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From Friendship to Family: Jiangyiqi and Strong Interpersonal Relationship Development in Chinese Organizations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2018

Xin Liang ,
Sibin Wu  and
Shujuan Zhang
Xin Liang*
Affiliation:
University of Minnesota Duluth, USA
Sibin Wu
Affiliation:
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, USA
Shujuan Zhang
Affiliation:
Northwestern Polytechnical University, China
*
Corresponding author: Xin Liang (xliang@d.umn.edu)
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Abstract

Moral obligation, reciprocity, and affection contribute to the development of strong interpersonal relationships. An indigenous notion in Chinese culture, jiangyiqi, captures these three component principles of strong relationship development in one concept. Jiangyiqi has been held anecdotally as a common code of conduct for building strong, trustworthy relationships in China. We explore the possible integration of these three components of interpersonal relationships in Chinese society in our introduction of the construct of jiangyiqi, based upon Confucian ethics and the circles of relationships delineated in past literature on Chinese societies. Drawing from social exchange theory as well as the perspective of reciprocal altruism in evolutionary biology, we propose that jiangyiqi makes an individual a good candidate for developing strong non-kin relationships. We discuss the managerial implications of jiangyiqi for relationship building in a Chinese cultural context.

摘要:

摘要:

回报和情感是影响建立牢固人际关系的因素。中国本土文化中的“讲义气”概念涵盖了这三个发展人际关系的重要因素。在中国, 当谈及建立值得信赖的牢固人际关系的一些轶事的时候, 人们经常会提到讲义气。本文在以往中国儒家道德观和人际关系圈子研究的基础上, 探讨了讲义气如何涵盖上述三个因素, 并借此引入了讲义气的概念。从进化生物学中的互惠性利他主义和社会交换理论的角度, 我们提出讲义气有助于个人与非亲属的他人发展牢固的人际关系。我们还对中国文化情境下建立人际关系过程中讲义气的管理启示进行了讨论。

नैतिक दायित्व, पारस्परिकता, व स्नेह सुदृढ़ अन्तर्सम्बन्धों के विकास में योगदान करते हैं. चीनी संस्कृति की जियांग्यिकी अवधारणा सुदृढ़ सम्बन्ध विकास के इन तीनों पहलुओं को एक सिद्धांत में जोड़ती है. जियांग्यिकी को उपाख्यान के स्तर पर सुदृढ़ विश्वसनीय सम्बन्ध बनाने हेतु एक सामान्य आचार संहिता समझा जाता है. हमने कंफ्यूशियन नीति व चीनी समाज के अतीतकालीन साहित्य में निरूपित सम्बन्ध वृत्त आधार पर अपने जियांग्यिकी संरचना में अन्तर्सम्बन्धों के तीनों पहलुओं के संभावित एकीकरण का अनुसंधान किया है. सामाजिक विनिमय सिद्धांत व उद्विकासी जीव-विज्ञान के पारस्परिक परोपकारिता के माध्यम से हम यह प्रस्ताव करते हैं की जियांग्यिकी एक व्यक्ति को गैर-परिजनों से सम्बन्ध बनाने में सहायक है. चीनी सांस्कृतिक सन्दर्भ में सम्बन्ध निर्माण में जियांग्यिकी के योगदान के प्रबंधकीय आशयों की चर्चा की गयी है.

Sumário:

SUMÁRIO:

Obrigação moral, reciprocidade e afeição contribuem para o desenvolvimento de fortes relações interpessoais. Uma noção oriunda da cultura chinesa, jiangyiqi, captura esses três princípios do desenvolvimento de um forte relacionamento em um único conceito. Jiangyiqi tem sido considerado como um código de conduta comum para a construção de relações fortes e confiáveis na China. Exploramos a possível integração destes três componentes de relações interpessoais na sociedade chinesa na nossa introdução do construto de jiangyiqi, baseada na ética confucionista e nos círculos de relações delineadas na literatura passada sobre sociedades chinesas. Com base na teoria do intercâmbio social e na perspectiva do altruísmo recíproco da biologia evolutiva, propomos que o jiangyiqi faça do indivíduo um bom candidato para o desenvolvimento de fortes relacionamentos não-familiares. Discutimos as implicações gerenciais de jiangyiqi para a construção de relacionamentos em um contexto cultural chinês.

Аннотация:

АННОТАЦИЯ:

АННОТАЦИЯ: Моральные обязательства, взаимность и привязанность способствуют развитию сильных межличностных отношений. Исконное понятие в китайской культуре, jiangyiqi, связывает эти три составляющие развития сильных отношений в одну концепцию. Интересно, что jiangyiqi является общепринятым кодексом поведения для построения прочных надежных отношений в Китае. Мы изучаем возможную интеграцию этих трех компонентов межличностных отношений в китайском обществе, с помощью введения понятия jiangyiqi, которое основано на конфуцианской этике и сферах отношений, которые рассмотрены в существующей литературе по китайским сообществам. Исходя из теории социального обмена, а также перспективы взаимного альтруизма в эволюционной биологии, мы предполагаем, что jiangyiqi способствует развитию сильных неродственных отношений. Мы также обсуждаем значение jiangyiqi для управления в рамках построения отношений в китайском культурном контексте.

Resumen:

RESUMEN:

La obligación moral, la reciprocidad y el afecto contribuyen al desarrollo de fuertes relaciones interpersonales. Una noción autóctona en la cultura china, jiangyiqi, captura estos tres componentes principales del desarrollo de relaciones fuertes en un concepto. Jiangyiqi se ha considerado anecdóticamente como un código de conducta común para construir relaciones fuertes y confiables en China. Exploramos la posible integración de estos tres componentes de las relaciones interpersonales en la sociedad china en nuestra introducción del constructo jiangyiqi basado en la ética Confuciana y los círculos de relaciones delineados en la literatura previa en las sociedades chinas. Basándonos en la teoría de intercambio social como también en la perspectiva de altruismo reciproco en la biología evolutiva, proponemos que el jiangyiqi es un candidato bueno e individual para desarrollar fuertes en relaciones sin vínculos de parentezco. Discutimos las implicaciones gerenciales del jiangyiqi para la construcción de relaciones en un contexto cultural chino.

Keywords

baoguanxijiangyiqitrust报关系讲义气信任बाओगुआंचीजियांग्यिकीभरोसाbaoguanxijiangyiqiconfiançabaoguanxijiangyiqiдовериеbaoguanxiJiangyiqiconfianza
Type
Article
Information
Management and Organization Review , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , June 2018 , pp. 275 - 303
Copyright
Copyright © The International Association for Chinese Management Research 2018 

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