Confucius in Beijing's Tiananmen Square

Chinese authorities last week placed a statue of Confucius in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, near the portrait of former paramount leader Mao Zedong. The move to give such a public face to the great philosopher is in line with Beijing's decision to cut down on Maoist paraphernalia in the political heart of China. Maoists are up in arms.

Kaixin OpEd - Xiaosui recalls the Cultural Revolution (which she lived through) and how Mao wanted to wipe Confucius from Chinese history.

Why?

Mao came from a village in rural China. He had seen how lofty ideas such as Confucianism had not benefited the rural population and peasants of China one jot.

He wanted to leave all that behind and forge a new China.

Yes, his ideals were corrupted by power, but the Cultural Revolution was actually founded on a sound idea, to rid China of the old ways that had contributed to grinding the average rural worker/farmer into the dust.

However, an idea, a philosophy, as strong as Confucianism cannot be wiped from the face of history.

It is re-emerging in China as China is taking its place in the world as a leading power. A place it held for most of recorded history.

The leaders of China know that the Chinese people, in particular the youth, need a powerful philosophy to guide them.

The influences and temptations of China's re-gained wealth are great, and distracting.

Communism is a strong philosophy, but it is mainly political and economic. Also, China has let it evolve to benefit the needs of China, rather than wear it as a straightjacket.

Confucianism has 1,000's of years of history in moral guidance.

Communism may provide the physical sustenance to the people of China, however Confucianism will provide the philosophical sustenance.