Part 5/6:
China's deep historical ties to Confucianism, which emphasizes the importance of education and the role of scholars in governance, further complicate the legacy of communism in the nation. The traditional Chinese system valued educational attainment as a means of social mobility through rigorous imperial examinations, a stark contrast to approaches seen in other nations, such as Japan’s samurai-led governance. The necessity of education within the Chinese context has fostered a culture where, despite the historical brutality, there has often been an inclination towards re-education rather than outright repression or elimination of dissenters.