Rice:
a symbol of cooperation
Nowadays, rice is a staple food worldwide, especially in Asia. However, this was not always the case. Hundreds of years ago, the abundance and longevity of this tiny seed led people in Asia to use it as currency—it was how citizens paid taxes and even how samurai were compensated. Over time, this practice contributed to the development of early banking systems in various parts of Asia, such as Japan and Korea.
However, the history of this seed has multiple facets. Unlike other cereals, such as wheat or barley, rice cultivation relies on collective cooperation to thrive. From start to finish, the entire process requires the coordinated effort of multiple people: from building the terraces where it is grown to sharing and managing water, planting, and harvesting.
After thousands of years of rice cultivation, this seed has profoundly shaped cultures. Rice societies are characterized by a collective and cooperative mindset, which contrasts sharply with the more individualistic mentality of wheat societies in the West (Thomas Talhelm, The Rice Theory of Culture, 2022). Rice teaches us cooperation, reciprocity, and care for the common good. It is a symbol of solidarity among people.
