ABSTRACT
One of the fundamental concepts of Confucianism is that harmony is precious. In other words, people should get along and refrain from activities that disrupt unity. In fact, achieving harmony should be one of the most important objectives of both leaders and followers when any decision is made, whether it affects a single family or society at large. This philosophy, which has become ingrained in Chinese society over the last 2,000 years, has recently been thrust into the spotlight due to its official adoption by the government. We discuss the historical origins of societal harmony as a concept, the government’s stance toward it, and three major behavioral patterns related to conflict that have emerged as a result of the government’s stance. In the Road Ahead section, we question whether the Chinese will continue to emphasize societal harmony as an important goal.
