The word 'queer' refers to people who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) and have diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and ways of expressing their gender identity. In Asia, there are many cultures that shape how LGBTI individuals express themselves, including Confucianism and Buddhism. These cultures can be defined as traditional belief systems that emphasize social hierarchies, respect for authority figures, and collective responsibility for society. How do these philosophies influence queer expression?
Confucianism
Confucianism is a way of life that originated in China during the Zhou dynasty and spread throughout East Asia. It places great importance on personal morality and social harmony based on Confucius' teachings. This philosophy encourages filial piety and respect for elders, which affects LGBTI individuals who often face stigma from their families due to cultural norms around heteronormativity and traditional gender roles. The idea of filial piety requires children to care for their parents regardless of whether they accept them or not. Thus, some LGBTI individuals may feel pressure to hide their true selves out of fear of disappointing family members.
A gay man might continue dating women despite his desires for men to maintain a relationship with his family.
Buddhism
Buddhist countries such as Japan and Thailand also have cultural norms that shape queer expression. Buddhism focuses on achieving enlightenment through spiritual practices like meditation and compassion towards others. As part of this, Buddhists seek to avoid attachments to material possessions or emotions such as lust, anger, and greed. In other words, sexual desire is seen as something negative that must be controlled. This attitude can make it challenging for LGBTI people to express themselves openly without feeling shame or guilt.
Some Buddhist sects acknowledge that all sentient beings are equal, including homosexuals and transgenders. These groups may find refuge in the Buddhist concept of karma, where actions have consequences that lead to reincarnation into different bodies or planes of existence. Some LGBTI individuals may see this as an opportunity to start over and live authentically after death.
How do cultural philosophies like Confucianism or Buddhism shape queer expression in Asia?
Cultural philosophies such as Confucianism and Buddhism have historically played an important role in shaping the way individuals express their gender and sexuality across Asia. These philosophical traditions place great emphasis on social harmony and conformity, which often results in strict codes of behavior and gender roles that discourage non-normative expressions of gender and sexuality.