Confucianism Impact On China

Upon the denial of the position of a political advisor in 551 B.C.E, Confucius likely considered himself a failure, but unbeknownst to him, his impact on China would last for thousands of years to come. Rather than a religion, Confucianism was an enriched societal culture with emphasis on fate and order. Along with other philosophies and societal norms including the worship of one’s ancestors and a respect for nature, Confucianism shaped Chinese society unabated– until, that is, the rise of communism in China. Liang Heng and Judith

Shapiro’s Son of the Revolution explores the impact communism had on traditional Chinese society. Marriage during the Cultural Revolution, which was communism at its peak, adapted to the new political climate, while

During Liang Shan and Zhu Zhi-dao’s wedding, paper butterflies and birds were hung up as decorations, embroidery displaying a pair of peacocks was gifted, and later Teacher Zeng did animal imitations (31-32). This displays the theme of the importance of nature that was ever-present for thousands of years in China. During the same wedding, Liang Heng’s neighbour read a poem “in the ancient style, as if he were singing it” (32). Later, as Liang Heng is speaking with Little Gao about their relationship, he says “your family won’t agree,” (252). In Confucian culture, a family is considered a basic building block of society, and marriage is always approved or arranged by the rest of the family beforehand. To defy the parents’ denial of marriage was undreamt of, yet Confucian ideals made it unclear whether one’s main loyalty was to their spouse or their parents (262).

Key parts of marriage were shifted along with the Cultural Revolution, however, and communism began to incorporate itself into marriage increasingly. In the eyes of the government, marriage bonded two people together indefinitely, despite divorce (15). This was not without reason, as many people partook in a solely “political divorce”, in which a

Later, after Liang Heng met Little Gao’s parents, Little Gao’s father revealed that his mind was made up about the marriage, voicing his resolve that his daughter’s husband was to be a high-ranking member of the communist party (261).

The Cultural Revolution caused some clashing between the old ways and the new in marriage. Confucianism requires a husband to take care of his wife as one of the five key relationships; however, after much inner turmoil, Liang Shan opted to denounce his wife in favor of the party (9). Similar happenings occurred later, during a 1976 movement to criticise

Confucius, when spouses “reported on each other’s private thoughts” (253). Confucianism emphasized the importance of a wife raising children, yet Guo Lucky Wealth’s Brigade leader had encouraged all the women to get intrauterine devices (193). Earlier, Zhu Zhi-dao had ignored her expected Confucian role as a wife to care for Liang Heng, a main reason Liang Shan