Common Cultural Traits in Asia (3 of 3)

The Art of Indirectness

Metaphors and allegories are part of Chinese culture. In the past government officials used metaphors and allegories to drive home a different opinion to the King, lest they would offend him by being too direct. This tradition is still practiced today and can be observed in everyday conversation in East Asian societies. Underlings seldom express direct feeling such as anger or discontent in front of their boss. In business meetings and negotiations people seldom give a direct answer, and use different ‘yes’ expressions to mean ‘no’.

Other notable values and traits commonly found in East Asia include:

Respect for age and seniority – Grey hairs and senior managers are seen as wiser than the younger members, regardless of their formal positions.

Importance of education – Learning and education is seen as the best way to climb up the social ladder. The highly educated are well respected in the society.

Masculinity – Hofstede (1991) said “Masculity pertains to societies in which social gender roles are clearly distinct (i.e. men are supposed to be assertive, tough and focused on material success, whereas women are supposed to be more modest, tender and concerned with the quality of life).” This fits in quite nicely with the dominant trait in East Asian countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China. Although social status of women has improved significantly over the past five decades, men are still seen as the decision maker and bread winner.

Financial prudence – East Asians tend to save a much higher proportion of their income for future use, and hence are more financially prudent when spending. This can be explained by a strong sense of insecurity. Owning more money is usually seen as a symbol of success. Job security and monetary reward can be powerful motivating tools.

Avoiding conflicts – Conflicts are usually seen as bad and should be avoided. Emphasis is put on maintaining a harmonious relationship among all people in the society.

Work ethics – Diligence is seen as a virtue and a justifiable price to pay for success. From their primary education to college, East Asians are educated to “give out their best”, meaning studying long hours for the best results they can get. In the workplace, workers are willing to work extremely long hours.

To be continued...

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