The cultural revolution was a time of upheaval in which Mao tried to reassert control.
What if there was no cultural revolution in china?
- Thread starter Karlmarx900
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The standard view is that the CR set Chinese development back considerably, for the obvious reason that killing or banishing all the intelligent people eliminates the very population who are needed for advancements to take place.
On the other hand, I don't know much about Chinese academia at the time. If the schools and universities were all staffed with idiots to begin with, then shutting them down for a few years and getting rid of all the idiots might allow for some fresh thinking to work its way in eventually.
I've seen the above apoplogetic made by people who support the emerging liberal/capitalist China, and think that getting rid of the old elites was a neccessary step toward doing that(even if tossing them out of 10-story windows wasn't the ideal way to do it). Overall, though, I'm inclined to think the conventional analysis is more accurate.
On the other hand, I don't know much about Chinese academia at the time. If the schools and universities were all staffed with idiots to begin with, then shutting them down for a few years and getting rid of all the idiots might allow for some fresh thinking to work its way in eventually.
I've seen the above apoplogetic made by people who support the emerging liberal/capitalist China, and think that getting rid of the old elites was a neccessary step toward doing that(even if tossing them out of 10-story windows wasn't the ideal way to do it). Overall, though, I'm inclined to think the conventional analysis is more accurate.
From what I've understood it was generally more a case of, after several years, going "it turns out we need these people
because they are the ones who know this stuff and how to teach them" and bringing them back rather than replacing them
with "fresh thinkers".
Partially due to any potential "fresh thinkers" lacking education and experience on the subjects, on account of the people who could
have educated them and provided experience having been gotten rid off.
Vague memories of an anecdote from when Deng's reforms started of people being sent to a farm in a distant province to
retrieve an elderly expert.
The fact of the matter is that Mao’s ideals were for a “peasant-based agrarian” sort of China and intellectuals tend to get lumped with the elites in those times. Plus, intellectuals are usually the first targets of autocracies since they’re seen as a threat.
Yeah, the CR was a pretty big setback
There possibility that China later success might not exist. Deng's economic policy is built on China that greatly affected by Mao : no opposition to Communist Party, complete destruction of any local power base, determination to avoid excess of radicalism and chaos, reliance on "expert" to run country political and economic system, peasant deprived on their land, ownership of land by Communist Party, weakening of labour and student organization, etc. Deng's policy of granting land for "responsible farming", establishment of SEZ, development controlled by Central Politbiro on Beijing, withdrawing of "iron rice bowl" is only possible with above foundation. Without Mao genocide and destruction its possible that CCP must "muddle through" on change, accommodate local elites, and hesitate in confronting dissenters among population. Problem with "Asian Tigers" is that all of them had complicit on brutal purge and destruction on their past, we don't know if they are capable of economic growth without societal destruction and political consolidation first.
Lusitania
Donor
Many people have speculated that if there was no cultural revolution then China economic growth would of followed Soviet Union who in the 1920 was largely agrarian. Although The transition to market economy could not of happen for there would not of been such a great dissolution with communism as there was as a result of upheaval and economic, cultural revolution.
CHina's cultural heritage would be more or less intact. The Revolution specifically targeted representations of Ancient China including temples and ancient texts under the designation 'The Four Olds'.
However, the Communists never clearly defined what was included under those designations. As a result, anything related to Ancient China was eliminated. From city names being changed to precious artefacts being destroyed, the intention was to completely destroy any attachment to China's ancient past. These are least two incidents from Wikipedia.
The Red Guards even went as far as to destroy families' genealogy books.
After the Cultural Revolution in 1972, the CCP determined that in a Beijing-localized survey of 18 key spots of cultural heritage, including the Temple of Heaven and Ming Tombs, showed extensive damage. Of the 80 cultural heritage sites in Beijing under municipal protection, 30 were destroyed, and of the 6,843 cultural sites under protection by Beijing government decision in 1958, 4,922 were damaged or destroyed. Numerous valuable old books, paintings, and other cultural relics were also burnt to ashes.
There were even proposals for Beijing to be renamed 'East is Red City' and for the two Chinese guardian lions in front of Tiananmen Square to be replaced with statues of Mao.
Without the Cultural Revolution, China would be like any other Asian nation, with a strong connection to it's ancient past.
- Old Customs
- Old Culture
- Old Habits
- Old Ideas
However, the Communists never clearly defined what was included under those designations. As a result, anything related to Ancient China was eliminated. From city names being changed to precious artefacts being destroyed, the intention was to completely destroy any attachment to China's ancient past. These are least two incidents from Wikipedia.
The Red Guards even went as far as to destroy families' genealogy books.
After the Cultural Revolution in 1972, the CCP determined that in a Beijing-localized survey of 18 key spots of cultural heritage, including the Temple of Heaven and Ming Tombs, showed extensive damage. Of the 80 cultural heritage sites in Beijing under municipal protection, 30 were destroyed, and of the 6,843 cultural sites under protection by Beijing government decision in 1958, 4,922 were damaged or destroyed. Numerous valuable old books, paintings, and other cultural relics were also burnt to ashes.
There were even proposals for Beijing to be renamed 'East is Red City' and for the two Chinese guardian lions in front of Tiananmen Square to be replaced with statues of Mao.
Without the Cultural Revolution, China would be like any other Asian nation, with a strong connection to it's ancient past.
And, of course, 1973 saw the beginning of the Criticize Lin Criticize Confucius campaign, which, while having the immediate purpose of trashing Mao's supposedly traditionalist enemies, also obviously placed a defining figure of Chinese culture into severe disrepute.
Nowadays, of course, the Confucius Institutes are China's cultural embassies to the world. I wonder how much information about Confucius and Confucianism, if any, was lost in the Cultural Revolution, and how much they were able to retrieve. Presumbaly, his basic works survived somewhere for future use.
(And yes, I realize the Confucius Institutes teach about more than just Confucius.)
https://tinyurl.com/y6996brl
Nowadays, of course, the Confucius Institutes are China's cultural embassies to the world. I wonder how much information about Confucius and Confucianism, if any, was lost in the Cultural Revolution, and how much they were able to retrieve. Presumbaly, his basic works survived somewhere for future use.
(And yes, I realize the Confucius Institutes teach about more than just Confucius.)
https://tinyurl.com/y6996brl
You can... really presume that.
I assume that at no point his original works were menaced of complete destruction.
Well, after Qin Shi Huangdi tried to destroy them.
Wa ha ha ha.
which Asian Nation ? Japan go through WW2 bombing and Meiji Revolution. SK go through Korean War and Japanese occupation. Even Taiwan had lot of native tribal culture destroyed during Kuomintang era.
Besides you overestimate "connection" to the past. Many Japanese cultural tradition is post-Meiji invention, for example. Many other Asian nations is "invented" during colonization struggle. Most Asian in 1700s would not be connected to modern Asian national culture.
And Modern Culture is completely pervasive in Asia : business suit, rock and roll, Hollywood and Anime, Skyscrapers and Airport.
And nothing, absolutely nothing destroy like Capitalism. uncountable archeological heritage is now parking lot and minimart.
And you underestimated resilience of Chinese connection to the past. Destruction of Temple and Cities is not unusual occurrence in Chinese history. Confucianism is now making comeback, so does martial arts, calligraphy, painting style, etc. Even CCP had great similarity with Mandarin class it destroy and replace.