I first heard of Guanxi from the China Law Blog, which referred to the Silicon Hutong Blog.
After reading the China Law Blog’s post, I did more research and also watched a few videos on the subject.
I learned that Guanxi is an aspect of Chinese culture that does not translate easily.
There are several elements and layers to Guanxi. First, Guanxi is based on a Confucian hierarchy of familial relationships, long-term friendships, classmates, and schoolmates and to those no stranger—Chinese or foreign—will ever have access to. (Silicon Hutong)
Guanxi evolved over the millennia because China didn’t have a stable and effective legal system. In fact, the legal system in China today is relatively new and made its appearance after the 1982 Chinese Constitution was established.
Since 1982, there have been several amendments to the Constitution as China adapts its evolving legal system.
In time, this legal system may replace Guanxi since business law modeled on Western law with Chinese characteristic is developing faster than civil law.
Through the centuries, merchants in China needed a way to avoid disputes and problems in the absence of a well-developed legal system. To survive, this complex system called Guanxi developed with many components such as partnerships, trust, credibility, etc.
Guanxi developed organically in civil society due to the absence of a uniform, government mandated legal system, and maintaining Guanxi is different than how relationships are maintained in other cultures. The embedded video with this post offers a more detailed explanation.
The China Law Blog’s had more than twenty comments, and it was a lively discussion worth reading if you are interested in discovering more on this topic.
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Lloyd Lofthouse is the award-winning author of My Splendid Concubine [3rd edition]. When you love a Chinese woman, you marry her family and culture too. This is the love story Sir Robert Hart did not want the world to discover.
His latest novel is the multiple-award winning Running with the Enemy.
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Thank you for the post-grad education about China. I have learned more in the past few months than in my previous 85 years. Today, I sent over 50 people on my email list your latest iChina and hope each forwards the recommendation that all Americans – North, Central, and South Americans – subscribe. You can and are making a difference.
My last job was an Adjunct Professor at a Community College, and I regret not having your knowledge to pass on to the next productive generation of the U.S.A.
You’re welcome and thank you. I take it you have never visited China. What subject did you teach?