Mao Zedong’s Rule (1949–1976)

Abstract

Mao Zedong’s ideas were influenced by Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao, and the intellectuals’ enlightenment movement (the May Fourth Movement, 1915–1923), as mentioned in chapter 3, which essentially focused on democracy and science. The intellectuals in this movement wanted to create a new civilization for China by spreading liberal ideas of modern Western civilization.1 Unfortunately, after 1919, the leading intellectuals in this movement were divided into two camps: the leftist camp, represented by Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao, believing in the Russian path following its October Revolution2 in 1917; and the liberal camp, represented by Hu Shi, following the Western liberal path since the Renaissance. In fact, the term “Chinese Renaissance” was used by Hu Shi to introduce to the Western world this Chinese intellectual movement.3 His ideas did not have a chance for fulfillment until Taiwan’s democratization in the 1980s.4