Tag: guanxi relationships
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Giving Face Without Losing Yourself: The Real Ethical Test in China
In China, Giving Face doesn’t mean abandoning your values—it means choosing when and how to express them. This chapter explores why trust does not guarantee truth, why harmony often outranks moral certainty, and how Western instincts around honesty can quietly sabotage guānxì. If you’ve ever felt ethically uncomfortable navigating Chinese relationships, this reflection reframes what…
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What the Happiness Index Can’t Measure in China (But Assumes Everywhere Else)
Global happiness rankings assume that freedom, generosity, and self-expression are universal indicators of well-being. But in China, these concepts are experienced and evaluated through relationships, social balance, and long-term stability—not individual assertion. When Western metrics are applied without cultural context, they don’t just misread China; they reveal the hidden assumptions embedded in how we define…