Cultural Revolution

 

*1965*

*Reform movement*

*Initiated by Mao Zedong*

*Eliminate counterrevolutionary elements in the country's institutions and leadership*

*Characterized by political zealotry, purges of intellectuals, and social and economic chaos*

*Renew spirit of revolution*

 *Feared colleauges lacked committment*

*Organized China's urban youths into groups called the Red Guards, shut down China's schools, and encouraged the Red Guards to attack all traditional values and "bourgeois things"*

*1968 Mao sent millions of rival groups to the rural hinterland, bringing some order to the cities*

*Within government, coalition of Mao's associates fought with more moderate elements, many of whom were purged, verbally attacked, physically abused, and subsequently died*

*Leaders Liu Shaoqi and Lin Biao both died under mysterious circumstances*

*1973 to Mao's death in 1976, politics shifted between the hard-line Gang of Four and the moderates headed by Zhou Enlai and Deng Xiaoping*

*After Mao's death the Cultural Revolution was brought to a close*

 

 

Chinese poster saying: "Smash the old world / Establish a new world." Classical example of the Red art from the early Cultural Revolution. A worker (or possibly Red Guard) crushes the crucifix, Buddha and classical Chinese texts with his hammer; 1967

 

 

Chinese poster showing Jiang Qing, saying: "Let the new socialistic performing arts occupy every stage.", 1967

 

 

A poster during the Cultural Revolution. Caption reads : The Chinese People's Liberation Army is the Great School of Mao Zedong Thought

 

 

The central section of this wall shows the faint remnant marks of a propaganda slogan that was added during the Cultural Revolution, but has since been removed. The slogan reads "Boundless faith in Chairman Mao."

 

 

Remnants of a banner from the Cultural Revolution in Anhui