Posted on 11/25/2008 9:18:35 PM PST by robertvance
The students who do not quickly shout out the name 'Chairman Mao' bring up other notable names in Chinese history such as the ancient philosopher Confucious and China’s beloved first premier, Zhou Enlai. A few students have even mentioned Deng Xiaoping as China's most famous person since it was he who opened the doors and pushed China down its present path of development.
(Excerpt) Read more at teachabroadchina.com ...
I’m old enough to remember when people knew about Chiang Kai Shek, he was pretty famous at one time.
Spend much of my time in China (business), I find fewer and fewer people incline to accept Mao’s ideas. Most consider him an anachronism.
Chiang Kai Shek? Over here, you might as be saying a dirty word if you mention his name.
Hu Yaobang? Nah. Chairman Mao
Agreed. Still, he is the answer that is given when Chinese people are asked who the most famous man in their history is...
[[Is Mao Zedong Really the Most Famous Man in Chinese History?]]
No! Bruce Lee is- period!
Given that Qin lived almost 2000 years ago, it is hardly surprising that Mao has more name recognition today.
BTW, their historical importance says nothing about their worth as human beings. Both were despicable, and Mao was considerably worse. But I don't think there is anyone else in Chinese history who compares to these men in terms of how much they changed history.
Well, maybe Confucius.
I vote for a three way tie: 1) Bruce Lee 2)Jackie Chan 3) Chow Yun Fat.
I don't think there's any contest as to which man had more influence over Chinese history. Mao wins hands down.
If Chiang had won the civil war, then it would be different. But he lost. Mao won, and winners almost always have more historical impact, whether for good or ill (all ill, in Mao's case).
If you head to Asia and stop at Chiang Kai Shek airport in Taiwan, it’s a nice airport. People who complain about the presence of the TSA, well...the guards at CKS are armed to the teeth and the Taiwanese are very agitated about the Chinese, from people that I talked to there.
Footnote.
Mao will be a footnote.
“I don’t think there’s any contest as to which man had more influence over Chinese history. Mao wins hands down.
If Chiang had won the civil war, then it would be different. But he lost. Mao won, and winners almost always have more historical impact, whether for good or ill (all ill, in Mao’s case).”
I agree totally, it is just that after going to that page it occurred to me that Chiang is probably another historical figure that disappeared after the left took over, as a young man I would never have guessed that Dr. Albert Schweitzer could be so quickly and thoroughly erased for instance.
You're kidding. We're talking about a man responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of people (the Great Leap Forward), destroys millions of priceless and historically important cultural artifacts and wastes the lives of a whole generation (the cultural revolution).
If such a man ever becomes a footnote in history books, than the historians will not be doing their job.
There is no doubt about it.
You might have something there.
He may be spruned but he’ll never be a footnote. History is much more significant in China than it is here. Their history shapes what they do today.
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