Abstract
Max Weber's two historical studies of the religions in China and India (Konfuzianismus und Taoismus, Hinduismus und Buddhismus) have been studying from many viewpoints up to this time. Today, it is very known that rational adjustment to the world in Confucianism or ascetic flight from the world and contemplation in Hinduism hindered the formation of a civic and methodical way of life, therefore of the modern capitalism.
In this paper, assuming that a traditional way of life restricted by Asiatic religiosities was obstructive to the modern capitalism, it will be made clear that the patrimonialism in China and the caste order in India also could or had to hinder coming into existence of the modern industrial capitalism by virtue of the traditional Ethos which they generated. In other words, the main subject of this paper is to clarify the relationship between the structure of domination or the social system and the traditional Ethos in Asia. Chinese patrimonialism is the structure of domination, and Indian caste order is the social system.
The term Ethos which is used in Weber's sociology of religion means “ethical attitude”, (ethisches Verhalten), “economic conviction” (Wirtschaftsgesinnung), and “a way of life” (Lebensführung). And it is essentially important that the Ethos is brought forth in connection with religious ethics. In this paper, the traditional Ethos means the traditional conviction or the traditionalism as a way of life which are brought forth in connection with the structure of domination or the social system. It follows from this that neither Chinese patrimonialism nor Indian caste order gave birth to the modern industrial capitalism by virtue of the traditional Ethos.
Although this paper seems to be intimate Weber's historical and politico-sociological analyses, the four parts into which this paper is divided are all connected with the main subject as above-mentioned.
