China's History: Intellectual Analysis

China’s history has been very bipolar when referring to intellectuals. When using the adjective bipolar, I refer to the treatment of academics. Highlighting the times after the war years (1937-1945) intellectuals in China were highly criticized if the leaned the other way or were contrary to the current system. The criticisms of the system of this time reached a focal point in 1956 with Mao’s Hundred Flowers speech, which actually invited criticism of the party. Though, immediately after the speech Mao quickly changed stances as the criticisms created a negative image, were unpleasant, and numerous (Modern China PDF). This embarrassing and rather quick failure of an initiative resulted in a far greater plan presented by the communist party

Ding Ling was a prolific critic of the Mao and the communist party. In the fall of 1957, Ding Ling came under fire for “attempting to seize the leadership of the literary circles” (Pence, 380), and was charged with anti-party crimes. The disgust with intellectuals who disagreed with the current system and leading party officials was prominent within society. Other intellectuals who were supporters of the communist party received opposite treatment, referred to with high regard and were taken seriously. . Through this time period there are two types of intellectuals (primarily), those who support the party and those who oppose; there is a clear and stark difference in which is “better” in view of the government. This favoritism of party-intellectuals would result in mistreatment and shaming of opposing viewpoints, deterring anyone who wishes to speak

The other side, Mao’s perspective, viewed the times as a “step away from the old revolutionary commitment” (Modern China PDF). The climax of intellectuals and politics, the relationship of the Red and the expert, in the latter half of the 1950’s is embodied in the Hundred Flowers movement. This movement originating with “good intent” eventually became a “ploy” for Mao. Where in after intellectuals spoke and wrote their criticisms, Mao turned on them and stated that the movement was to find the “fragrant flowers” and remove the “poisonous weeds” (Modern China PDF). “By early July an antirightists’ campaign was under way in which the recent critics of the regime were subjected to severe retribution; most of them lost their jobs and were forced to do manual labor in the country, and some were sent to prison.”(Britannica). Mao hunted down and sent the “poisonous weeds” to the countryside for reeducation and political reform. The mistreatment of intellectuals in regards to political relations is evident and completely biased. Those who disagree with the party lose everything, and those who support the party can expect to see