What was the Cultural Revolution?
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Mao's Red Guard |
Following the failure of the Great Leap Forward, Mao continued to enforce another ground-breaking campaign which would rid China of any ‘outdated culture’. This method would allow Mao to rebuild China under his policies and give him absolute control over all aspects of the Chinese way of life. Mao introduced the Four ‘O’s which were made up of old ideas, old culture, old customs and old habits which meant anything falling under one of these categories should all be destroyed.
The propaganda poster (right) shows a man with a hammer, or similar, about to crush a pile of junk. This 'junk' is made up of old records, a Buddha, a Crucifixion, writings and plays which represents Mao's idea of crushing the old China and everything that represents it.
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In 1966, Mao hatched a plan to mobilize the Chinese children and turn them into his soldiers that would fight against any arising threats or intellects. Thus, all schools were shut down and teachers were persecuted. Any educational facilities were shut down as well as all the books containing any information about anyone other than Chairman Mao or any ideologies about from Communism.
The Red Guards were ruthless. One author, Ma Jian was 17 at the time of the Revolution remembers, "We then had to stand outside and watch as the red guards poured 10 flasks of boiling water over granny Li's head..." |