Hsiao Yao: A Chinese Analog of the Classical Western Idea of Leisure

Abstract

Leisure is recognized as an arena in which an individual deals with fundamental human concerns including living a good life and pursuing happiness. It is therefore not peculiar to Western culture but an interest in most, if not all, cultures and societies. However, leisure researchers have been slow in acknowledging this assumption, especially with respect to the meaning of leisure in non-Western settings. The authors argue that the Chinese concept of hsiao yao is an idea and ideal akin to the Western concept of leisure, especially in its classical sense, i.e., Greek scholé, implying “the cultivation of self” and “freedom from the necessity of being occupied.” The striking concordances between these two concepts suggests that in order to make sense of the values of leisure encountered in diverse cultures, more effort must be put forth on the cross-cultural comparative study of leisure.