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 during their reading, as well as my own thoughts, for reference. Early drafts of this book were reviewed by many renowned scholars and business figures, who all praised it as an exceptional work. For example, the great philosopher Zhang Dainian hailed it as "deeply researched," while Cheng Siwei, vice chairman of the National People's Congress, declared upon receiving the manuscript that he would "study it seriously." Yan Keqiang, vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, read and annotated the book with great care. Wen Yuankai, a distinguished scholar, expressed hope that the manuscript could be expanded into a localized Chinese business textbook. Professor Wang Jianjun, another renowned scholar, reviewed the book and called it "a grand feast of Sino-Western culture, with a vast and profound structure, immeasurably deep." Some business professionals who read the book have already applied its principles to their own enterprises, achieving remarkable success.
When the book was about to be published, Professor Wen (Wen Elin) told me, "This is a valuable book on 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 inspired me, as I had been pondering how to make a "difficult book" easier to understand. On August 26, 2005, the Reference News reported an article titled "Academia and Business Circles Favor the West, Risking the Danger of Alienating Chinese Traditional Culture," 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 conservative and backward." This shows that Professor Wen and my concerns are not unfounded. 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 uninterrupted civilization in the world, demonstrating that the wisdom behind it holds unparalleled value compared to other civilizations. It is precisely this wisdom, particularly in success philosophies and management, that has allowed Chinese civilization to endure. Unearthing 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 an urgent task for Chinese academia.
In the past, the Jin merchants had a saying: "Ten years of study to pass the imperial examinations, ten years of learning business is even harder." The main reason was the absence of a dedicated study of the art of business 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! Regrettably, traditional texts did not clearly organize and reveal the system of the art of business. Due to my long-term involvement in the public welfare "Cultural Rejuvenation of China Series Activities," I organized over 200 academic conferences related to Chinese culture over seven years (I hope aspiring individuals will participate and support this public welfare initiative in various ways), giving me the opportunity to learn from numerous domestic and international experts and scholars. This is how I was able 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 enable those who aspire to the business world to recognize the wonders of Chinese operational wisdom, understand the essence of the art of Chinese business that integrates modern management concepts, and help them break free from self-imposed limitations and transcend Western management models, allowing them to navigate the waves of the market economy with flexibility and steady progress.
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, incorporating the principles of Confucianism, Taoism, Legalism, Military Strategy, and the School of Diplomacy, among others, while integrating modern management concepts. Therefore, it differs greatly from the current business management systems taught in academic institutions and universities. 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. "Si Xiang" (Four Symbols), "Ba Gua" (Eight Trigrams), and other corresponding concepts embody the adaptive wisdom and methods a business leader should employ in management.
2. If you don’t understand it after reading once, you can read it multiple times. According to feedback from readers, each reading brings significant insights, so this book should be read repeatedly, frequently referenced, and carefully savored. First reading: skim through; second reading: read carefully; third reading: read in depth; fourth reading: read in reverse, starting from the fifth part and moving to the first, then finishing the second part before reading the first.
3. For content involving deeper aspects of traditional culture, readers can temporarily set it aside and focus on practical applications later. It’s also helpful to discuss the book’s ideas with colleagues and friends, as regular exchanges can deepen understanding and enlightenment. Pay attention to the reference suggestions in the book.
4. Readers are encouraged to select supplementary books, especially abridged versions of the I Ching (Change), 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 activities, intentionally enhancing and applying it is the secret to success for those who excel 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.