Chung-hung Chang

This commentary reviews Wong’s interpretation of the concept of harmony in early Confucian thought. Wong believes that the harmony emphasized by Confucianism is not only about personal moral cultivation but also involves cooperation and coordination at the sociopolitical level. Using metaphors of music and soup, he explains how Confucianism understands harmony as a state that includes common ideals while accommodating different viewpoints, achieving consensus through competition and negotiation. However, this commentary questions Wong’s tendency to overinterpret the concept of harmony as sociopolitical cooperation, especially neglecting the importance of sage-king politics in Confucian thought. It argues that Wong’s interpretation does not faithfully reflect the historical development context of Confucian thought but rather attempts to find inspiration for the Western democratic model in response to modern societal needs. Nevertheless, it points out that this interpretative approach requires further articulation of the differences between Confucian and liberal concepts of harmony and how the Confucian concept of harmony helps to address the political and cultural dilemmas of modern society.