Why Mao Zedong Admires Lu Xun

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Question 1; Lu Xun and Maoism
Why do you think Mao admires Lu Xun?
Mao Zedong (Chairman Mao) was a Chinese communist revolutionary. He ruled from1949 when the People's Republic of China was established, until he died in 1976. He ruled as the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party. Ideologically, he was a Marxist-Leninist, and his political ideologies are known as Maoism. Lu Xun (1881-1936) was a writer, literary critic, poet, and essayist who wrote in classical Chinese and vernacular Chinese. His work was highly revolutionary, which evoked immense admiration from Chairman Mao.
Lu Xun's participation as one of the key leaders in the May 4, 1914 movement was a key revolutionary act in which Lu Xun was involved, which caused Chairman Mao to admire him greatly. The protests sparked nationwide protests that activated an upsurge in Chinese Nationalism. The nationalism sought to liberate China from the elites of that time alongside the political class. The Chinese people believed that there was an urgent need for political change. They had lost confidence in the leadership of the day and the elites, who were seen as a problem to the nation, not as a solution. The demonstrations sought to replace traditional Chinese Confucian values. The youths who led the movement were in opposition to traditional culture and looked abroad for cosmopolitan inspiration. They were an urban group advocating for populism in a country that was mainly a rural one. At this time, many Chinese social and political leaders rose to power, including the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) leaders. Considering that Mao was a Chinese communist revolutionary, he must have admired Lu Xun, a leader in a movement that gave birth to communism.
Another key reason why Mao admired Lu Xun is that he shared common objectives and dreams with him. Both aimed to demolish the moribund traditional Chinese culture to pave the way for a new culture. According to Mao, the new culture is communism. In the eyes of the May 4th iconoclasts, one of the most undesirable aspects or characteristics of their traditional culture is its blighting effect on individuality. The May 4th leaders like Lu Xun advocated for the emancipation of the self, which aligned with Mao's beliefs causing him to admire Lu Xun more.
Another key reason Chairman Mao admired Lu Xun because he could use Lu Xun's literary works to gain political mileage in his country as he advocated for communism. Political dynasties have used historical figures to their advantage, and Maoism is no exception. The Chinese Communist Party, led by Chairman Mao, chose to use Lu Xun for various ideological, political, and factional purposes. The life and works of Lu Xun have been continuously interpreted to ensure that they conform to the latest mutations in party policies. When the communist party became factionalized following ‘The Great Leap Forward,’ different groups used Lu Xun to make their political ideologies desirable to the Chinese people. The fact that the Communist Party effectively used Lu Xun to advance its ideologies was a key reason why Mao must have admired Lu Xun. In extension, the party still uses Lu Xun’s ideologies.
What Links do you see Between Lu Xun’s Legacies and Maoism?
Lu Xun’s legacy is evident in the presence of China's party, which has continued to depend on Lu Xun as a source of moral authority. Many government critics usually invoke Lu Xun to inspire citizens to express their frustrations, especially under the one-party rule. Lu Xun is hailed for being a reformist who has played a significant role in awakening the Chinese people to criticize the modern dictatorship in the country. As in Maoism, where the focus is on state capture through means such as disinformation and propaganda, the critics target to weaken the government institutions by spreading propaganda. Under the one-party rule in China, the citizens have continued to suffer major atrocities. However, Lu Xun’s insights, especially on the dynastic habits, haunt China's modern...