Taoism, Confucianism and Business (Course)

Syllabus of the Online Course: Taoism, Confucianism and Business

The Online Course “Taoism, Confucianism and Business” (5 ECTS) taught by EENI Business School & HA Independent University consists of four modules:

1. Taoism and Business
2. Confucianism and Business
3. Other religions in China: Islam, Christianity and Buddhism
4. Sinic Economic Area

Related Doctorate and Master:

1. Professional Doctorate in Global Ethics, Religions, and International Business
2. Master in Religions, Business and International Economic Relations

Why study this course?

This course is aimed at executives and companies wishing to do business in China (BRICS Country, the largest market in the world), a market where the influence of Taoism and Confucianism (as well as Buddhism) is fundamental.

Taoism and Confucianism, Yin and Yang, responsibility and freedom, represent the two poles of Chinese society; like Yin and Yang, Confucianism would not exist without Taoism, and vice versa. These two traditions of wisdom, along with Buddhism and Shamanism are part of the Sinic civilisation and its entire area of influence: the Sinic Economic Area.

Chinese multinationals (HAIER, COSCO, Galanz, Huawei, Chint...) have become key players in the world economy, being present in the five continents and controlling important companies around the world. 70% of the toys in the world, 40% of the microwaves, 20% of the refrigerators, 25% of the washing machines or 30% of the air conditioners are manufactured by Chinese companies. The Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, with 53,000 factories, is the largest exporting and importing region in China, thanks to the Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Hong Kong.

To better understand the Chinese business idiosyncrasy, the student will analyse the profile of several Chinese companies and entrepreneurs, and the influence of Confucianism and Taoism on their business strategy and corporate social responsibility policies. The GUANXI, based on Confucianism, is fundamental to understand the importance of personal relationships in China.

Therefore, this course is also recommended for anyone who wants to do business with Chinese companies from anywhere in the world or who wants to work in a company of Chinese origin.

It will also analyse the strong influence of China in Africa (the sinicisation of Africa, control of raw materials), and the increasing weight of Korea and Japan in the African continent.

The course is also aimed at all those who wish to do business in the markets of the Sinic Economic Area (China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam).

Modules of the Course- Taoism, Confucianism and Business

1- Confucianism, Ethics and Business

“The Benevolence is not to do to others what you would not want to be done to yourself” Analects XII-1 (Confucius)

1. Introduction to Confucianism
2. The figure of Confucius
3. The Analects (Confucian books)
4. Fundamentals of Confucianism
   1. Arts of peace
   2. Education - Ritual
   3. Humanity
   4. Power
5. Principles of Confucian Ethics
   1. Confucian Middle Way
   2. The Man morally superior
   3. Right words
   4. Confucian Golden Rule
6. The importance of the Confucian hierarchy
7. Influence of Confucianism in business
8. Confucianism today

Chinese Companies and Confucian Values

1. Zhang Ruimin: Confucian businessman (China) «the essence of globalisation is localisation»
2. Chinese companies: Menglan, COSCO, KONKA, Sanhuan Guanxi, Jindie, Tianfa, Hong Qing Ting, Jiangsu Changfa

2- Taoism, Ethics and Business

“With more rules and regulations, more people will impoverish” Tao LVII

1. Introduction to Taoism
2. Laozi (founder of Taoism)
3. Tao Te King Tao (Sense) and Te (Virtue)
4. Yin and Yang
5. Principles of Taoist Ethics
   1. Wu Wei: principle of non-action
   2. Non-violence and Taoism
   3. Control of senses
   4. Wisdom
   5. Detachment
6. Taoism today
7. Famous Taoists
8. Government and Taoism
9. Companies with Taoist influence. Chang Yung-fa (I-Kuan Tao). Director of Evergreen (Taiwan)

3- Other religions in China: Islam, Christianity and Buddhism

1. Buddhism in China: the most important religion in China (even though China is a secular country).
2. Christianity in China (67 million)
3. Islam in China
4. Shamanism

Note: the analysis of Buddhism is not done in this course, but in the course on Buddhism

4- Sinic Economic Area

1. The religions of China (Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism) and their relationship with Sinic Civilisation
2. Sinic Economic Area
   1. China as the central state of Sinic Civilisation
   2. Countries of the area of influence of Sinic Civilisation: China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam
      1. Although Buddhism is the majority religion in Japan, the influence of Taoism and Confucianism is very significant in Japanese culture as well as in Shintoism
      2. North Korea has historically been a country of influence of Sinic Civilisation. However, the communist dictatorship impedes freedom of religion
   3. The expansion of Sinic Civilisation in Africa (sinicisation of Africa)
   4. The Diaspora of Sinic Civilisation
3. Chinese businessmen and companies
4. Economic integration of Sinic Economic Area
5. Interactions with other civilisations
6. Economic Organisations related to Sinic Economic Area

Request for information

The objectives of the course “Taoism, Confucianism and Business” are the following:

1. To know the pillars of Taoism and Confucianism
2. To understand the ethical principles of these religions
3. To study its influence on business and Sinic Economic Area
4. To analyse the profiles of Confucian and Taoist entrepreneurs and companies
5. To define the characteristics of Sinic Economic Area
6. To explore the economic and political relations of Sinic Civilisation with the other civilisations (Western, Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic and African)
7. To understand the processes of economic integration and main organisations related to Sinic Economic Area
8. To know the economic profile of the countries of influence of Sinic Civilisation

Sample of the course:

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Sinic Economic Area

Economic integration of Sinic Economic Area (economic organisations, free trade agreements...)

1. Singapore and Vietnam are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
   1. ASEAN Economic Community
   2. ASEAN Free-Trade Area (AFTA)
   3. Vietnam is part of the Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS)
   4. China, Japan, South Korea and the ASEAN countries are members of the ASEAN plus Three
   5. China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement
   6. ASEAN-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement
   7. ASEAN-South Korea Free Trade Area
   8. Other ASEAN trade agreements with Australia-New Zealand, Pakistan, Canada, India, European Union, Russia, United States
2. China-Singapore Free Trade Agreement
3. Economic Association Agreements of China with Hong Kong and Macao
4. China also has trade agreements with Japan and South Korea
5. China has a framework agreement for economic cooperation with Taiwan
6. Korea-Singapore Trade Agreement
7. China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and Vietnam are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PEEC)
8. China, Vietnam and Korea are members of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) and the Organisation for Cooperation between Railways (OSJD)
9. China and Vietnam are part of the Greater Mekong Subregion
10. Japan has economic partnership agreements with Singapore, China, Vietnam and South Korea
11. Singapore, Vietnam and Japan are members of the Trans-Pacific Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP)
12. Singapore has trade agreements with Japan, Korea and China

Political-economic interactions of China with other civilisations

1. Western Civilisation
   1. Latin America: China has free trade agreements with Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Andean Community
   2. Europe:
      1. Trade agreements with Iceland, Norway, Switzerland.
      2. European Union-China Agreement
   3. Oceania: free trade agreement with New Zealand and Australia
2. Islamic Civilisation:
   1. China has free trade agreements with Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
   2. China is a member of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Programme formed by Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia (Buddhist country)
3. Hindu Civilisation: China-India Regional Trading Agreement
4. Orthodox Civilisation: China-Moldova agreement, China-Eurasian Economic Union agreement
5. African Civilisation:
   1. Forum on China-Africa Cooperation: a key trade-policy tool for African development
   2. China has preferential trade agreements with practically all African countries
   3. Africa-BRICS Countries (China is one of the BRICS Countries)
6. Multi-civilisations Agreements: China is a member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) formed by Muslim countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) and Russia (orthodox country)

Political-economic interactions of South Korea with other civilisations

1. African Civilisation:
   1. Africa-Korea Partnership
   2. Trade agreement with the Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
2. Hindu Civilisation: India-Korea Trade Agreement
3. Western Civilisation:
   1. Latin America: trade agreements with Peru, Chile, MERCOSUR, Mexico, Central America and Colombia
   2. North America: agreement with the United States and Canada
   3. Oceania: trade agreements with Australia and New Zealand
   4. Europe:
      1. European Union-South Korea Agreement
      2. South Korea-European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland)
4. Islamic Civilisation: trade agreements with the Gulf Cooperation Council, Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey
5. Orthodox Civilisation: trade agreement with Russia

Political-economic interactions of Japan with other civilisations

1. African Civilisation: Tokyo International Conference on African Development
2. Hindu Civilisation: Economic Association Agreement with India
3. Western Civilisation:
   1. Latin America: free trade agreements with Mexico, Chile and Peru
   2. Oceania: trade agreement with Australia
   3. Europe: partnership agreement with Switzerland and the European Union
4. Islamic Civilisation: Economic Association Agreements with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia
5. Orthodox Civilisation: trade agreement with Russia
6. Buddhist Civilisation: trade agreement with Thailand

Political-economic interactions of Singapore with other civilisations

1. Hindu Civilisation: India-Singapore Trade Agreement
2. Western Civilisation:
   1. Latin America: agreements with Panama, Peru, Costa Rica and Mexico
   2. North America: agreements with the United States and Canada
   3. Oceania: agreements with Australia and New Zealand
   4. Europe: agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
3. Islamic Civilisation: Agreements with Jordan, Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
4. Orthodox Civilisation: agreement with Ukraine
5. Singapore is member of the Indian-Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

Political-economic interactions of Taiwan with other civilisations

1. Western Civilisation (Latin America): agreements with Panama, Guatemala, Honduras-El Salvador, and Nicaragua

Political-economic interactions of Vietnam with other civilisations

1. Islamic Civilisation: free trade zone with the Eurasian Economic Union
2. Orthodox civilisation: Customs Union with Russia
3. Buddhist civilisation: Laos-Vietnam trade agreement
4. Vietnam is part of the Mekong River Commission

Other economic organisations related to the Sinic civilisation

1. Boao Forum for Asia
2. Asia Cooperation Dialogue
3. Asia-Europe Economic Meeting (ASEM)
4. Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC)
5. Asia-Middle East Dialogue (AMED)
6. Colombo Plan
7. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
8. Asian Development Bank (ADB)
9. Africa-Asia Strategic Partnership (NAASP)

❮ Samples (Taoism, Confucianism and Business) ❯

Religions and International Business

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