Neo-Confucianism in the period «Cultural Revolution» in China

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15421/271910

Abstract

Our article is devoted to the analysis of the influence on the process of the formation of modern non-Confection of such an important socio-political phenomenon in the history of modern China as the «cultural revolution». We are tasked with - to consider the «confrontation» of ideas and postulates promoted at one time by ideologues of the «cultural revolution» and the basic provisions of neo-Confucianism. One of the ideological rods (along with the dominant Marxism) of the social device in China is neo- Confucianism. The latter has undergone a difficult path of transformation and pressure from ideologically viable dominant ideologies, for example, such as «movement for a new culture» or «cultural revolution». Each of these trends declared the need for social transformation.

The period of the «cultural revolution» is characterized by an active world outlook struggle against neo-Confucianism. In China, a course on the formation of a «new person» was proclaimed. A man is «plastic» and open to new social transformations. Mao Zedong saw the threat to such transformations in Confucianism with his accents on tradition and ritual. Conditionally new faced with the need to cleanse the road from the remnants of the old one.

To achieve the goal – the creation of a «new man», Mao proposed to overcome «four obstacles» (or «four remnants»), namely: 1) old ideas; 2) old culture; 3) old customs; 4) old habits. The removal of these obstacles, according to Mao, should lead to the gradual formation of a «new man».

The strategy of combating Confucianism during the «cultural revolution» can be reduced to the following main areas: 1) the issuance of brochures aimed at discrediting the teachings of Confucius; 2) «uprooting» the active carriers of Confucianism among the intelligentsia and university teachers; 3) demonstrative repressions against party leaders of the «infected» ideas of Confucianism (in particular, the struggle against the «lousy dog» – Lin Biao); 4) «dragging» to his side in the past prominent Confucians among historians, philosophers and ideological workers (for example, philosopher Feng Yulan).

Recently, China has intensified the process of revising the results of the «cultural revolution». Having survived the onslaught of the «cultural revolution», Confucianism was succeeded «rehabilitated» and included in the ideological doctrine of modern China.

Published

2021-02-17