Dear $$$$,
One of the first things the Communists did in China after taking power in 1949 was to reform family law. Polygamous marriages (previously a strong tradition in Chinese culture) were outlawed and divorce was made available to women as well as men. The Communists also promoted the advancement of women in every area of society. In that regard, the Communists can indeed be argued to have dealt positively with some of the more unsavoury realities of traditional Chinese culture, which was often extremely unfavourable towards women.
For the rest, however, their record is frankly dismal. From the very beginning the Communists launched a massive attack on most aspects of Chinese culture, cracking down on religious practice and the millennia-old tradition of ancestor worship, which were dismissed as "bourgeois superstitions". Spiritual figures such as Buddhist monks and shamans, previously an integral part of Chinese culture, were imprisoned. Cultural festivals were abolished - even Chinese New Year was considered to be part of the "old superstitions", and the Communists replaced it by the politically correct appelation of "spring festival" (which is still in use today).
In the 1970s, Mao's wife Jiang Qing initiated a "criticise Confucius" campaign, seeking to cast shame and discredit on one of China's greatest cultural influences. There was even a plan at some point to abolish the Chinese writing system altogether and replace it with the Roman alphabet. Thankfully this plan proved to be unworkable and was quickly scrapped.
But nothing compares with the catastrophe unleashed upon Chinese culture by the Communists during the infamous Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). During that fanatical time, all icons of traditional culture were decreed to be "reactionary" and violently attacked. Classical Chinese literature was banned. Thousands of temples and churches across the country were ransacked, looted or destroyed and millions of priceless cultural artefacts were lost.
This is without even mentioning, of course, the millions of people who were brutally killed, tortured, or removed from their jobs and sent to undergo hard labour in the countryside for somehow becoming associated with "old ways of thinking". This was a huge trauma for Chinese society, and the country still has not finished recovering from it. All in all, the Communists have been very bad news for Chinese culture.
But it is also important to note that things have changed, and nowadays the Communist authorities have advocated a revival of Chinese culture. It is fine to read Confucius again, temples have reopened and the government has openly espoused a traditional Chinese architectural style for many of its buildings (and encouraged this trend in the private sector too). The Cultural Revolution has been cautiously condemned as a mistake.
Hope this helped,
2006-11-21 08:32:42
·
answer #1
·
answered by Weishide 2
·
0⤊
0⤋
of direction its a huge step. that's somebody you have been relaly on the factor of and all of a suddentheir long previous form your existence.. Its annoying yet have self assurance me your doing the astonishing element. I did the comparable element and it became annoying till now each and every thing yet you will get use to it after a jointly as. Then once you experience your waiting and provided which you rather prefer to little via little communicate with eaccchother and shop a definite point of friendship. Thats how ive accomplished it and im doing purely nice.
2016-10-17 08:26:29
·
answer #2
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
It moved them from feudalism, monarchy, hunger and enslavement to the modern nation it is becoming. Of course the consequences of this transformation are not known but our government already is positioning itself to be the best friend a Communist ever had.
2006-11-21 07:21:04
·
answer #3
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
they were a major step backwards. the destruction of chinese culture, regardless of whether it was corrupt, was a great loss of individual and cultural progress by having non-workable and disruptive conditions imposed on the people for the benefit of just a few.
2006-11-21 07:13:51
·
answer #4
·
answered by de bossy one 6
·
0⤊
0⤋
Yes, after they exterminated millions and millions of people.
It has been estimated that 50 to 100 million were slaughtered.
If you consider that a "step forward".
2006-11-21 07:13:20
·
answer #5
·
answered by Anonymous
·
0⤊
0⤋
Disagree
Communists never bettered anything for anyone
Why the restrictions on all freedoms, thoughts, and ways of life
2006-11-21 07:22:26
·
answer #6
·
answered by Deport all ILLEGAL Alien INVADER 3
·
0⤊
0⤋