Mao Zedong and Legalism: A Lifelong Defense of a Classical Chinese Philosophy

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 15, 38 - 62

Mevlan Tanrikut

https://doi.org/10.59114/dasad.1562047

Öz

The purpose of this study is to investigate a lesser-known facet of Mao Zedong's political ideology-legalism- and examine the effects it had on his leadership. Mao, the founder of the People's Republic of China (PRC), is widely known for his communist ideology and autocratic governance style. However, a lesser-known aspect of his political life is his fervent support for Legalism and his criticism of Confucianism, which has not been sufficiently examined in academic studies. Legalism, one of the four main traditional Chinese philosophies-along with Confucianism, Daoism, and Mohism-has had a profound influence on Chinese governance. By employing a qualitative analysis of historical texts and research articles, this study focuses on Legalist effect on Mao life from the childhood, his debate surrounding Legalism and Confucianism, and the application of Legalist principles in his political practices. Findings on this paper indicates that Mao was a fanatic defender of Legalism despite he officially embraced communism as the guiding doctrine of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). His quasi-academic debate over Legalism highlights how research objectivity could be compromised under an autocratic regime. Furthermore, the study reveals Mao’s despotic leadership formed by Legalism and Leninist-Stalinist Communism during the Great Leap Forward, showcasing the risks associated with his governance style. This article adds to the existing scholarship by providing a subtle understanding of Mao's ideology, highlighting his engagement with Legalism. It challenges the conventional view of Mao solely as a communist leader, revealing the impact of traditional Chinese philosophy on his governance and modern political practices.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Mao, Legalism, Confucianism, Guo Moruo, Great Leap Forward

Mao Zedong ve Yasacılık: Klasik Bir Çin Felsefesinin Ömür Boyu Savunusu

Öz

Bu çalışmanın amacı Mao Zedong'un siyasi ideolojisinin daha az bilinen bir yönünü olan yasalcılığı araştırmak ve bunun liderliği üzerindeki etkilerini incelemektir. Çin Halk Cumhuriyeti'nin (ÇHC) kurucusu Mao, komünist ideolojisi ve otokratik yönetim tarzıyla yaygın olarak bilinmektedir. Ancak siyasi hayatının daha az bilinen bir yönü, akademik çalışmalarda yeterince incelenmemiş olan Yasalcılığa olan ateşli desteği ve Konfüçyüsçülüğü eleştirmesidir. Konfüçyüsçülük, Taoizm ve Mohizm ile birlikte dört ana geleneksel Çin felsefesinden biri olan Yasalcılık, Çin yönetimi üzerinde derin bir etkiye sahip olmuştur. Bu çalışma, tarihi metinlerin ve araştırma makalelerinin nitel bir analizini kullanarak, Yasalcılığın Mao'nun çocukluğundan itibaren yaşamındaki etkisine, Yasalcılık ve Konfüçyüsçülük etrafındaki tartışmalarına ve Yasalcı ilkelerin siyasi ve ekonomik reforumlarda uygulanmasına odaklanmaktadır. Bu makaledeki bulgular, Mao'nun Çin Komünist Partisi'nin (ÇKP) rehber doktrini olarak komünizmi resmen benimsemesine rağmen, Yasalcılığın fanatik bir savunucusu olduğunu göstermektedir. Yasalcılık hakkındaki yarı akademik tartışması, otokratik bir rejim altında araştırma objectifliğinin nasıl tehlikeye atılabileceğini vurgulamaktadır. Dahası, çalışma, Mao'nun Büyük İleri Atılım sırasında Yasalcılık ve Leninist-Stalinist Komünizm yönetim metodu tarafından oluşturulan despot liderliğini ortaya koyarak, yönetim tarzıyla ilişkili riskleri göstermektedir. Bu makale, Mao'un ideolojisine ilişkin ayrıntılı bir anlayış sunarak ve Yasalcılık ile etkileşimini vurgulayarak mevcut literatüre katkıda bulunmaktadır. Mao'nun yalnızca bir komünist lider olduğu yönündeki geleneksel görüşe meydan okuyarak, geleneksel Çin felsefesinin onun yönetimi ve modern siyasi uygulamaları üzerindeki etkisini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Legalizm, Konfüçyüsçülük, Guo Moruo, Büyük İleri Atılım, Mao

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