志异 Draft by Drama box December 2014 (english) | Page 32

Harmony, on the other hand, requires establishing a common
standard by which the different diverse groups can agree on
and refer to when there are disagreements. This may, however,
require some minor adjustments on the part of each group to
fit this external standard, just as how various instruments in an
ancient Chinese orchestra had to be adjusted to be in tune with
an external melodic standard.
But wait a minute! Doesn’t this seem to contradict what
Confucius taught - that harmony is not about making everything
the same? No, this model does not contradict the words of
Confucius. This model of harmony does not completely do away
with diversity. Diversity is preserved and even supported! But for
this to be achieved, there must be some degree of commonality
imposed onto all. This model of harmony calls upon diverse
groups to make some minor adjustments so as to fit themselves
with a common standard whose sole feature is a common set of
rules (or protocols) for handling and preventing conflicts. There
is nothing more to this common standard, and so the diverse
groups can still retain their respective set of beliefs and values,
and of course, their unique character and identity.
Mozi (another early Chinese philosopher), was a strong advocate
of such a model of harmony. He recognised that different people
had different standards of righteousness, and so it would be
difficul