Well, Mao most certainly did end China's dynastic past and with it, most of the last vestiges of her Imperial past. I will agree however, that we never just start "fresh". Even America didn't, borrowing the best of British ideas of law, parliament, and individual liberty.
I would argue though, and have been, that democratic systems are far
more capable of reform, of adapting, than authoritarian systems are. Indeed, that is one of the key reasons why they inevitably fail.
Lol!
I'm not sure you really understand what democracy
is. Here's a clue, your statement here is part of the very definition of it!