Ritual Capital Follows a Weak-Strong-Weak Pattern

Abstract

The use of ritual and its related concepts (instrumental li) in la guanxi, such as gift giving, entertaing, using ritualised patterns (ketao), renqing, and face, follow a “weak-strong-weak” pattern in close-moderate-distant guanxi. That is to say, the use of ritual to gain resources (instrumental li) is more highly valued, more workable, more frequently occurring, and brings more impact in moderate guanxi than in close and distant guanxi. Accordingly, ritual capital plays a more important role in moderate guanxi than in close and distant guanxi, following a weak-strong-weak pattern. This chapter will discuss why this weak-strong-weak pattern exists in la guanxi, and analyse the role of instrumental li in guanxi capital.