How Did Mao Zedong Launch The Cultural Revolution

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The Cultural Revolution (CR) refers to an attempt by Party Chairman Mao Zedong to change thoughts and attitudes in China from 1966 to 1969. It included purges by Red Guards and the creation of a cult of personality, surrounding Mao, through the publication of his Little Red Book. The Revolution was launched in 1966, yet the reasons for its launch remain to be debated. Many have argued that Mao started the CR to revitalise China’s culture and rid the country of re-emerging capitalist elements. Yet there is more evidence to support the view that Mao began the CR in order to remove his political rivals, to take the power from those who posed a threat to his monopoly over the actions and attitudes of the Chinese people.
It can be argued that this …show more content…

Historian and intellectual Wu Han wrote a play called Hai Rui Dismissed from Office, which showed a loyal official criticising an emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and being dismissed for this. The play could be seen as an analogy for Mao’s dismissal of CCP Defence Minister Peng Dehuai following his criticism of the Great Leap Forward. Though Mao initially praised the play, he organised a negative review to be published in 1965. After a while, the negative pressure, and label of ‘right wing revisionist’ that followed Wu Han forced him to resign his role as deputy mayor of Beijing, with the mayor of Beijing, Peng Zhen being brought down with him. This episode is particularly significant in providing evidence for the claim that Mao launched the Revolution to eliminate political rivals, as it demonstrates the significance of art and theatre in the ‘culture’ which Mao wished to control. Additionally, the writer of the negative review of the play, Yao Wenyuan, was later appointed as a member of the Cultural Revolution Group (CRG), which directed the Cultural Revolution. Therefore, it can be said that Mao initiated the Cultural Revolution to eliminate political opposition, using art and culture as tools to eliminate undesirable officials and promote supporting ones, thereby consolidating his power against political

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