Political leaders, scholars, and left-wing groups from China abroad often interpret, admire, or evaluate Mao Zedong and his ideology through Marxism or modern revolutionary lenses. It is interesting to note that traditional Chinese thought did play a role in the development and overseas dissemination of Mao Zedong thought. Niijima Atsuyoshi 新島淳良 (1928–2002), besides being a renowned Sinologist in Japan, was also a prominent figure of the so-called “pro-Cultural Revolution Faction” in Japan during the Cultural Revolution. Niijima argued that there is a discontinuity between Mao Zedong thought and the thought of the Yijing, providing theoretical analysis for the universalization of Mao Zedong thought and potentially facilitating Japan’s absorption of Mao Zedong thought. Niijima was not an expert in Yijing studies, but his view on the Yijing was somewhat unique. He believed that Mao Zedong thought’s dialectical method completely ruptured from the traditional yinyang dualistic thinking, but only “negatively inheriting” yinyang dualistic thinking in form. He argued that it is precisely this discontinuity that highlights the excellence and uniqueness of Mao Zedong thought. Niijima’s discussion of the relationship between Mao Zedong thought and the Yijing thought reflects how overseas sinologists “negatively” utilize classical Chinese texts, both demonstrating the uniqueness of Mao Zedong thought and promoting its overseas dissemination.