The Cultural Revolution in China began on May 16, 1966 when the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) released a document entitled “Decision on Certain Questions concerning the Three Volume Works of Mao Zedong.” This document marked the beginning of a turbulent period of political, ideological, and social change which came to be known as the Cultural Revolution.
The document was drafted by Mao Zedong and chairman of the CCP Liu Shaoqi, who used it to criticize revisionism within the Chinese party. The document declared that Mao Zedong’s works were the only legitimate source of political guidance. This validated Mao Zedong’s claim to be the key leader of the Chinese Communist Party and established him as the vanguard of the Cultural Revolution.
The document also stated that the traditional Chinese culture which had been upheld before the 1949 revolution was now outdated and needed to be replaced with a new revolutionary culture. This statement marked the beginning of the Cultural Revolution and was followed by a series of campaigns which sought to bring about a transformation in all aspects of Chinese society.
In May 1966, a mass mobilization campaign called “the May 16 Notification” was launched targeting youth. Students and Red Guards were encouraged to join in by forming organized groups and actively participating in ideological debates and the dissemination of Mao’s works. Many students took up the call, leading to a wave of unrest in cities across China.
In July of the same year, during a nationwide tour of inspection, Mao Zedong visited Beijing University and met with student representatives from other cities. His famous statement, “It is right to rebel”, further fueled the student-led activities and set the tone for the transformation of Chinese society.
The Cultural Revolution continued to gain momentum in the following years. Mass rallies and political campaigns such as the “Four Cleanups”, “Criticize the Old, Establish the New”, “Learn from Lei Feng”, and the “Red Guard Movement” served to further propagate Mao’s ideology. The government also launched the “Cultural Revolution Group”, which was tasked with carrying out Mao’s instructions, and established a number of revolutionary committees to oversee key aspects of the Cultural Revolution.
The May 16 Notification and the subsequent activities of Mao Zedong and the CCP marked the beginning of the Cultural Revolution in China. The effects of this period of upheaval and chaos still remain today, and for many, the Cultural Revolution serves as an example of the dangers of unchecked power and the power of a single individual to shape a nation.