Confucius vs. Mao Zedong

1. Confucius vs. Mao Zedong 2 very different ideologies!

2. Confucius • 551-479 BC • Kongfuzi – later called Confucius by Europeans • Was not a religious leader nor did he claim any special divine status – rather he was a teacher

3. Developed a new philosophy… • Importance of moral character • Individuals must take responsibility for their society • Society works best when everyone respects laws and behaves according to their position …ALSO, when those in superior positions rule with respect and kindness • Rulers superior to subjects • Father superior to children • Men superior to women

4. After his death, his students wrote down his teachings in a book called the Analects • The teachings of Confucius remained important in Chinese education until the Communist Revolution in 1945

5. Confucius sayings… • The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions. • He who merely knows right principles is not equal to him who loves them. • If you enjoy what you do, you'll never work another day in your life. • Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it.

6. Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses. • I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. • When we see men of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves. • Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.

7. And then along cameMao Zedong http://www.biography.com/people/mao-tse-tung-9398142 Watch video

8. Mao vs. Chiang Kai-shekCommunist Party vs. Nationalist Party • 1921 – Mao - founding member of China’s Communist Party • 1927 – Chiang Kai-shek – Nationalist Party – • Mao and other communists retreated to south east China • 1934 – Kai-shek’s army surrounded the communists • Feared the popularity & growth of the communist party / army that Mao was building • Launched anti-communist purge • so Mao lead his fellow communists on the Long March

9. Long March • 6000 - 8000-mile march to northwest China to establish a new base • 12 months 100,000 communists (and their families) cross Chinese mountains and swamplands

10. Long March • Only about 30,000 survived • When others heard of their heroic journey, they joined Mao • He eventually emerged as the top communist leader

11. July 1937 Japan invades China • Chiang Kai-shek and his armies were unable to hold off the Japanese armies • Therefore, reached out to Mao and the two temporarily agreed to become allies during an 8-year war with Japan

12. 1945 Civil War again • As soon as Japan was defeated at the end of WWII, Chiang Kai-shek and Mao were at war again! • October 1, 1949 – in Tiananmen Square, Beijing – Mao announced the establishment of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and establishes communist government • Chiang Kai-shek & his followers fled to Taiwan

13. Mao’s new China • Mao and other Communist leaders set out to reshape Chinese society. • Industry came under state ownership and China's farmers began to be organized into collectives. • All opposition was ruthlessly suppressed.

14. Great Leap Forward • In 1958, • Purpose - to improve agricultural and industrial production. • Result, instead, was a massive decline in agricultural output - along with 3 years of massive flooding, led to famine and the deaths of millions. • 1959 – 1960 – more than 40-million people died! Considered one of the worse manmade disasters in human history! • This information was kept hidden from China! • For a few years, his rivals took control of the country while Mao sat on the side-lines

15. Cultural Revolution • 1966 - In an attempt to re-assert his authority, Mao launched the 'Cultural Revolution' • 1966 – at 73-years old – he went to the Yangtze River and swam for several minutes – to show the public that “he was back”! • Then, held many public rallies – appealing to the young people of China … Why? He thought that the young people would be too young to remember his failures!! This paid off!! • With the Cultural Revolution, Mao attempted (and almost completely succeeded) in doing away with the old, traditional Chinese mentality and implementing his new ideologies! • Let’s compare …

16. Cultural Revolution Ideologiesvs. Confucius ideologies

17. Cultural Revolution • “In a classic autocratic method to gain control, Mao Tse-tung manufactured a crisis that only he could solve. Mao told his followers that bourgeois elements in China were aiming to restore capitalism, and declared these elements must be removed from society.” • http://www.biography.com/people/mao-tse-tung-9398142?page=3

18. Cultural Revolution • His youthful followers formed the Red Guards and led a mass purge of the "undesirables."

19. Cultural Revolution • Schools closed • Youth living in the cities were sent into the countryside to be "re-educated" through hard manual labor.

20. Cultural Revolution • Results … • The Revolution destroyed much of China's traditional cultural as well as creating economic and social chaos in the country. • 1.5 million died … millions more imprisoned, had their property seized, were tortured, and humiliated

21. Later years … • Mao appeared victorious, but his health was deteriorating. His later years saw attempts to build bridges with the United States, Japan and Europe. • In 1972, US President Richard Nixon visited China and met Mao. • Mao died in September 1976.

22. Today … Mao Zedong is regarded by many Chinese as a great political and military leader!

23. Words and people to know… • Confucius – ancient Chinese philosopher / teacher • Analects – book written by Confucius’ followers – includes all his teachings • Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung) – Chinese leader who brought communism to China in 1949 • Communism – form of government where there is a dictator and 1-party system • Great Leap Forward – program implemented by Mao Zedong – purpose to revolutionize agriculture and industry in China • Cultural Revolution – program to do away with the “old China” in order to create a more modern China