Study On Mao Zedong’s Comments On Characters Of Qin And Han Dynasties

Mao Zedong has a strong love of reading history.Especially,he has in-depth research and unique insights in ancient Chinese history.Being an important part of Mao Zedong’s thought,Mao Zedong’ s historical thought is extremely rich.Moreover,because of his special historical status and distinctive character,his interpretation of history is different from general historians,and his evaluation of historical figures is unique.Mao Zedong’s emphasis on Chinese history and unique evaluation of historical figures contributes to the construction and development of contemporary Chinese history a lot.This paper analyzes Mao Zedong’s comments on some historical figures in the Qin and Han Dynasties to illustrate Mao Zedong’s views on the important historical figures of the Qin and Han dynasties.Mao Zedong is familiar with the history of the Qin and Han dynasties and praises highly the founders of the Qin and Han dynasty,such as Emperor Qinshihuang,Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Guangwu.Particularly,the Emperor Qinshihuang who receives more criticisms than praises is affirmed by Mao Zedong for his contribution to the development of history in a practical and realistic way.Mao Zedong does not appreciate the emperors who conform to conventions.Both Emperor Hanwen and Emperor Hanjing govern the nation by noninterference and conduct the policy of giving people peace and security.However,although the two emperors create a generation of flourishing,Mao Zedong thinks that they just follow others exactly and are not worthy of praises.Mao Zedong regards Emperor Hanyuan as the failure who makes the dynasty decline because Emperor Hanyuan conducts the policy that is based on Confucianism and make the Western Han Dynasty changes from the flourish to decadence.Mao Zedong praises the emperors who are capable of reforming and making achievements.The highly capable Emperor Hanwu is greatly praised by Mao Zedong because Emperor Hanwu makes brilliant achievements in his life and creates the glorious period of Western Han Dynasty.Although Wang Mang is severely criticized in history,Mao Zedong positively evaluates his implementation of the reform.Mao Zedong admires Xiang Yu’ s bravery,fighting skills and his firmness of choosing death before disgrace,but he criticizes Xiang Yu’s hunger for fame and arrogance.Mao Zedong highly evaluates Jia Yi’ s extraordinary talent and courage to admonish frankly and also expresses his deep sorrow for Jia Yi’ s premature death.Mao Zedong admires Sima Qian’s spirit of bearing responsibility and disgrace and relentless pursuit,and encourages his comrades through Sima Qian’ s deeds.The characteristics of Mao Zedong’s comments on historical figures and historical view can be summarized through the analysis of Mao Zedong’s comments on the the historical figures of the Qin and Han Dynasties.Firstly,Mao Zedong holds a dialectical view of the historical figures.For example,he separates the successes of Emperor Qinshihuang and Wang Mang from their failures,and his comments are totally different from the predecessors’.Secondly,Mao Zedong praises Lgalism and criticizes Confucianism.Mao Zedong strongly advocates Emperor Qinshihuang’s stress on the present and policy that is based on Legalism.On the contrary,Mao Zedong criticizes Emperor Hanyuan’ s benevolence of Confucianism and governing method that is based on Confucianism.Thirdly,Mao Zedong advocates making achievements and criticizes conservation and inaction.Mao Zedong praises Emperor Hangaozu,Emperor Hanwu and Emperor Guangwu for their achievements and criticizes Emperor Hanwen and Emperor Hanjing because of their conservation and inaction.Mao Zedong’ s pragmatic view of history and history thought of class analysis can be analyzed through Mao Zedong’ s comments on the characters of the Qin and Han dynasties.Through many historians’ comments on historical figures,the evaluations of historical figures are conclusive.However,Mao Zedong is not confined to the existing historical conclusions.Through a thorough analysis of the merits and loses of historical figures,Mao Zedong puts forward his own profound insights,showing his unique historical knowledge and distinctive features.