    • Originally a beastly goddess, evolved into a beautiful woman, guardian of the Western Paradise.

    • Associated with peaches of immortality:

    • 3000 years to form, another 3000 years to ripen.

    • Notable relationships:

    • Married the Jade Emperor, has nine sons and 24 daughters.

The Eight Immortals

  • Transformed by the peaches of immortality for their virtuous deeds.

  • Represent various aspects of life and embody key themes in Chinese philosophy:

    • Eight as a significant number signifying prosperity, corresponding to Taoism and the eight trigrams of I Ching.

  • Individual Immortals:

    • Zhongli Quan (The Fat Man, Chief of the Immortals)

    • Li Tie Guai (Body Snatcher, represents the sick)

    • Lan Cai He (Man or young boy, deity for florists)

    • Zhang Guo Lao (Old Mule, represents old men)

    • He Xian Gu (Self-Raising Flower, immortal female)

    • Lu Dong Bin (Scholar with a sword, deity for barbers)

    • Han Xiang Zi (The Flying Philosopher, musician's deity)

    • Cao Guo Jiu (Royal Outcast, deity for actors).

The Monkey King and Literary Contributions

  • Journey to the West:

    • One of the four classic novels from the Ming Dynasty (1500 - 1582).

    • Chronicles a monk's journey to India to retrieve Buddha's sutras.

  • Monkey:

    • Born from rock, achieved immortality by stealing a peach, aimed to rule over all gods.

    • Faces challenges due to his ambition, eventually protects Tripitaka along their journey.

    • Symbolizes the necessity to control intellect and wit for personal growth.

Leadership Qualities in Chinese Myths

  • Myths illustrate leadership traits:

    • Holistic orientation

    • Ingenuity in problem-solving

    • Hierarchical power structures

    • Compassion and conflict resolution.

  • Notable characters:

    • Pig represents physical pleasures.

    • Sandy embodies patience and strength.

    • Tripitaka illustrates human frailties: fear, survival instincts, and naiveté.

  • Kuan Yin, Goddess of Mercy and Compassion:

    • Known as Avalokitesvara in India, characterized by her story of defying conventional roles.

    • Transformational narrative where she aids in relieving the suffering of her people, becoming a symbol of compassion.

Overview of Chinese Leadership Concepts

  • Key concepts and ideas, referencing various authors:

    • Self-Management (Manz and Sims, 1980)

    • Collectivism and Power Distance (Hofstede, 1997)

    • Transformational Change (Ackerman, 1996)

    • Creativity and Empathy (Goleman et al., 2002).

  • Concepts contrast Western versus Chinese approaches to self-management:

    • Western self-management emphasizes individual goals.

    • Chinese self-management stresses communal virtues rooted in Confucian principles.

Moral Responsibilities in Chinese Culture

  • Chinese mythology stresses self-examination and self-correction as norms for improvement.

  • Title "Son of Heaven":

    • Emperors are seen as supreme regulators of the universe beneath heaven.

    • Personal conduct reflects in the natural order – disasters attributed to emperor's moral failures.

    • Successful leaders promote civility and prosperity through humane governance.

  • Recognition of the significance of deities, numbers, and environmental context in enhancing good fortune, emphasized in:

    • Taoism

    • Confucianism

    • Buddhism.

Power Dynamics in Chinese Society

  • Legitimate power derives from:

    • Age, family status, community roles, and personal relationships.

  • In family businesses, inheritance and position hold significant influence.

  • Time and space in Chinese cosmology are critical for effective management.

    • Decision-making combines economic rationale with symbols of good fortune, enhancing potential success.

Contemporary Chinese Leadership

  • Modern leaders evoke mythological figures indicative of traditional values:

    • Eight Elders of the Communist Party:

    • Deng Xiaoping (1904-97)

    • Peng Zhen (1902-97)

    • Chen Yun (1905-95)

    • Yang Shangkun (1907-98)

    • Additional figures include Li Xiannian (1909-92), Bo Yibo (1908-2007).

  • Notable contemporary leaders:

    • Zhang Ruimin of Haier Corporation.

    • Sir Li Ka-Shing of Hutchison Whampoa Limited.

    • Cheung Yan of Nine Dragons Paper Holdings.

Global Implications of Chinese Myths

  • Social hierarchy extends into workplace dynamics:

    • Respect and obedience to leaders are vital for harmony;

    • Leaders embody moral virtue to reinforce authority.

  • Relationships built on trust mitigate risks and foster adaptability in business contexts.

    • Concept of "Face" encompassing success and character involves exclusion of outsiders from networks.

  • Myths serve as essential tools for understanding complex social and cultural layers.

  • Real-world applications:

    • Myths provide insights on organizational dynamics and cultural nuances, enhancing cross-cultural leadership effectiveness.

    • Example: Reinterpretation of the Yellow Emperor myth in the context of Taiwan’s relationship with China.