Greater Commonalty And Lesser Prosperity - 2673 Words

Greater Commonalty and Lesser Prosperity Rites, Harmony, and Humaneness Linan Qiu Prof. Rachel Chung AHUM V3400 December 21, 2014 Almost every household in modern China is familiar with the term xiaokang shehui, or Lesser Prosperity society. It describes a middle-class level of prosperity at which basic needs are comfortably met, with a bit to spare on the side. The phrase is celebrated by leaders at all levels of the party, and, consequently, repeated constantly by the People’s Daily and other government newspapers. Though fashionable, the concept is hardly new. Instead, it dates back to Confucius. [1] Confucius used it in contrast with the concept of Greater Commonalty datong, a blissful society without private property, social†¦show more content†¦Greater Commonalty and Lesser Prosperity in Confucius The two concepts originate from the opening of Evolution of Rites (Liyun) in The Record of Rites (Liji). Yan Yan, one of Confucius’ most distinguished disciples, heard Confucius sighing and probed further. Confucius revealed that he was bemoaning the state of the world and how it had fallen from Great Commonalty into Lesser Prosperity. In describing the Greater Commonalty, Confucius reflected on the days of the sage kings: The practice of the Great Way, the illustrious men of the Three Dynasties – these I shall never know in person. And yet they inspire my ambition! When the Great Way was practiced, the world was shared by all alike. The worthy and the able were promoted to office and men practiced good faith and lived in affection. Therefore they did not regard as parents only their own parents, or as sons only their own sons. The aged found a fitting close to their lives, the robust their proper employment; the young were provided with an upbringing, and the widow and widower, the orphaned and the sick, with proper care. Men had their tasks and women their hearths. They hated to see goods lying about in waste, yet they did not hoard them 2 for themselves; they disliked the thought that their energies were not fully used, yet they used them not for private ends. Therefore all evil plotting was prevented and thieves and rebels did not arise., so that people could leave their outer