News Snapshot:
When Mao Zedong proclaimed establishment of People’s Republic of China (PRC) on October 1, 1949, it was deemed as ‘mandate from heaven’ (tianming), a Confucian idea to facilitate succession cycle that selects an individual to rule. King Wen (1050 BCE) of Zhou feudal state was the first ruler to claim the heavenly mandate. Mao and Deng Xiaoping, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) veterans, enjoyed life- long decree to rule the ‘Middle Kingdom’; the modern Emperors of Red Dynasty- Communist Party of China (CPC). Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, third and fourth generation Communist leaders abided by the ‘collective leadership’ model, enunciated...
