The concept of “Hara-guro Gaku” reveals how opportunism and corruption are systematized in Chinese officialdom—challenging long-held media illusions.

2016-04-14

Those who have long subscribed to newspapers such as the Asahi Shimbun may feel as if scales are falling from their eyes.
The following is taken from the latest book by Hikari Tanizaki, introduced in the previous chapter, The Chinese Who Are Unfazed Even if the Nation Collapses, and the Japanese Who Turn Pale When Only Their Company Is in Trouble, published on February 10, 2016 by PHP Institute.

“Hara-guro Gaku,” Symbolizing the Essence of the Chinese Character

In China, there exists a discipline known as “Hara-guro Gaku.”
Its substance is simple: in life, only those who live with thick skin and a blackened heart succeed.
A man named Li Zongwu of Sichuan, in the late Qing dynasty, wrote a book on this, which continues to be adapted in various forms and piled high in bookstores even today.

Among its contents, the “Six True Mantras for Seeking Office” and the “Six True Mantras for Practicing Office” are particularly striking.
They teach the secrets of becoming an official.

“Emptiness”: remain idle; do no work, cultivate no fields, pursue no learning, conduct no business—devote yourself solely to becoming an official.
“Tribute”: if there is even an ant’s hole on the path to office, crawl into it; if not, dig one yourself.
“Boasting”: lie, exaggerate, spread grandiose claims in speech and writing.
“Flattery”: praise, flatter, curry favor.
“Threat”: intimidate; every official has a weakness—exploit it, combining threats with flattery.
“Gifts”: once you possess personnel authority or power, send bribes to those useful to you.

Does this not strike at the truth?

And once one has successfully become an official, what then?

“Emptiness”: appear to have no substance or integrity; work swiftly but always leave yourself an escape route.
“Deference”: behave obsequiously toward superiors, flattering even their families or friends.
“Arrogance”: toward subordinates, act high-handedly, though be courteous to those useful to you.
“Cruelty”: for one’s objective, care not whether others live or die—wrap this in the veneer of morality.
“Deafness”: see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing.
“Manipulation”: accept bribes; all previous efforts exist solely for this purpose.

This is precisely the nature of Chinese officialdom.
In China, corruption among officials is reported almost daily.
Ordinary people know from daily life that irregularities in procedures, business, registration, transactions, real-estate bubbles, and insider trading are all the work of officials.
Yet everyone still seeks to become an official.
As for the reason—this essay continues.