How to Do Business in 12 Asian Countries 21. What will you need to know in 2010 or 2020 to work in Asia? As Hans Koehler pointed out in his Preface, we live in changing times. In this century China and India are changing the economic balance of the world. But many of the cultural tenets presented in Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: Asia took hundreds or thousands of years to develop. These stable precepts help us understand why people behave differently around the world, and they will help you to avoid global marketing faux pas | Taiwan 161 Pinyin romanization for street and place names. This means that the same Chinese word may be transcribed various ways into English. For further data on the languages of Taiwan see Ethnologue at . Cultural Note The Chinese phrase that describes so much of Taiwanese life is re nau which means hot and raucous. This describes not just Taiwan s lively nightlife but the aggressive nature of daytime Taiwan as well. The streets and the noise are overwhelming everyone has something to do and is in a hurry. It is this energy that developed Taiwan into a major industrial power in half a century. The Taiwanese View The religious distribution is over 90 percent Buddhist Confucian and Taoist percent Christian and percent other religions. A Taiwanese citizen does not have to wonder about the meaning of life. The Mandarin term shengyi translates as meaning of life. It also means business. There could be no greater work ethic than this the purpose of life in Taiwan is to work hard be successful in business and accumulate wealth for one s family. Confucian ethics form the backbone of Taiwan society. Confucianism is not a religion in the Western sense but it does provide guides for living. Unlike the People s Republic of China where the Communists preached loyalty to one s work group in Taiwan the family remains the central unit of society. Taiwan has no official religion reflecting the ability of the Taiwanese to simultaneously follow more than one religion. Aside from Confucianism and traditional folk beliefs Taiwanese are likely to be Buddhist Taoist or Christian. To make matters more complicated many Taiwanese follow Taoist philosophy while ignoring the Taoist priesthood. Cultural Note Business travelers to Taiwan should refer to the People s Republic of China as mainland China and to Beijing as Peking or Beiping which means northern peace rather than northern capital. 162 Kiss Bow or Shake Hands Asia Know Before You Go Taiwan sits in the .
