Chinese Business Philosophy: Chinese Wisdom Management System

Author: Li Bochun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: "A classic surpasses ten thousand books." While I dare not claim this book is a classic of the art of business, I dare say it compiles a wealth of classic business principles, making it a book worth in-depth study for entrepreneurs. To help readers better understand this book, I have summarized some insights, reflections, and personal understandings from scholars and business professionals, as well as my own thoughts, for reference. Early drafts of this book were reviewed by many renowned scholars and business leaders, who all praised it as an exceptional work. For example, the great philosopher Zhang Dainian hailed it as "deeply researched," while Cheng Siwei, former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, stated upon receiving the manuscript that he would "study it seriously." Yan Keqiang, former Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, read and annotated it carefully. Wen Yuankai, a distinguished scholar, expressed hope that the book could be expanded into a localized Chinese business textbook. Professor Wang Jianjun, another renowned scholar, reviewed the manuscript and praised it as "a grand feast of Sino-Western culture, with a vast and profound structure, beyond measure." Some business professionals who read the book have already applied its principles in their own enterprises, achieving remarkable success.
When the book was about to be published, Professor Wen Erlin (Wen Erlin) told me, "This book is a valuable classic of the art of business, but many readers today, due to their limited understanding of traditional culture, find it difficult to read. It would be helpful to write a preface to guide them." This insight struck me, as I had been contemplating how to make the book more accessible. On August 26, 2005, the Reference News reported an article titled "Academia and Business Circles Favor the West, Risking the Danger of Cultural Alienation," written by a Hong Kong author. The article stated, "In people's conversations, we hear famous Western entrepreneurs say this, Nobel Prize-winning economists say that. In the eyes of Chinese people, the West is fashionable and advanced, while the East is outdated and backward." This shows that Professor Wen and my concerns are well-founded. The global popularity of Western success philosophies and management styles indicates a huge demand in this area. With Western success philosophies and management systems in place, are there Eastern, Chinese-style ones as well? Chinese civilization is the only one that has never been interrupted, demonstrating the unparalleled value of the wisdom that created it. It is precisely this wisdom, particularly in success philosophies and management, that has allowed Chinese civilization to endure. Uncovering and researching the success philosophies and management systems embedded in Chinese culture to serve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and world peace and development is a pressing task for Chinese academia today.
In the past, the Jin merchants had a saying: "Studying for ten years to become a scholar is hard, but learning the art of business takes twice as long." The main reason was the absence of a dedicated study of merchants among the Hundred Schools of Thought. However, rooted in the vast and profound soil of Chinese culture, Chinese business culture is both extensive and deeply rooted, with rich and diverse operational wisdom! Unfortunately, traditional Chinese classics did not clearly organize and reveal the system of the art of business. Due to my long-term involvement in the public welfare "Cultural Revival of China Series Activities," during which I organized over 200 academic conferences related to Chinese culture over seven years (I hope more people will participate and support this public welfare initiative in various ways), I had the opportunity to learn from numerous experts and scholars at home and abroad. This enabled me to reveal and organize the works Changing Destiny Studies—Chinese Success Philosophy and The Art of Chinese Business—Chinese Wisdom Management System.
The purpose of writing The Art of Chinese Business is to help those who aspire to the business world recognize the wonders of Chinese operational wisdom, understand the essence of Chinese business principles that blend modern management ideas, and enable them to break free from self-imposed isolation and transcend Western management models, responding flexibly and steadily to all market trends.
The Art of Chinese Business was written over six years and revised seven times. It is based on the philosophical system of the I Ching (Book of Changes), incorporating the ideas of Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, Military Strategy, and the School of Diplomacy, while integrating modern management concepts to discuss the art of Chinese business. This makes it vastly different from the current management systems taught in academic institutions and universities. Therefore, when reading this book, please pay attention to the following points:
1. In the "Art of Chinese Business" system, "Wuji (the Ultimate Void)" and "Taiji (the Supreme Ultimate)" represent the fundamental cultivation and wisdom a business leader should possess, while "Si Xiang (Four Symbols)" and "Bagua (Eight Trigrams)" and other corresponding content embody the adaptive wisdom and methods a leader should use in management.
2. If you don’t understand it after one reading, you can read it multiple times. According to feedback from readers, each reading brings significant insights, so the book should be read repeatedly, frequently referenced, and carefully savored. First reading for a general understanding, second for close reading, third for in-depth study, and fourth for reverse reading—starting from the fifth part and moving to the first, then finishing the second part before returning to the first.
3. For content that delves deeply into traditional culture, readers can temporarily set it aside and focus on practical applications later. At the same time, it’s helpful to read with colleagues or friends and frequently discuss the book’s ideas, which aids in deeper understanding and enlightenment. Pay attention to the reference suggestions in the book.
4. Readers should select supplementary books, especially abridged versions of the I Ching·Change and Transitions, Tao Te Ching, The Great Learning, The Analects, and The Art of War, which will greatly benefit your reading.
5. "Man is the soul of all things," and "soul" refers to wisdom, inspiration, and intuition. Possessing extraordinary "soul" is a fundamental condition and quality for all politicians, entrepreneurs, and scientists. In business, intentionally enhancing and applying it is the secret to success for those in the business world. The theories, methods, and examples in each chapter of this book all encompass this. By carefully reading it, readers can naturally develop and enhance their wisdom, inspiration, and intuition.