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

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.