Through Their Eyes-Cultural Revolution

ANNA BRENNER 8-8

INTRODUCTION• The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution happened from 1966 to 1976 in

only a short 10-year period. Even though it was only 10 years, this revolution resulted in more than 40,000,000 casualties. Mao Zedong was a contemporary Marxist-Leninist and was the leader of the revolution. He used propaganda to promote communist ways as well as promoting himself to a god like status.

•  The Great Leap Forward was the main Segway into this revolution. The Great Leap Forward was Mao’s attempt to modernize China’s economy to the point where it surpasses America’s and catches up with Russia and the rest of the west. However, The Great Leap Forward did not work out as planed and the country was poorer than ever. Thus, the start of The Cultural Revolution.

•  Mao Zedong wanted to abolish people who refused to be Communist, as well as Capitalists, and the Bourgeois. Mao Zedong almost had the whole of China supporting him during the revolution. And the main revolutionary group was called the “Red Guards”. My character in these journal entries is called Li Zhangwei. He is a Red Guard. You will be able to read all about The Great Proletarian Culture through the eyes of this particular Red Guard.

August, 5, 1966-First dazibao

My school mates and I putting up our Da Zi Bao’s

Streets flooded with Da Zi Bao’s

August, 18, 1966-Mao Zedong greets red guards in Tiananmen square

Our beloved leader Mao Zedong

My buddies and I on our way to Tiananmen Square

January 1967- “January Storm”

One final look at Mr. Guo…

Heading back to homeland!

January 1967-Down to the countryside movement

Down to the countryside!

Us working.

Sep. 9, 1976 Mao's death

Rest in peace Mao Zhu Xi

Us gathered in Tiananmen Square after Mao’s death.

So what?• The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution changed China forever. Without it, China

would not be like it is today. Mao Zedong, the people’s beloved leader, is still celebrated to this day. With his portrait hanging in Tiananmen Square, his preserved body in a museum in which thousands of locals visit everyday, and lastly, his face being present on many of the Chinese currency bills. Mao was promoted to a god like status. He was the China’s highest leader.

•  During this 10-year period, China had an entire generation of people’s education left out. As a result, these people were left illiterate. Also, China’s traditions and cultures had been wiped. Even though the revolution had been brutal, it could also be considered a good thing. After the revolution, China’s value for education has increased immensely. Even though old cultures and traditions were lost, perhaps new ones were found. I believe that the revolution could be a good thing because I believe that everything happens for a reason.

•  However, because China was communist, the country had lost touch with many other countries in the world and had little political allies. In addition to this, as I stated above, a whole generation of people lost their education. The Revolution had its good sides and bad sides, but without it, it is almost certain that China it self, or possibly other countries, will make the same mistakes that China had made during this Revolution. And perhaps even more lives were to be taken. I believe that the since The Cultural Revolution had taken place, nations can now learn from its mistakes. And our world would never have to take away education from a whole generation, and lives of 40,000,000 people ever again.