Spiritual and Cultural Determinism in Mao Zedong's Youth

Mao Zedong carried on Chinese traditional cultural ideas with emphasis on the power of the inner spirit and formed the thought of spiritual and cultural determinism in his youth under the influence of Yan Fu, Tan Sitong, Liang Qichao, Yang Cangji and etc. He advocated the doctrines of "Opening People's Mind"and "Being Firmly Determined." He believed that through the reform of philosophy and moral principles "genuine aspirations" could be established to attain the objective of "transtorming the people" and build up a new society and new country. This idea embodies the demand of the age to wipe out the feudal thoughts and old moral principles in the New Cultural Movement. However, it was still an idealistic view of history that could hardly stand firm with its head on end.