The “Confucian Ethic” and the Spirit of Japanese Capitalism

In an effort to determine, with reference to the US and Japan, what factors give rise to a society's emergence, growth and possible decline, some parallels are found between Buddhist, Confucian and Tao ideals and Christian tenets, representing the equivalent of a “Confucian ethic” which corresponds to the “Protestant ethic”. An empirical test failed to affirm the hypothesis that Japanese leaders would perceive religious factors as significant determinants of their country's success. Nonetheless, cultural, as well as religious, factors do play an important part in a civilisation's growth and are so perceived in Japan, while economic and political factors appear more significant to Americans.