Culture Flashcards
(58 cards)
1
Q
culture
A
2
Q
why launch cultural revolution
A
- Mao’s position in gov 60-65
- criticisms of Liu and Deng
- reestab dominance
- purification of communism
3
Q
Maos position in gov 60-65
A
- GLF weaken Mao’s authority
- retreated from an active role in
day-to-day government. Liu Shaoqi became
president of China (1959), as Mao gave up the
presidency. (Mao continued to be chairman
of the CCP.) - The economic policies of Liu Shaoqi and
Deng Xiaoping had been successful in ending
the great famine. By 1962, the economy was
growing again. Senior CCP offi cials trusted
Liu and Deng’s economic leadership more
than Mao’s. - Between 1962 and 1964, Mao tried to
launch five new initiatives, including one to
reduce the growth of private farming. Liu and
Deng stopped them.
4
Q
Maos critixisms of Liu and Deng
A
-m capitalist
road to development that Liu and Deng were
following.
- Instead of the socialist road, which
meant peasants and workers benefi ting most,
- Mao said ‘capitalist roaders’ were making
experts and bureaucrats powerful and rich,
while the workers and peasants were ignored.
- revisionist: going back on socialist policies
and re-introducing capitalist elements. For
example:
* Re-introducing private farming and allowing
communes to break up.
* Putting experts in charge of factories and
planning, instead of letting the workers run
the factories themselves.
* Making the CCP bureaucracy more powerful
than peasants and workers. i.e decentralling decision making to loccal party officials, with little democratic oversight
5
Q
Re-establish dominance
key allies -> launch what x 3 -> Liu and Deng
A
In the early 1960s, Mao tried to get back control of the CCP.
- His key allies: Lin Biao and JIng QIng
- In 63, Mao launched the Socialist Education Movement, which included plans to remove capitalist elements from the CCP. This would have damaged Liu and Deng.
- * Liu and Deng stopped CCP> people in charge
- - Mao saw that many in the Party did not want his changes.
- * 65, Mao began a campaign against capitalist culture. Liu and Deng again were able to control the committee organising the campaign. * The Cultural Revolution began in May 1966. It was supported by Liu and Deng. But, this time, Mao and his allies were better prepared. Liu and Deng were unable to control the new campaign.
6
Q
Purification of communism reasons
A
Mao’s 1960s campaigns aimed to:
- Purge the CCP of capitalist and revisionist elements to maintain revolutionary ideals.
- Promote equality over elitism (party bureaucrats and industrial experts).
- Prioritize ideological correctness over pragmatism in policy (e.g., rejecting policies causing inequality despite practical benefits).
- Emphasize mass mobilization for achieving goals, guided by the CCP’s revolutionary spirit.
- Assert the CCP’s duty to lead the people to communism, including removing obstacles.
7
Q
idealogues & pragmatics
A
Mao = ideologue -> discomfort -> accept failure of GLF -> admit failure in countryside revolution -> private enteprise = revisionism -> atttitudes of ruling vlass embedded in edu, behaviour, arts and culture
- divide aparent 7000 cadres conference Jan 62 -> prevent drift from socialist ideas
- Deng view -> did not matter if the cat was black or white, as long as it caught the mouse it was a good cat -> ideological compromises necessary to get China’s economy back on its feet
8
Q
Red Guards
who? first? orfanisation? uniform?inspiration? aim?
A
The Red Guards were student groups from urban schools.
The first group emerged in a Beijing middle school in 1966, protesting the play Hai Rui dismissed from office. They called themselves ‘Chairman Mao’s Red Guards’.
Organized like army battalions, Red Guards wore military-style clothing and red armbands.
They were inspired by the PLA’s dedication to revolutionary socialism.
The Red Guards aimed to combat capitalist elements in the CCP and defend Mao and his ideology.
9
Q
mass rallies 66
A
Mass rallies (1966-) made students feel important, like they had responsibility over directing the revolution. Mao calimed he needed their support to defeat reactionary elements
- total participants 12 mn
10
Q
Attack on unis
A
- May 1966, Beijing University students protested against lecturers, escalating to physical attacks in June.
- Students resented lecturers acting as intellectual experts.
= Liu Shaoqi formed rival Red Guard groups to protect CCP officials from Mao-supporting Red Guards. - Mao ordered these rival groups to disband. In his August 1966 “16 Articles,” he empowered the Red Guards to overthrow “capitalist roaders” freely.
11
Q
key events in lead up to 1966
A
- calls for communism to be purified (cleansed of capitalist elements) led to launch of CR in May 66
- The Socialist education Movement 63
- Twenty-three Articles 65 099
- Criticism of the play Hai Rui dismissed from office (1965)
- The Central Cultural Revolution Group 66
12
Q
The socialist education Movement 63
A
- January 1963: Mao launched “Ten Points,” strongly criticizing revisionism in agriculture.
- Lin Biao’s “Little Red Book”: Introduced Mao’s ideology to indoctrinate soldiers, later influencing the Red Guards.
- “Learn from the PLA” campaign: Resulted from the emphasis on Mao’s ideology within the military.
- Student work programs: Students spent time in communes and factories, aiming to counter 1960s education reforms favoring CCP bureaucrats’ children.
- Re-education of experts/intellectuals: They were to be re-educated through manual labor in industry and agricultural work in communes.
13
Q
Twenty- Three Articles 65
A
- The power struggle within the CCP led to moderates Liu and Deng limiting the impact of Mao’s socialist education campaigns.
- Mao’s Twenty-Three Articles identified enemies within the CCP as the main hindrance to the Socialist Education Movement.
- Mao and allies advocated for a purge of corrupt CCP officials led by peasants and workers.
- Liu Shaoqi opposed this, fearing economic chaos from a large-scale attack on the government.
14
Q
Hai Rui dismissed from office (65)
trigger - maos interp. - allies interp. - result - mao react -> replace
A
- 1965: Mao initiated a campaign against “capitalist culture” in the PRC.
- Trigger: Campaign began with criticism of Wu Han’s play, Hai Rui Dismissed from Office.
- Play’s Content: About a 16th-century official who criticized an emperor.
- Mao’s Interpretation: Viewed the play as an attack on himself.
- Allies’ Interpretation: Mao’s allies claimed Hai Rui represented Peng Dehuai, who was dismissed for criticizing Mao’s Great Leap Forward.
- Five Man Group: CCP established this committee to assess the need for a cultural purge.
-Committee’s Decision: Led by an ally of Liu and Deng, the committee concluded the play was not political. - Mao’s Reaction: Mao and his allies were “outraged” by the decision.
- Replacement: The Five Man Group was replaced by the Central Cultural Revolution Group.
15
Q
Central Cultural Revolution Group
A
Set up by Mao in May 1966 to lead a
culture purge.
Led by Jiang Qing, it took control of the
CCP’s propaganda department.
Used propaganda to inspire young
people to join ‘the Red Guards’ to
purge the CCP of ‘capitalist roaders’.
16
Q
Jiang Qing
A
Jiang Qing was the deputy director of the
Central Cultural Revolution Group and Mao’s
wife. She used her control over the CCP’s
propaganda ministry to encourage Red
Guards to attack CCP offi cials who were
suspected ‘capitalist roaders’.
- Led Gang of four
17
Q
Kang Sheng
A
chief of secret police, orchestrated the rectification campaigns
18
Q
Maos hold on young ppl
urge - education, LRB, message, drawn, ideology
A
- Mao urged young people to reject CCP “capitalist roaders.”
- CCP education reforms had favored children of elite officials in admissions to top schools, causing resentment among other youth.
- January 1966: The CCP began distributing the “Little Red Book” to students.
- Mao’s message in the book praised young people and emphasized their role in China’s future.
- Students were more drawn to Mao’s radical, utopian ideas than the pragmatic policies of Liu and Deng.
- Mao’s ideology offered young people an exciting and revolutionary purpose in society.
19
Q
4 Olds’
launc, definition, implementation, targets, tactics
A
- Launch: Initiated by Lin Biao at a mass rally in August 1966.
- Definition: The ‘four olds’ were aspects of Chinese culture seen as tools of oppression and exploitation against the poor.
- Implementation: The Central Cultural Revolution Group instructed Red Guard groups nationwide to attack these ‘four olds’.
- Targets: Individuals who read old or foreign books, sang traditional or foreign songs, or practiced religion.
- Tactics: Many Red Guard groups employed terror to attack authority figures.
20
Q
Cultural destruction
A
- Cultural destruction: Red Guards attacked museums, destroying old books and artworks, as well as religious shrines and temples.
21
Q
desecration cr
A
- Desecration: This included raiding tombs of ancient Chinese emperors and mistreating human remains.
22
Q
home invasion cr
A
- Home invasions: Red Guards broke into homes, destroying old books, furniture, and religious items, leading to hundreds of thousands losing possessions and homes.
23
Q
personal appearance CR
A
- Personal appearance: Attacks targeted hairstyles (the queue) and clothing perceived as Western or associated to prev rule i.e Qing Dynasty .
24
Q
symbolic replacement CR
A
- Symbolic replacement: Old paintings were replaced with Mao’s pictures.
- Streets (Anti-revisionism Road - soviet Embassy)
- individuals (Kangmei - resist the US) renamed themselves with revolutionary slogans.
25
Damage Beijing CR
- Significant damage in Beijing: Two-thirds of 7,000 historical and cultural sites in Beijing were destroyed.
26
Culture reservation CR
- Protection of the Forbidden - City: Zhou Enlai used a PLA unit to prevent its attack.
- Reservations even among radicals: Even Chen Boda, a radical leftist, expressed concern about the extent of the destruction.
27
Red Terror attacls on ppl
| escalation, patrol and targets, public? ccp leaders? treatment violence
## Footnote
death suicide killing disposal
Escalation: Cultural attacks quickly shifted to attacks on individuals, encouraged by Mao with police forbidden from intervention.
Patrols and targets: Red Guards, in uniform and with "Little Red Books," patrolled urban areas, targeting intellectuals, bureaucrats, and the wealthy.
Public humiliation: Individuals, especially intellectuals, were forced to confess to crimes and endure public humiliation.
Attacks on CCP leaders: Top CCP figures accused of being "capitalist roaders" (including Liu, Deng, and Peng Dehuai) were verbally and physically attacked.
Degrading treatment: Intellectuals and Party officials were often forced to perform menial tasks like sweeping and cleaning.
Violence and suicide: Beatings and torture were common, leading many publicly humiliated individuals to commit suicide.
Mass killings: Red Guards beat several hundred thousand people to death with no police intervention, allowing the violence to continue.
Extreme violence for socialist aims: The Red Guards employed extreme violence to achieve socialist revolutionary goals.
Mass disposal of bodies: The Babaoshan crematorium in Beijing disposed of 2,000 bodies in a two-week period.
28
Political effects of Cultural Revolution
- Government breakdown: anarchy
- conflict
- PLa intervention
* All this conflict and chaos meant that China’s
economic production was badly disrupted.
29
Political effects of Cultural Revolution: anarchy
- Red Guard Overthrow: By early 1967, Red Guards were seizing control from CCP authorities in cities and some provinces.
- Anarchy from Infighting: Different Red Guard groups then fought each other for power, leading to chaos and a lack of central authority. -> Shanghai and Chongqing in December 1966, and the massive fighting between local militant groups and the PLA in Wuhan in 1967,
30
political effects - cultural revolution - conflict
| country and cities
- countryside
between Red Guards who wanted to break
up private farming and re-form communes,
and peasants who wanted to keep their land.
* Red Guards also fought with industrial
workers who did not want to get rid of their
managers in case it meant the workers did
not get paid their production bonuses.
31
political effects - cultural revolution - intervention
January storm 67 -W> resulted in Shanghai being put in control of the revolutionary Committee -> since divisions and rivalries emerge which created chaotic infighting -> model of gov replicated other provinces and cities over necxt yr
-PLA Intervention: The growing chaos led the People’s Liberation Army to intervene and suppress radical Red Guard factions, supported by some Politburo members (February Crackdown).
32
Failure of 4 olds
| religion, citizens, red guards, PLA
Religion's Private Persistence (1966-1967): Despite a ban on public worship due to the 'Four Olds', Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism continued privately, especially in peripheral regions, due to deeply held beliefs.
Local Resistance in Qufu (August 1966 onwards): In Confucius' hometown, locals resisted Red Guard vandalism of Confucian artifacts, prioritizing cultural preservation.
Red Guard Expansion & Infighting (Nov 1966 - Jan 1967): The growth of Red Guard units led to internal factional fighting, diverting focus from the 'Four Olds'.
PLA Intervention ("February Crackdown" - Feb 1967): The PLA began suppressing radical elements, further shifting focus away from the initial aims of the 'Four Olds' campaign.
33
success of 4 olds
removing many of the remaining bourgeois elements of society (‘old’ customs, ‘old’ ideas and ‘old habits). For example, in Beijing the Red guards broke into over 100,000 homes in search of ‘old’ bourgeois artefacts, such as art work, books and jewellery
34
economic effects of red terror
- conflict and chaos meant that Chinas economy was badly disrupted
- Young people were out of education so were undereducated -> poor literacy etc. etc.
35
Fate of Lin Biao
| who? confirm?fear?Jiang?llies?mill affairs commision?
Lin Biao: Military Commander: Rose to prominence, causing concern about his growing popularity.
Successor Confirmation (1969): A 1969 amendment to the constitution officially named Lin Biao as Mao's successor.
Mao's Fear: Mao worried Lin Biao's combined political and military power could lead to a "Chinese Bonaparte" scenario.
Jiang Qing's Influence: Jiang Qing's falling out with Lin over military matters increased Mao's suspicions.
Undermining Allies: Mao began to undermine Lin Biao's allies, such as Chen Boda.
Military Affairs Commission: Mao packed this key commission with his own supporters to weaken Lin's military influence.
36
Lin Biao Incident
- Assassination Plot (1971): Lin Biao and his son, Lin Liguo, were accused of plotting to assassinate Mao and seize power in a military coup.
- Failed Escape and Death (September 1971): Upon discovery, they attempted to flee to Russia, but their plane crashed, and they both died.
- Plot Discovered: Lin Biao's daughter reportedly informed Zhou Enlai about the assassination plot.
- Delayed News (1972): The news of Lin's death and alleged plot was delayed until 1972.
-Jiang Qing's Discrediting Campaign (Pre-1972): Jiang Qing launched a media campaign accusing Lin of being a Soviet spy to discredit him, fearing the news would damage Mao's standing.
37
Fate of Deng
- late 64 accused of acting independently
- Aug 66 criticised in Party Central COmmittee
- wall posters
- Oct 66 formally dismissed
- less harshly treated
- public humiliation
- sent to preform corrective labour in a tractor factory in Jiangxi Provinces
- links with Zhou meant he was rehabilitated to pary 73
- son left permanently paralysed after beeing thrown out of a window by Red Guards
38
Fate of Liu
- President Liu removed from position
- By late 1964, Mao was accussed Liu of taking the 'capitalist road'
- Aug 1966 Party Central committee meeting -> critisised them
- Oct 66 formally dismissed
- president position scrapped 69
- Liu and wife dragged from home and beaten
- undergo brutal struggle sessions
- imprisoned with conditions desiigned to break LIu who was in ill health
- liu died Nov 69
39
Fate of liu's wife
- his waife Wang was subjected to humiliating interrorgation, before being paraded around a large crowd with necklace of tennis balls, and a revealing skirt
- sentenced to death but Mao intervened
40
purge CCP membershiip
- highranking party members only 9/23 politburo members of 1966 retained post
- 70% of regional and provincial officials
- 2/3 central committee 1966 by Oct 1968
- 20% local party officials
- 3mn party cadres sent to May 7th Cadre schools
- increased influence of PLA -> 2/3 of delegates to congress & 45% Central committee and 1/2 of politburo
41
Capitalist Roaders
| attack? label? focus urban? Disrupt? economy? part? deaths?launch?halt?
## Footnote
research
- attack pragmatist in party
- convenient general label to attack any enemy
- mainly focused on urban areas -> intense scrutiny
- disruption to work life -> fall in industrial production down 13% 1967
- and further 68 before picking up once persecution stopped
- key part 'cleansing of class ranks' -> dev CCRG in 68
- more vivicious than stages of red guards + = more than 100,000 deaths
- 1970 - '1 strike + 3 antis' launched to remove all atttitudes which were preventing economic pprogress -> Mao call halt 71
- research suggests violence in rural counties peaked 68 & 71 after red guards sent away
42
Key event in winding down the cultural revolution 67-69
- 67 Aug : Crackdown on red guard begins
- 68: cleansing of class ranks
- summer 68: Guangxi province and Shangxi Province PLA restore order
- Sep 68 : last 29 provincial revolutionary committees in place
- compulsory rustification campaign begins
- April 69: 9 CCP congress announces CR official end
- Nov 69 Liu Shaoqi dies
into politics
43
Key events winding down cultural revolution 71 -76
Sep 71 Lin Biao's fall
- Feb 72: Nixons visit
- 1973 Wang Hongwen unveiled as Maos successer 10th Party congress
- Deng readmitted into politics
- 'criticise Lin and confucious campaign'
- 76 Jan -> Death of Zhou Enlai
- 76 April: Tianemen incident
- 76 Sep: Death of Mao succession of HUa Guofeng, arrest of gang of 4
44
restoration of order by PLA
- PLA interventio
- Mao order factions to form alliances and stop fighting one another
45
Rustification Programme
- 'Up the mountains and down to the villages'
- 68-- 70
- involve the compulsory movement of 5mn young ppl from city to rural areas
- disperse former guards = less trouble
- remind china rev. based on peasantry
- intro realities of manual labour = harden youth
- reassert army control = many farms run by military
- most miserable learning new skills from hostile peasantry
- little extra food to feed
- rural conditions primitice and sofl lower than what used to - became disillusioned with Mao
46
Deng Xiaoping And Zhou Enlai - '4 modernisations'
| Mao, revival, west, concilitary, anti soviet alignment, econ recovery
ao's Uncertainty: Mao's wavering on how to handle Lin Biao created an opening for Zhou Enlai.
Zhou's Four Modernizations Revival: Zhou Enlai, who had advocated for the "Four Modernizations" since 1963, was able to revive this agenda.
- Closer Ties with the West: This period saw the establishment of closer links with the West, exemplified by Nixon's visit in 1972.
- Conciliatory Relations: While full diplomatic relations with the US weren't achieved until 1979, a tone of conciliation was established.
- Anti-Soviet Alignment: The shared opposition to Russia led America to view China favorably.
- Economic Recovery: Efforts focused on restoring economic production and stability after the Cultural Revolution's disruption, including the reintroduction of university admission tests to improve standards.
47
mao shift left effext 4 modernisation
- Mao's Shift to the Left (1973): Mao, viewing Lin as a rightist masquerading as a leftist, swung his support to the radical left, slowing Zhou's pragmatic policies.
- Deng Xiaoping's Return (1973): Zhou Enlai managed to bring Deng Xiaoping back into a position of influence.
-Benefit of Moderation: The need for moderation after Lin Biao's downfall benefited Zhou and Deng.
- Deng Trains Wang Hongwen: Deng Xiaoping was involved in grooming Wang Hongwen as a potential successor.
- Balancing Act (1973-1976): Deng helped Mao balance the influence of radicals and pragmatists within the leadership.
- Deng's Purge (1976): Deng was purged again after the Tiananmen Incident, as Jiang Qing and the radicals launched an attack against him.
48
Gang of 4
49
Wang Hongwen
-35 -92
- a member of gang of 4 who had risen to prominence during shanghai disturbances early 67
- background as worker, peasant and soldier,
- unveiled as Mao's chosen successor at 10th Party cingress of 1973
50
Death of Zhou Enlai
A memorial service for Zhou who died Jan 76 -> became a huge demonstrtation in Tiannemen square in favour of the type of moderate policies associated with both Zhou and Deng
51
cult of Personality
- magnify Maos importance, unwaivering support from youth
-The diary of Lei Feng, a fabricated journal of a
= cult foundations. Told story of how every thought and action was inspired by devotion to MAO. Loyalty to Mao> selfish careerism
-Cult well established by 1966,
- young people contrasted between Mao and the party- who oppressed them
-PARTY= portrayed as threat to Mao, infiltrated with ‘counter-revolutionaries’
-more paintings of Mao were sold than people in china - 1.2 billion + 4.8 billion badges with his face on them - Halliday
‘The East is red” = message of the cult. Entailed Mao’s divinity, worthy of worship. Became official anthem of the cultural revolution, played on loudspeakers in towns/villages/schools
52
Hua Guofeng
1991-2008
- A politburo member and capable administrator whose career had risen during the Cultural Revolution
- He was not restricted by being linked to any faction, but views pragmatic and moderate
- Maos final choice of successor
53
Death of Mao 1976
- Mao died Sep 76
- health decline from 71
- Maof physician Liu Zhisui had claimed from 73 + Mao was dependent on massice injections of drugs which left him comatose most of the time
- Sep 76 Mao incapable of giving decisive guidance
54
Who was the gang of 4?
How did they aid the start of the CR
Chunquiao, Hongwen, Wenyuan and Jiang Qing
-powerful Shanghai radicals, rivalled Beijings power. Willing to use secret police and triads to advance power.
-Dominated the CCRG
-Wenyuan discredited Peng Zhen in 1965 in the press
55
why focus youth
Involvement of younger generation in revolutionary activity would ensure long-term survival of revolution. More radical change = less likely to be reversed
· Valued the dynamism of young people, shown in antis campaign of 1950s and the GLF. Once unleashed, difficult to stop.
· Easier to manipulate, more naiive, hadn’t been exposed to
Confucian backgrounds, life before communism
56
why did need permanent rev reason cr
Mao feared revolution would lose impetus, old attitudes would come back. Mass mobilisation = members of campaigns would fight for changes they had created, preserve advances. Cultural revolution somewhat inevetivale, Mao would soon initiate mass drive to prevent revisionism
- Mao : Khrushchev and successors ruined Lenins legacy in USSR. Took de-stalinisation too far, too liberal and friendly with west. Determined to prevent this in China - after his death too.
Younger cadres had not been tested, not members of long march, Japan struggle, civil war, antis campaigns =Younger generation needed direct revolutionary struggle to identify with communism
57
why attack bureucracy
- Linked to permanent revolution = undermining bureaucracy. Communists had made compromises in early years after 1949,.Mao feared a new bureaucracy had been created, running china motivated by privilieges of power. Permanent revolution= avoid Russias mistakes
- Must purge new class of communist bureaucrats, before they became a new class of mandarins ( exclusive elite of high ranking civil servants running china before 1911) + lose touch with the masses
- Mao wanted to keep peasants at centre of revolution, but intellectuals had run country since 1949 ( only people well educated enough) -most critical of GLF. Cultural revolution = vengeance against them and remove privileged class to ensure pure communism
58
cultural destruction specific example
- the cemetery of Confucius was attacked
- statues, including one of the Yongle Emperor, were destroyed.
- The remains of the 8th-century Buddhist monk Huineng were also attacked.
