Cultural Revolution

The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a sociopolitical movement in the People's Republic of China. It was launched by CCP chairman Mao Zedong in 1966 and lasted until his death in 1976. Its stated goal was to preserve Chinese communism by removing ideas and practices that seemed like capitalist or traditional influences from Chinese society.

Mao believed that bourgeois elements had entered the government and society, trying to bring back capitalism. He encouraged young people to challenge authority, saying that "to rebel is justified". Many students formed groups called Red Guards and took part in widespread changes. They aimed to remove old ideas and customs, often by destroying historical items and buildings. This period brought a lot of confusion and difficulty for many people in China.

After Mao passed away, new leaders began to change the country and move away from the ideas of the Cultural Revolution. In 1981, the Communist Party admitted that this time had caused serious problems for the people and the country. Today, people in China remember this time in different ways, often calling it the "ten years of chaos" because of how it affected everyone.

Etymology

The idea of a "cultural revolution" was talked about in communist discussions and newspapers even before China became the People's Republic of China. Back then, the term meant trying to end illiteracy so more people could take part in community decisions. People often compared this idea to events like the May Fourth Movement and the Soviet cultural revolution from 1928 to 1931.

Background

Creation of the People's Republic

Main article: Proclamation of the People's Republic of China

On 1 October 1949, Mao Zedong announced the start of the People’s Republic of China, ending a long and difficult war. Some former soldiers and leaders who did not support the new government fled to Taiwan. Mao started efforts to remove anyone he thought might threaten his new leadership.

Great Leap Forward

Main articles: Great Leap Forward and Great Chinese Famine

See also: Seven Thousand Cadres Conference

In 1962, a big meeting happened in Beijing with thousands of important people. Leaders talked about mistakes made during a past plan called the Great Leap Forward. Mao admitted some blame but stepped back from economic decisions. Later, Mao grew unhappy with changes happening in China’s farms and fields.

Impact of international tensions and anti-revisionism

Main article: Sino-Soviet split

In the 1950s, China and the Soviet Union were both communist countries, but they began to disagree. The Soviet leader changed some important ideas, which upset Mao. This caused problems between the two countries. Mao worried that these disagreements might affect China’s safety and its goals.

Socialist Education Movement and Hai Rui Dismissed from Office

See also: Socialist Education Movement and Hai Rui Dismissed from Office

In 1963, Mao started a movement to strengthen communist ideas in China. He focused on removing anyone he thought was not fully loyal. A play written by a Beijing official caught Mao’s attention. Mao believed the play was a hidden criticism of him, leading to more conflict within the government.

1966: Outbreak

The Cultural Revolution was a big movement in China that started in 1966 and lasted until 1976. It began in the spring of 1966 and had two main parts. The first part, from spring 1966 to summer 1968, had many important events. The second part lasted until fall 1976.

In May 1966, a meeting was held in Beijing where leaders talked about important ideas. Students started groups called Red Guards to challenge old ideas and leaders. Classes were cancelled, and many students gathered in Beijing to show their support.

In July 1966, Mao Zedong wrote a message called "Bombard the Headquarters," asking people to challenge leaders he did not agree with. Red Guards met in August 1966, and Mao encouraged them to make big changes. Many places and traditions were changed during this time.

1967: Seizure of power

Main article: Seizure of power (Cultural Revolution)

See also: Violent struggle, Rebel Faction (Cultural Revolution), Conservative Faction (Cultural Revolution), and Smashing gong-jian-fa

During this time, groups of people formed different sides. Some supported leader Mao Zedong's ideas, while others supported more moderate leaders. In January 1967, a policy was created to support these groups as they tried to take control of local governments.

In March 1967, a plan was made to send military troops to schools and workplaces to help calm things down. However, not all military leaders supported these changes, which caused more problems. In Shanghai, a young worker helped organize a group that took over the city's government in January 1967. This was just the beginning—soon, many other local governments lost their power to new groups called "revolutionary committees."

Fighting and disagreements grew between these groups and the military. In some places, like Wuhan, leaders tried to stop the changes, but this led to more conflict. By the end of 1967, the military had become a strong force in controlling the country. Despite all the trouble, efforts were made to improve healthcare in rural areas, with new medical stations helping people stay healthy.

1968: Purges

See also: Cleansing the Class Ranks

In 1968, a big political cleanup began. Many people were sent to work in the countryside to learn new ways. This was aimed at those who had been very active earlier in the movement.

In July, the leaders of a student group called the Red Guards met with Mao. They talked about ending fights among the students. Mao explained that he had sent workers to help stop the violence.

That same year, Mao started a movement called "Down to the Countryside." Young people from cities were sent to live and work in rural areas. This helped move students away from cities and spread ideas about change across the country.

1969–1971: Lin Biao

The 9th National Congress took place in April 1969. It aimed to refresh the party with new ideas and leaders after many older members had been removed. The usual way of choosing leaders changed, with military leaders having more influence. Lin Biao, a top military leader, became very important and was named as Mao Zedong's main successor.

Lin was given a special role in the party, and his name was written into the party constitution as Mao's closest helper. He gave a major speech at the Congress, criticizing some former leaders and emphasizing Mao's ideas. The Congress also brought back some important party groups that had stopped working during the earlier years of the Cultural Revolution.

In early 1970, a new campaign began to strengthen the party's control by targeting unwanted ideas and actions. Unfortunately, many people were treated harshly during this time.

Mao tried to reorganize the party, but there were still conflicts, especially between Lin and other leaders. Tensions rose, particularly after border clashes with the USSR in 1969. In October 1969, Lin issued an order to prepare for war without Mao's approval, which upset Mao.

Attempts were made to give Lin an official role in government, but Mao opposed this. Arguments between leaders grew, and Mao removed some of Lin's supporters from important positions.

In 1971, there were concerns about Lin's actions. Lin and some of his close allies tried to leave China, but their plane crashed, and everyone on board died. The exact reasons for the crash remain unclear. This event shocked many people and caused confusion within the party about what had happened.

1972–1976: The Gang of Four

Main article: Gang of Four

After some difficult events, Mao Zedong reached out to old friends for help. He brought a young worker named Wang Hongwen from Shanghai to Beijing to help lead the country. Wang seemed like a good choice to help guide China’s future.

Jiang Qing, Mao’s wife, became more powerful during this time. She teamed up with Wang and two others, Zhang Chunqiao and Yao Wenyuan, to form a group known as the Gang of Four. They wanted to control what people thought and said.

China’s economy was struggling, and many important workers had been removed from their jobs. Zhou Enlai, a moderate leader, tried to fix the economy, but the Gang of Four did not like him. They started a campaign against old ideas to weaken Zhou’s influence.

Deng Xiaoping's rehabilitation (1975)

Deng Xiaoping returned to help lead China in 1973. After Zhou Enlai stepped back from politics in 1975, Deng took on many important roles. He worked to improve China’s economy and bring stability. However, some leaders, including the Gang of Four, did not agree with Deng’s ideas. They felt his changes might undo the work of the Cultural Revolution.

Death of Zhou Enlai

On 8 January 1976, Zhou Enlai passed away from illness. Many people in China respected Zhou and wanted to honor him. But the Gang of Four tried to limit public mourning, which made many people unhappy.

Tiananmen incident

Main article: 1976 Tiananmen incident

On 4 April 1976, many people gathered in Tiananmen Square to remember Zhou Enlai. They left flowers, banners, and poems to show their respect. Some people also expressed their dissatisfaction with the Gang of Four and the changes made during the Cultural Revolution. The government tried to stop these memorials, which led to some unrest.

Death of Mao Zedong and the Gang of Four's downfall

See also: Death and state funeral of Mao Zedong and Smashing the Gang of Four

Mao Zedong passed away on 9 September 1976. After his death, Hua Guofeng, whom Mao had trusted, became the new leader. With support from the army and other important leaders, Hua and his allies arrested the Gang of Four, ending their influence over China.

Aftermath

After the Cultural Revolution ended, China went through a time of change and healing. Leaders worked to fix the problems that happened during those years. Deng Xiaoping, a new leader, wanted to bring new ideas and reforms to help China grow and improve.

Many people who were treated unfairly during the Cultural Revolution were cleared of wrong accusations and honored again. The government admitted that the Cultural Revolution caused big problems for the country and its people. Leaders made efforts to learn from past mistakes and move forward with new plans for the future.

Atrocities

Fatality estimates from the Cultural Revolution vary widely, ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of people. Many of these deaths happened after large public events ended, as efforts were made to restore order in communities and workplaces. Some serious accidents, like the collapse of the Banqiao Dam in 1975, also led to many deaths.

Mass killings happened in many parts of China, such as Guangxi, Inner Mongolia, Guangdong, Yunnan, Hunan, Ruijin, and Qinghai, and during a time known as Red August in Beijing. These killings were often organized by local leaders, groups, and military forces. Many victims were people considered to be from unfavorable backgrounds or members of certain groups. Researchers estimate that at least 300,000 people died in these mass killings.

Violent battles between different groups also occurred, especially in 1967, with many people using guns, grenades, and other weapons. These fights caused many casualties. In addition, many people faced harsh treatment and were unfairly accused of being spies or troublemakers. Some were imprisoned, harmed, or had their property taken away.

The Cultural Revolution also caused trouble for minority groups. Their languages, customs, and religious practices were targeted, and many suffered persecution. For example, in Inner Mongolia, thousands of people were harmed during searches for supposed separatists. In Tibet, many monasteries were destroyed, and monks and nuns were harmed. Despite these difficulties, some traditions survived in remote areas.

Cultural impact and influence

The Cultural Revolution aimed to remove old traditions and ideas from Chinese society. This led to many changes, including closing schools, changing how art and music were made, and damaging historical places.

During this time, students called Red Guards formed groups to support their leaders. They sometimes treated teachers and parents harshly, which caused sadness and trouble for many families. Many important people, including scientists and writers, faced difficult times and were sent to work in rural areas.

Schools and universities were closed for several years, which affected many students' education. New ways of teaching were tried, but these changes were hard for students and teachers alike. Even today, the effects of these changes can still be felt in some parts of China.

Foreign relations

During the early years of a big movement in China called the Cultural Revolution, the work of China's embassies around the world was interrupted. In a meeting in 1969, Mao Zedong talked about how China felt alone and needed to improve its relationships with other countries.

There was a big tension between China and the Soviet Union in 1969. The Soviet Union even planned a big attack using very powerful weapons, but this plan was stopped thanks to help from the United States. China also supported groups in several countries in Southeast Asia, like Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia, by sending money and ideas about changing governments. This support included a lot of help to a group in Cambodia called the Khmer Rouge. However, by the 1970s, China had trouble helping North Vietnam in its war against South Vietnam because of its own economic problems.

Evaluations

Main article: Evaluation of the Cultural Revolution

In 1981, leaders of the Chinese Communist Party reviewed the Cultural Revolution and said it caused big problems for the country and its people. After this time, many people in China began to question the ideas from the Cultural Revolution and wanted to learn more about the world.

Today, talking about the Cultural Revolution is still controlled in China. Books and online discussions about it are watched closely by the government, and many old documents are still kept secret. People have different opinions about the leader Mao Zedong, with some seeing him as a hero and others thinking he made poor decisions that hurt many people.