The Collective is Superior to the Individual

One of the outstanding differences between Eastern and Western cultures is the difference in the perception of individualism and collectivism. For Westerners， everything serves the individuals values and rights， while Chinese believe the collective is superior to everything as there cannot be a self without a collective.

The traditional values of the Chinese are formed on the basis of a collective orientation， profoundly influenced by thousands of years of an agricultural civilization and Confucianism. The collective relationship not only includes the relationship between an individual and his family， but also between the individual and the country， society， as well as other individuals.

Linked destiny In the traditional patriarchal society of China， the basic components are families， instead of individuals. In the network of blood relationships， each individual is entrusted with clear obligations and responsibilities. The parents and the family raise the offspring， and the offspring discharge their filial piety toward the parents and the family. The destiny of the individual is intimately linked with that of the family or clan the individual relies on. When the family is prosperous， so is the individual， and when the family ends up ruined， so does the individual. The individual has little relevance outside the context of family and clan.

Such perception is reflected in many aspects. Take traveling as an example. In the West， most people do not prefer traveling in a group. Whether rich or not， they prefer to be individual travelers with sufficient personal space for themselves. The Chinese are different in that they prefer being together， whether it is traveling， dining out， or working. Or they feel lonely. The Chinese generally love being accompanied and hate being alone. Westerners receive the same pleasure in their independence as the Chinese do when being together.

Since the Chinese love being together， it is paramount to take the interests of the group， or the collective into account， and the individual must follow the will of the collective. The reason behind this is that the philosophical core of Chinese culture is an awareness of the collective， while the philosophical core of Western culture is an awareness of the individual. The awareness of the individual means each person is an independent individual with his or her own personality and will.

A heavier weight Collective awareness means the individual is but a part of the collective， and the collective interest is the individuals interest. The collective value is the individuals value. The Chinese pay more attention to the protection of the interest of the collective， the solidarity of the collective， and the achievement of the collective goal. They put a heavier weight on social or collective interest， which is considered more important than individual interest.

Individual interest is to be integrated into the interest of the collective， or to be ignored or compromised when necessary. The collective orientation， if further extended in its implication， turns into an orientation or concern of other people.

When doing something， the Chinese tend to consider what others might think or say. Modesty and courtesy are virtues praised highly by them. The Chinese prefer to adapt themselves to different circumstances， not to contend for attention or gain. Public opinion is more likely to be negative toward individuals who stand out. If an individual is idiosyncratic in behavior， dress or appearance， he or she may be criticized， excluded or rejected.

Drop in the ocean Confucianism is a culture that encourages the collective. A member of such a culture is not an independent individual but belongs to a collective. So in the eyes of those who believe in Confucianism， the relationship between the individual and the collective is just like that between a drop of water and the sea. A drop of water is trivial and will soon dry up. But if it joins the sea， it gains vitality and power.

That being said， an individual should think alike and take concerted action with the collective， joining in for strengthened capability or power. That is to say， the mentality of the Chinese is to seek whats in common and to set aside whats different though Confucianism sometimes suggests“keeping the differences but still being in harmony” and encourages the individualistic spirit.

But on the whole， Confucianism has always encouraged sticking to ethics from the perspective of the collective.