Educational issues are central to understanding China's moderndevelopment and the goals of Chinese society as a whole. In this firstfull-length study to relate China's educational system toChina's development strategy from 1949 to 1978, Taylor analysesthe difference between traditional Confucian concepts of education andthose of Marxist-Leninist ideology. He shows how the conflictingeducational philosophies of Mao Tse-tung and Liu Shao-ch'ireflected tension between egalitarian social goal and economicpriorities. This divergence led to the upheavals of the CulturalRevolution, struggles between the "Gang of Four" and the"bureaucratic moderates," and to events preceding the 1978National Convention.

Broadly political in scope, this book is essential reading foranyone interested in China's role in the modern world.