Opposing Ideologies and Women Oppression in China
Please answer both of the following questions in concise and well-reasoned essays of approximately three pages per question (approximately 750 words). Each response should present a coherent argument that makes judicious use of assigned readings and material presented in class. References to the readings should be informally but properly cited (for example: Schoppa, p. 39), and no use of other than assigned readings is permitted. Please cite lecture by title of lecture and date (available on our syllabus). In the case of Blackboard readings, cite by title and page number if available. For each of these questions, we are interested in your personal views. But you must be certain to support your views with evidence from lectures and class readings.
GENERAL ADVICE ON HOW TO DO WELL: Please take this advice seriously and you will do well. When we grade your essays we will be asking ourselves one big question: To what extent has this student profited from readings, lectures, and class discussions? This does not mean you need to cite every possible reading that could apply to a particular question, or every remark made in class. Instead, it means you need to be selective, marshaling evidence to write a convincing argument. The questions can be approached in different ways, and we certainly don’t have one correct answer in mind for each.
QUESTION ONE: Confucianism and Communism as Guiding Ideologies
At various times, Modern China was underpinned by two dramatically opposing ideologies: Confucianism and Communism. Comparing and contrasting the role of these two ideologies in their respective governments and societies, in what ways can you argue that Confucianism and Communism were related or similar, either in theory or in practice? This is a big question, so you should focus on some particular points or ideas.
QUESTION TWO: The Status of Women in China from Chen Yün to Anchee Min
In our readings, lectures, and class discussions this semester we encountered a large number of women, from Chen Yün, to Guan Ling-ling, to the female characters of Lu Xun’s stories, to Anchee Min. Looking at these accounts, what argument can you make about the status of women in China, and about the major forces that shaped women’s lives? Is the story of women in Chinese history one of unrelenting oppression?
History paper
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History paper
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Cult of Lei Feng
Lei Feng died in the line of duty. Feng was not widely known until in 1963 when Lin Biao published Lei Feng’s Diary. The diary included accounts of how Feng admired Mao Zedong due to his good deeds. However, the Lei Feng campaign shifted from doing good deeds to a cult of Lei Fend where individuals are encouraged to be selfless.
Mao’s Little Red Book
It contains quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong. The book is one of the most widely produced of all time. During China’s Cultural Revolution, the book became mandatory to own and carry. The book was an icon of communism and a work of propaganda.
The Chinese Communists’ Rural Strategy
The Chinese Communist Revolution was based on the ability of the Chinese Communist Party to mobilize individuals. One of the most effective mobilization strategies was arousing national interests among the peasants. The rural strategy involved winning the participation of the peasants to support the main goal.
Report from Xunwu
The report documents the history of the obscure rural county of Xunwu who lived in South China in 1930. It was an investigative report on rural China. Mao Zedong wrote this report to document the life in the rural areas including administration, taxation, religion, land tenure among others.
Big Character Posters
They involved the writing of large characters on pieces of paper or in old newspapers. The writings would then be placed in public areas. Because they were written anonymously, the Big Character Posters became the means of expressing dissatisfaction against the local officials. They were critical during the anti-rightist campaign in 1957 and the cultural evolution between 1966 and 1976.
Mao Zedong’s swimming of the Yangzi River
The event took place on July 16, 1966, where Mao Zedong swam in the Yangtze River by the Wuhan Bridge. The well-reported event was a demonstration that he was far removed from the locus of power; his health was robust. He could, therefore, continue to lead the country on the revolutionary course. The event was critical for Zedong’s bid to regain power during the Cultural Revolution.
First Five-Year Plan
Mao held ambitious plans to transform China. He wanted a strong and independent China. As a result, in 1953, Mao came up with the First Five Year Plan. The plan emphasized the need for a high rate of economic growth and the development of the heavy industry.
Liu Shaoqi
Shaoqi was a Chinese revolutionary and a politician. For 15 years, he was the third most powerful individual in China. However, he antagonized Mao Zedong in the early 1960s before the Cultural Revolution. As a result, he was tortured and died under harsh treatment.
Redness and Expertise
Redness referred to ideological attitudes that were prescribed by the Maoist doctrine. On the other hand, expertise referred to special knowledge or skills. During the Great Leap Forward, the Communists attempted to lower professional standards to suit political motives.
“Save the Children”
The initiative served to show Mao Zedong’s care for the children. The initiative demonstrated that the government was caring for the children.
QUESTION ONE: Confucianism and Communism as Guiding Ideologies
In order to establish the relationship between Confucianism and Communism, it is essential to examine Chinese society. For more than two thousand years, Confucian ideas dominated Chinese society and governed the way individuals lived. However, in 1949, Mao Zedong, the leader of the Communists came to Beijing and announced the birth of the People’s Republic of China. On gaining power, Mao and the Communists wanted to change how the people lived. The Communists were determined to change the value system that was entrenched into the lives of the Chinese for such a long time.
Confucianism was based on several ideas. On the PowerPoint Presentation titled “China’s Intellectual Culture and the Confucian Legacy,” we learned that Confucianism held the idea that young people should show respect for the elders. The young were required to serve their parents. They could advise their parents but gently. In case the parents failed to follow the adv...