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Difference between revisions of "Hongbao (China)"
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In Chinese society, the practice of ‘gift-return’ has long been regarded as an intrinsic feature of gift giving. Therefore, the ‘gift-return’ between the officials and businessmen produces an artificial form of gift giving. In a further pursuit of the ‘self-justification’ strategy employed by officials keen to avoid gaining a morally disadvantageous status for having accepted ''hongbao'', the official may symbolically reciprocate with a gift of little value, such as a self made painting or drawing (Yue 2012: 102-105<ref>Yue, L. 2012. ‘Analysis of Self Justification in Bribery Behaviors’, (in Chinese) Social Scientist, 187: 102-105</ref>). | In Chinese society, the practice of ‘gift-return’ has long been regarded as an intrinsic feature of gift giving. Therefore, the ‘gift-return’ between the officials and businessmen produces an artificial form of gift giving. In a further pursuit of the ‘self-justification’ strategy employed by officials keen to avoid gaining a morally disadvantageous status for having accepted ''hongbao'', the official may symbolically reciprocate with a gift of little value, such as a self made painting or drawing (Yue 2012: 102-105<ref>Yue, L. 2012. ‘Analysis of Self Justification in Bribery Behaviors’, (in Chinese) Social Scientist, 187: 102-105</ref>). | ||
Because of the moral ambivalence of ''hongbao'', using legal criteria to determine whether ''hongbao'' is a gift or bribe is difficult. Therefore, other criteria should be applied. Gu examined the boundary between ''hongbao'' as a gift and a bribe in China; he asserts that the distinguishing criteria is determined on the basis of the exchange involved in ''hongbao'', rather than the character of the social relations between the actors involved. If the exchange involves material interest and short-term reciprocity only, then the ''hongbao'' is classified as a bribe (Gu 2001: 5-9<ref>Gu, W. 2001. ‘The Ethical Relation and the Mutually Beneficial Principle in Chinese Village Communities--An Investigation into the Present-making Practice of Zhangze Villagers in the Sonjiang District of Shanghai’, (in Chinese) Journal of East China Normal University, 6: 5-9 Guangzhou.Chn.info ‘Red Envelope’ http://www.guangzhou.chn.info/culture-tradition/cantonese-cultures/red-envelope.html</ref>). Such argument is further elaborated by Lin’s study of the interaction between businessmen from Hong Kong and politicians from Mainland China, in which he points out that giving ''hongbao'' as a gift to someone one is connected to within a network should not be instantly reciprocated, as this would be considered impolite or even offensive; rather the gift is expected to be repaid in the future (Lin 2006: 80-87<ref>Lin, S. 2006. ‘Gifts, Relations and Trust’, (in Chinese) Journal of Ethno-National Studies, 4: 80-87 </ref>). At a future time, a genuine ''hongbao'' recipient will always return a ''hongbao'' containing exactly the same amount of money as they were originally given. In contrast, when ''hongbao'' is given as a bribe, the ''hongbao'' taker will not reciprocate with money, rather, they will repay the gift in another form, such as in a lucrative contract or in the gift of valuable | Because of the moral ambivalence of ''hongbao'', using legal criteria to determine whether ''hongbao'' is a gift or bribe is difficult. Therefore, other criteria should be applied. Gu examined the boundary between ''hongbao'' as a gift and a bribe in China; he asserts that the distinguishing criteria is determined on the basis of the exchange involved in ''hongbao'', rather than the character of the social relations between the actors involved. If the exchange involves material interest and short-term reciprocity only, then the ''hongbao'' is classified as a bribe (Gu 2001: 5-9<ref>Gu, W. 2001. ‘The Ethical Relation and the Mutually Beneficial Principle in Chinese Village Communities--An Investigation into the Present-making Practice of Zhangze Villagers in the Sonjiang District of Shanghai’, (in Chinese) Journal of East China Normal University, 6: 5-9 Guangzhou.Chn.info ‘Red Envelope’ http://www.guangzhou.chn.info/culture-tradition/cantonese-cultures/red-envelope.html</ref>). Such argument is further elaborated by Lin’s study of the interaction between businessmen from Hong Kong and politicians from Mainland China, in which he points out that giving ''hongbao'' as a gift to someone one is connected to within a network should not be instantly reciprocated, as this would be considered impolite or even offensive; rather the gift is expected to be repaid in the future (Lin 2006: 80-87<ref>Lin, S. 2006. ‘Gifts, Relations and Trust’, (in Chinese) Journal of Ethno-National Studies, 4: 80-87 </ref>). At a future time, a genuine ''hongbao'' recipient will always return a ''hongbao'' containing exactly the same amount of money as they were originally given. In contrast, when ''hongbao'' is given as a bribe, the ''hongbao'' taker will not reciprocate with money, rather, they will repay the gift in another form, such as in a lucrative contract or in the gift of valuable resources or land offered at below market prices. | ||
The implications of ''hongbao'' are twofold. ''Hongbao'' may be economically beneficial in the short term and as such can be positively connoted. In China where elaborate bureaucracies make it hard to get access to limited resources, ''hongbao'', can be seen as a useful mechanism for ‘greasing the wheel’, or cutting through red tape and serves as ‘speedy money’ (Yang 2001:87-102<ref>Yang, Z. 2001. A Sense-making System of Interpersonal Interaction of the Chinese. (in Chinese) Taiwan: Yuan-Liou Press</ref>). | The implications of ''hongbao'' are twofold. ''Hongbao'' may be economically beneficial in the short term and as such can be positively connoted. In China where elaborate bureaucracies make it hard to get access to limited resources, ''hongbao'', can be seen as a useful mechanism for ‘greasing the wheel’, or cutting through red tape and serves as ‘speedy money’ (Yang 2001:87-102<ref>Yang, Z. 2001. A Sense-making System of Interpersonal Interaction of the Chinese. (in Chinese) Taiwan: Yuan-Liou Press</ref>). | ||