The Cultural Revolution, officially called the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a period of time that began in 1966 and ended in 1976. It was a violent social upheaval launched by Mao Zedong, leader of the Chinese Communist Party, to rid China of “bourgeois” elements and restore the revolutionary zeal of Chinese Communism. The Cultural Revolution saw widespread directives issued by the Chinese government, aimed at purging all aspects of traditional Chinese culture and replacing them with revolutionary ideology.
The Cultural Revolution saw the closure of schools, universities, and factories, and the mobilization of millions of young people known as Red Guards. These Red Guards conducted physical attacks against political, economic, or social targets, such as teachers and professors, anyone suspected of being counter-revolutionary, and people with religious beliefs. The effects of the Cultural Revolution on the social fabric of China and its political and economic institutions are still debated.
There are several competing explanations for what caused the Cultural Revolution. Some scholars have argued that Mao’s aim was to reassert his power after his setbacks during the Great Leap Forward. Others have argued that he wanted to create a new China by purging the corrupt elements of society. And some have argued that Mao was attempting to distract the Chinese people from the growing inequality between rural and urban areas.
Whatever the cause, the period of the Cultural Revolution was characterized by mass chaos, violence, and intense political struggle. In an effort to curb dissent and ensure loyalty to the Communist Party, Mao mobilized the entire country towards his goals. He issued statements encouraging the masses to embrace his ideology and embrace violence against those who opposed his revolutionary cause.
Red Guards were organized throughout the country and were given weapons to use in their attacks on those viewed as enemies of the revolution. This included intellectuals, religious believers, and people with ties to foreign powers. As the movement reached its peak, Red Guards stormed offices, factories, schools, and homes. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed, and millions more were sent to labor camps or to perform hard labor in the countryside.
In reaction to the chaos, Mao temporarily suspended most of the activities of the Red Guards in 1969, and set up committees to make sure that people’s lives returned to normal. In 1971, Mao further decreed that all revolutionary activities must be orderly and that all dissent must cease. In 1975, the Cultural Revolution officially came to an end, though the effects of its policies and campaigns continued in the years after.
The Cultural Revolution had far-reaching and long-lasting consequences for the country. It left deep scars on the landscape, both physically and psychologically. It also caused profound changes in China’s economy and society. There was a dramatic increase in corruption, and inequalities between urban and rural areas widened as the government pursed a policy of decentralization. Schools and universities were closed, hindering educational advancement and leading to a decline in intellectualism. The economy suffered and agricultural production declined.
The Cultural Revolution also left its mark on Chinese culture, permanently altering how people think about different topics. It encouraged a cult of personality around Mao and helped build a widely accepted system of censorship in the country. The memory of the Cultural Revolution still lingers in China today and its effects will be felt for many years to come.