The Cultural Revolution was a period of massive socio-political upheaval in China, begun by Mao Zedong in 1966. It was a time of intense political, social, and economic turmoil that lasted until 1976 and completely changed the face of the nation. Its primary goal was to sweep away the “Four Olds”: old customs, old culture, old habits, and old ideas. During this time, Mao created the Red Guards, young people who enforced the beliefs of the Cultural Revolution fervently and whose political activity often resulted in violence.
The movement aimed to revolutionize Chinese society, focusing on eliminating capitalist and traditional elements from China. This included anyone deemed counterrevolutionary, such as teachers, landlords, and non-Red Guard members. It also included any foreign influence considered western or bourgeois, including religion, art, literature, and language. College students were sent to rural areas to learn farming techniques while local leaders were systematically replaced.
The Cultural Revolution was seen as a way to reassert Mao’s leadership over the Communist Party. He had become increasingly unpopular due to his eccentric policies such as the Great Leap Forward, so he used the Cultural Revolution to regain control over the party and the government. This led to the persecution of anybody seen as a threat to the regime, including party officials, intellectuals, and anyone who Mao deemed politically unreliable.
More than 100,000 people died during the Cultural Revolution, and millions more were persecuted. Intellectuals, teachers, artists, and writers were denounced, humiliated, and even tortured. Books were burned and libraries plundered. Universities and colleges were closed. Those who were found to be disloyal to Mao were subjected to public humiliation and “struggle sessions” where they were bullied, beaten, and sometimes killed.
The Cultural Revolution also had an immense effect on the economy. Factories and businesses were closed, and farmers were forced to work on collective farms. Inflation skyrocketed and food shortages became common. The country began to rely heavily on foreign aid and imports as domestic production came to a halt.
The Cultural Revolution ended with Mao’s death in 1976, when the government declared a policy of reform and openness (gaige kaifang). The new leadership distanced itself from the ideals and practices of the era, slowly bringing China back to a functioning state. Today, the Cultural Revolution is seen in a negative light and is largely remembered as a dark period in Chinese history. Although some of its legacy still remains, such as restrictions on free expression and censorship of media, it is clear that China has moved on from the tumultuous era of the 1960s and 1970s.