The Mutation of Social Values and Decay of Home Education

Change in the Value Basis for Status Judgment

In the planned economy, monetary power was not considered the most important factor in society. Rather, what was important was a person’s social position; in other words, “status”. For example, in terms of status a laborer for a state-owned corporation would hold an advantage over a private manager. The transition from a planned economy to a market economy has greatly altered the social contract i.e. the social order, with monetary values now overshadowing the various activities of society. The material for judging a person’s status is not what kind of company they work. Rather, what kind of work they do, what kind of area they live in, and whether the house is leased or owned are becoming new measures for status judgment.

China does not have a caste system like that of India. As a result of the shift in society’s values and the widening of income disparity, however, people are increasingly receiving treatment commensurate to their “status”.

When comparing the society of a planned economy to that of a market economy, one common point can be found: both show disdain for knowledge. In a planned economy, the authority in the background of the people dictates all. In a market economy, the assets and financial power held by the people dictates all. To borrow the words of Alexis de Tocqueville, “In a state where money is the source of authority, a person’s importance is proportional to the amount of wealth he holds” (L'Ancien Régime et la Révolution).

In Japan, there much ado about the problem of bullying at schools. Yet there have been cases reported in China where, in a fight among children, the child from a rich family will say to the child from a poor family, “If you don’t listen to me, I’m going to have my father buy your father”. In other words, it seems that money has come to mean everything even among children.

“We should not give children absolute freedom. We should have them be aware at an early age that they are not the center of the universe, so that when they become adults they can adapt to society”, expounds Bertrand Russell. In his youth, Russell, whose grandfather served as Britain’s prime minister for two terms, was given strict education at home. For example, even if two kinds of dessert were served after dinner, he could only select one. Likely because Japan and China have become affluent so quickly, parents have lost a sense of reasonable emotion and temper towards children. The parental sentiment of not wanting children to experience one’s own suffering is understandable, but cultivating the adaptability that Russell speaks of requires that children experience hardship.

Material Affluence and Spiritual Affluence

In the history of human thought, the distinction between a spiritual world and a material world was made by Plato. Post-war Japan and China since the “reform and opening-up” policies have accomplished material satisfaction from economic development, but spiritual affluence has not yet been realized. Gluttony, which brings on lifestyle-related diseases, would seem at first glance to be a simple matter of unchecked appetite. In reality, however, the foremost cause is a disorder in the autonomic nerve system, which is related to mental weakness. Rich people tend to be overweight in developing countries, while in developed countries it is poor people who suffer from obesity. This is related to the disparity in spiritual/mental strength with regards to material temptation.

The planned economy pushed all of Chinese society into extreme poverty. Many Chinese people currently in their sixties are said to have an adverse reaction to the mere sight of pumpkin or cabbage. This is because when famine broke out in the early 60s, they were forced to eat pumpkin and cabbage to the point of revulsion. In addition, food ration tickets were distributed until the mid-80s because of food shortages, and the amount rationed differed among occupation. It was a time when getting fresh vegetables and meat meant lining up at three or four in the morning.

Following the liberalization of the Chinese economy in the 80s, the desire of the Chinese people to become affluent suddenly awakened. This has been the driving power behind the development of the Chinese economy, as well as the very vitality of Chinese society itself. On the other hand, the “one-child policy” was implemented just before the “reform and opening-up” policy in the late 70s, and those currently under the age of 30 are generally single children with a tendency to be self-centered. Like bean sprouts, single children who have been raised carefully have lost their direction from the rapid change in societal values.

Taking a micro look, parents are doing their very best for their one child, such as preparing the best school education possible. It is important not to forget, however, that home education is more important than school education. Communication within the home is important, and maintaining discipline and an appropriate sense of tension is indispensable. In families with a single child, a total of six adults (two parents and both of their parents) are providing “nutrition” to one child. As a result of receiving more “nutrition” than necessary, these children are becoming physically overweight and mentally weak. While they might perform well at school, they cannot handle the stress of society and an increasing number end up taking their own lives.

On the other hand, in macro terms the market economy is creating a strong current of “monetary universalism”. The fact the people are simply following this current represents a tragedy. It may be reasonable to follow the herd, but what is important is to think calmly about whether or not it is rational.

Ironically, while Japan and China are on different steps in their economic development, the social problems that they face are all too similar. In the future, instead of a “same bed, different dreams” scenario, China and Japan will be expected to cooperate to resolve common problems from a “united by circumstance” relationship.