The Useless Tree

Current Affairs

  • The Pursuit of Happiness

    An op-ed in the English edition of the Global Times today asks: Are Chinese people truly miserable? It opens: "Misery" is a regular word today. From emotions reflected in the media and online, the Chinese sense of misery is increasing… Continue reading

  • Mencius in Libya

    The rather gruesome public death of Muammar el-Qaddafi, dictator of Libya, has caused some upset in more comfortable political quarters.  And this was the topic of a historically well-informed op-ed in today's NYT by Simon Sebag Montefiore.  He draws comparisons,… Continue reading

  • Daoism as Soft Power?

    For a long time now there has been talk about how Confucianism might figure, or not,  in the soft power strategy of the PRC state.  And now it seems Beijing is starting to look toward Daoism for the same purposes:… Continue reading

  • Thinking of Yueyue and obligations to strangers

    The sad story of Wang Yue, widely known as Yueyue – a two-year old girl in Foshan run over by a van, and even run over a second time by another vehicle, and then left to die while uncaring passersby… Continue reading

  • Confucian child-rearing

    In my post on "Cherish the Young," I asserted that "child-rearing is central to the Confucian project of creating and reproducing ren – 仁 – "humanity" or "humaneness" or "benevolence," the highest moral accomplishment."  Commenter Bill Haines (well known to… Continue reading

  • Where have all the Confucians gone?

    Apparently, they're not to be found among the nouveau riches in China: Attitudes towards luxury are far more positive in China than they are in other rich nations, with 78 percent of those surveyed saying that luxury goods and services… Continue reading

  • Cherish the Young

    I write today in support of a documentary that is currently under production, Living with Dead Hearts: The Search for China's Kidnapped Children, which chronicles a tragic and widespread problem.  It is directed by Charlie Custer, of ChinaGeeks fame, and… Continue reading

  • Gary Locke shows how China is neither Confucian nor Daoist

    Since arriving in China as the new US Ambassador, Gary Locke has attracted more than the usual attention from Chinese citizens, netizens and commentators.  He is the first Chinese-American to hold this position and his behavior – modest, respectful, frugal… Continue reading

  • Mencius: Now more than ever

    Rising socio-economic inequality is a heated topic of discussion in China.  China Digital Times links to several pieces about growing resentment toward the increasingly base and brazen nouveaux riches. This is not a new story.  Economic growth in China has… Continue reading

  • The continuing decline of filiality

    Perhaps the idea most associated with Confucius and Confucianism is filial piety.  Our most basic moral imperative is to care for our parents and, by extension, the elderly more generally.  Respect your elders: it is the "root of humanity" –… Continue reading