Tibet in the Cultural Revolution

[mcsnotts]

"those who wanted to subvert, or divert it"

But isnt that just a pejorative description by people who agreed with Maos vision of those that didnt.

I dont know anything about the Buddhist temple in Shanghai, my understanding is that Mao suppressed Buddhism allowing only a very small state controlled Sangha to exist for use in international properganda.

[bleupeony2]

Two things affected Mao's view of Buddhism in China. 1, his mother was Buddhist, so he knew how some Chinese looked down on Buddhists. 2, on the Long March, Mao saw a young girl, age 16, "who was so poor she had no pants." Mao vowed that when they succeeded in wresting China from the control of the Impreialists, the drug war lords, and the Green Gang, that Sichuan would be the first place he would bring a better life to. History shows that he kept his promise to the people of Sichuan.

[mcsnotts]

I'm sorry I don't understand your point - Buddhism was supressed under Mao, read "Buddhism under Mao": by Holmes Welch for all the gory details.

[bleupeony2]

Have you read the Chinese government documents, discussion and debate on this issue? Clearly, Mao disagreed with the Soviet trained communists. Buddhism was surpressed, during the Mao years, but is that because Mao hated Buddhism?

Also, and we face this problem today, many people blame Islam for the "extreemist" terrorism going on now. If the US used religeous figures to cause trouble in China, then when troublemakers were aprehended, the US claimes religeous persecution. It's a strategy.

[bleupeony2]

I doubt this book should be used as a neutral, unbiased, accurate history of what happened to Buddhism under Mao, much less historically in China.

Have you read much 'fiction" to see how ordinary people in China viewed Buddhism?

Let me say this again, Soviet style communism was opposed to absolutely religeon. Mao was not. There had always been a struggle between Mao and the Soviet trained communists.

Again, Mao's mother was a Buddhist, and he did his best to defend it.

[bleupeony2]

There were two temples in Shanghai that I am referring to. One in the No, very popular. When it came under attack during Cultural revolution, by the people, the gov sent out forces to protect it.

The second temple, that had a small pagoda, in the Sothern outskirts of Shanghai was destroyed by angry people who felt they had been horribly exploited by the temple.

If you lived in Shanghai, or if you visited these temples, you could ask about what happened to them.

[gbmkhm01]

Do u believe that your TWO TEMPLES STORY can explain the Cultural revolution?

[bleupeony2]

I believe the Cultural revolution was a disaster. Mao, and his followers had no way to direct the focus of the mobs. Their "enemies" survived, and the "revolution" was lost. But during the Cultural Revolution, millions of "Little Red Guards' committed horrible crimes against their neighbors, and all was done with out any justice, there was no rule of law.

The answer to your question is not a simple yes or no. But when we set loose "lynch mobs" or incite riots, we should know violence follows.

[bleupeony2]

The names of the temples are the Jade Budda Temple, which was protected, and the Lonhhau Temple that was destroyed. Longhua was the site of internments of chinese people, by the Japanese, Chiang Kai Sheck, and the local people hated it. The Cultural revolution provided cover for the destruction of this temple.

Acording to Buddhist ethics. a govennment had a duty to keep order. Mao was wrong to unleash the CR, but the Cinese Gov was right in bringing order to Tiananmen.

Mob rule is unjust.

[bleupeony2]

The Little Red Guards and others that took part in the humiliation of their neighbors are, today, filled with remorse, guilt and shame. While it is true that Mao launched this campaign, he did not intend for it to develop the way it did.

For a while it was popular in China to place the blame Mao for all of this, but the truth is, and the people know, they themselves gave in to a dark and sick desire to hurt those whom they despised, and to do so under the guise of public policy.

[mcsnotts]

Wasnt the Cultural Revolution initiated by Mao as a method of eliminating his political rivals, the mixture of idealism, hatred and fear he generated among the population led to death, destruction and suffering on a huge scale. Surly it was the example set by Mao and his cronies that permeated down through Chinese society encouraging the people to indulge their baser instincts under the guise of public policy

[bleupeony2]

Well, some find it convenient to sum it up that way, but that is not really what happened. It was started by Mao, due to the struggle between those who would complete the "democratic Revolution," and those who wanted to subvert, or divert it. Unfortunately, when it got out of hand, it was like a stampede. and any who spoke out in an effort to stop it, was also trampled usunder.

Remember, In Shanghai, the Buddhist temple that had exploited people was destroyed, but not other Buddhist temples.

[gbmkhm01]

to bleupeony2:

Your comment is a distortion to the history.

I fully support the point of view of mcsnotts.

[bleupeony2]

Why do you think my comments distort history? I have carefully reviewed many official reports od destruction all over China, including Tibet at that time. They all agree that is what happened. Did you know that Mao's mother was a Buddhist, and that is why he opposed democratization in Lahsa, and supported the Dalai Lama and autonomy? He was finally overruled by the Politiboro, when the CIA trained and armed Tibetan contra scheme was revealed.

I believe there is no need to lie about this.

[gbmkhm01]

>Why do you think my comments distort history?

=> I was talking about the Cultural Revolution. Not about the policy on Tibet.

[shongnub]

thanks for these pictures