Chinese Cultural Revolution was Mao Zedong Essay Example

the traditional values in China and openly criticize party officials, began their movement by creating "big character posters" known as dazibao to express their opinions and slogans. One of their initial actions was to criticize the Three Family Village, a group of authors who subtly condemned Maoist ideals. As a result, slogans condemning the authors were posted all over Gao's school, including one that he still recalls: "The Three Family Village offended seven hundred million people, setting off a spiritual bomb greater than the A-bomb."

(Gao, p. 35) In a short time, the Red Guards turned on their teachers, labeling them as bourgeois revisionists and capitalist-roaders and even created dazibao to display their disdain. The teachers were ridiculed by the students for various reasons, including poor grades and their loyalty to Chiang Kai-Shek's old ideals.

Some educators couldn't cope with the shame and chose to end their lives in response. Subsequently, the Red Guards conducted Struggle Sessions to question their instructors until they admitted wrongdoing. At this point, the teachers were made to endure public humiliation in front of students while restrained in the "Jet Position," knees down with their arms bound behind their back. The audience would then beat them until they crumpled to the ground. Once they had practiced on educators, the Red Guards applied the same tactics to city officials who were instructed to "eliminate all imaginary enemies."

(Gao, P. 50) According to the text, the Red Guards subjected "corrupt" officials to marches in towns. Additionally, they were assigned to obliterate the old ideas, culture, customs, and habits known as the four olds by Mao.

During the Cultural Revolution, the Red Guards sought to eliminate

all vestiges of pre-revolutionary society through actions such as destroying stores, renaming streets, and demolishing historical monuments. Despite their unwavering faith in Mao's ideology, this led to their eventual demise due to the emergence of class conflicts that fractured the previously cohesive group.

Although the Red Guards were thought to be powerful, in reality, Mao Zedong had complete control over them through his cult of personality. Therefore, they were both perpetrators and victims of the Cultural Revolution, sacrificing their education and being indoctrinated to serve Mao loyally.

Gao acknowledges his remorse for his prior actions and dedicates his book to his son, expressing the desire that future generations will make better choices than he did. In the end, Mao emerged triumphant and regained power over China, but at a heavy cost. Chinese youth were compelled to commit atrocities in pursuit of an unattainable goal.