On the question of the changing attitudes in China towards Confucianism I would note the following items, although perhaps Henry might disagree.
Mao and the Gang of Four both identified Confucianism with the traditional feudalism of China that they saw themselves trying to overthrow and displace. Certainly the intense official egalitarianism and anti-intellectualism of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution was very opposed to the elitism of mandarin scholars of the sort praised by Confucianists.
As for the partial rehabilitation, there are at least two factors. One is personal, that Deng Xiaoping had been criticized as a being a Confucianist and so it was not unreasonable of him to partially rehabilitate Confucianism after he came to power. Also, its support of state influence in the economy was seen as a counterweight to pro-laissez faire policies suggested by some. Barkley Rosser On Fri, 20 Nov 1998 16:29:38 -0500 James Farmelant <farmelantj at juno.com> wrote:
>
> On Fri, 20 Nov 1998 15:30:17 -0500 "Charles Brown"
> <CharlesB at CNCL.ci.detroit.mi.us> writes:
> >
> >
> >>>> "Henry C.K. Liu" <hliu at mindspring.com> 11/20 1:55 PM >>>
> >To Jim Farmelant:
> >
> >Mao's relations with classical Chinese intellectual traditions is at
> >once
> >derivative and antagonistic.
> >My view is that Mao, like most modern Chinese, was intellectually
> >anti-Confucian yet inescapably conditioned by Confucianism culturally.
> >(I
> >have more to say about Confucianism, but unless a request for posting
> >on the
> >topic is received, I hesitate to impose it on this list.)
> >A strong case can be built to support the thesis that Mao is a modern
> >Daoist, though the paradox is that he was unquestionably a
> >materialist.
> >But, as I have pointed out, paradoxes are the specialties of Daoism.
> >For example, gunpowder had been invented around the fourth century by
> >Daoist
> >alchemist Ko Hong while seeking an elixir for immortality. It
> >represents
> >the height of Daoist irony that the search for an elixir for
> >immortality
> >only yields a substance that ends life abruptly.
> >___________
> >
> >Charles: I have studied Daoism a little
> >lately ( very little and I am glad to have
> >Henry Liu's posts to teach me more). It
> >of course struck me that the paradoxical
> >center of Daoism is dialectical
> >but way before Hegel. It is not surprising
> >that Mao is known for his essay "On Contradiction."
> >
> >On posting to the list on Confucianism, I would
> >find it edifying, myself. I think Henry should
> >write on it. Those uninterested can easily
> >delete the messages.
> >________
> >
> >Charles Brown
> >
> >Detroit
> >
> >
>
> I agree with Charles in welcoming Henry's posts on classical Chinese
> thought. Also, like Charles I have long been impressed with the
> dialectical character of Daoist thought and have wondered about
> its relations with Maoism. It would seem that given the dialectical
> character of Daoism and other varieties of classical Chinese
> thought then perhaps China may have been better primed for the
> reception of Marxism than other cultures which are lacking traditions of
> dialectics.
>
> Also, I hope that if Henry returns to discussing Confucianism again
> that he might explore the conflicting attitudes that Chinese Communists
> have displayed towards it. Why the Gang of Four for instance made a
> point of attacking Confucius while after their fall there seemed to be
> at least a partial rehabilitation of Confucius.
>
> Jim Farmelant
>
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