The 996 working hour system (Chinese: 996工作制) is a work schedule practiced by some companies in the People’s Republic of China. It derives its name from its requirement that employees work from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week; i.e. 72 hours per week.

Chinese culture is one of the world’s oldest cultures, tracing back to thousands of years ago. Important components of Chinese culture includes ceramics, architecture, music, literature, martial arts, cuisine, visual arts, philosophy and religion.

Results showed that Chinese employee emphasized social harmony and self-realization the most, followed by prosperous development and material conditions. There were substantial relationships between work values and gender, age, hierarchical levels, and organizational performance.

9 Life Lessons You Only Learn From Living in China

• Weird food is the best food.
• It’s who you know, not what you know.
• Don’t open up to strangers.
• A little effort goes a long way.
• Change is the only constant.
• Never pay full price.
• Your people are out there.
• “Hot water good for healthy”

China is considered to be an economic superpower and with good reason. People from Asian countries are often referred to as hard working and China is no exception. The Chinese culture work ethic is based on a Confucian Principle, which demands respect for the elderly and perfection in work.

Since 1978, China has lifted more than 500 million people out of poverty, creating one of the largest economic miracles in the later 20th century. What drives China’s success? One major explanation is through the introduction of market mechanisms, modern technology and management from the West.

The Confucian Work Ethic consists of a belief in the value of hard work, loyalty to the organization, thrift, dedication, social harmony, a love of education and wisdom, and a concern for social propriety. The elements of the Confucian Work Ethic all have positive aspects for economic development.

Work ethic is a belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. It is a set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.

Confucianism has embraced and absorbed new thoughts from many other scholars ever since its origin, but it still shares with Confucius the core Confucian principles, such as the virtues of humanity, social and ritual propriety, righteousness, loyalty and filial piety.

Confucius believed that all people–and the society they live in—benefit from a lifetime of learning and a moral outlook. Confucius was a Chinese philosopher, politician, and teacher whose message of knowledge, benevolence, loyalty, and virtue were the main guiding philosophy of China for thousands of years.

Confucianism, the teachings of Confucius during 500 BC, has played an important role in forming Chinese character, behavior and way of living. (Eliot 2001; Guo 1995) Its primary purpose is to achieve harmony, the most important social value. Confucianism strongly emphsizes: Mercy.

Inspired by the statesmanship of Zhougong, Confucius harboured a lifelong dream to be in a position to emulate the duke by putting into practice the political ideas that he had learned from the ancient sages and worthies.

Confucius taught to cultivate compassion and practice concern for others. He insisted on empathizing and extending virtues to others as the way to cultivate humanity. The basic idea of jen illustrates how human beings should relate to one another in society.

Confucianism is often characterized as a system of social and ethical philosophy rather than a religion. In fact, Confucianism built on an ancient religious foundation to establish the social values, institutions, and transcendent ideals of traditional Chinese society.

Traditional Confucian culture, the common base of social culture in the mainland of China, Taiwan and Vietnam, is a complex system of moral, social, political, and religious thought with regard to individual’s relationships with others and appropriate conduct. Higher sum scores represent more traditional values.

Confucianism is still practiced mainly in Eastern China around its hearth. However, its domain and sphere still extend to the north and south into countries like North and South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

1905

The Chinese philosopher still affects the lives of nearly a quarter of humanity. He was hailed after his death as “The Uncrowned King,” a philosopher whose sound bites of wisdom became China’s handbook on government and its code of personal morality for thousands of years.

Though closer to a philosophy than a true religion, Confucianism was a way of life for ancient Chinese people, and it continues to influence Chinese culture today. This is why Confucianism is considered a philosophy rather than a religion, even though it is often lumped in with other major religions.

Confucius states that we must not focus on the afterlife, because we know so little of it, and we must focus on everyday life. However, Confucianism holds a philosophy of afterlife, even if it is not outright said or depicted.