Lesson 3-What was the Cult of Mao? Flashcards
(41 cards)
Who was Chen Boda?
1904-89
Revolutionist and propagandist.
Who was Confucius?
BC 551-479
Chinese philosopher and political theorist
What did the Little Red Book come to have the same authority as in Maoist society?
As the Bible in Christian culture or the Qur’an in Islam
Who were the Ginger Group?
Supportive group whose task was to keep the party committed to true revolution
What did Mao begin to feel was a mistake?
His withdrawal from the political scene
Who did Mao turn to, to regain dominance?
Lin Biao
Who did Lin Biao become?
Mao’s propaganda minister
What was Biao projected as?
The interpreter of class struggle.
The last and the greatest in line of prophets of revolution that stretched from Marx, by way of Lenin and Stalin, o reach its climax in him.
Define cult.
An almost religious like veneration towards a particular figure. This is usually following a charismatic leader or group of leaders who hold authoritarian control over their followers.
Define cult of personality.
Excessive public admiration for or devotion to a famous person, especially a political leader.
[QUOTE] What saying shows the Mao had a cult and was admired?
“The East is Red, the sun rises, and in China, a Mao Zedong is born. He seeks the people’s happiness. He is the people’s saviour.”
What things contributed to the Cult of Mao?
- Little Red Book: the secular bible
- Lin Biao: propogandist of cult
- PLA: Mao’s guarantor of power
- The Diary of Lei Feng: the model of a Maoist
- PRC became a superpower under Mao
- China’s nuclear weapons
What was Lin’s aim as propaganda minister?
To elevate Mao about ordinary politics and put him beyond criticism as the embodiment of wisdom.
What was the Little Red Book seen as?
The Secular Bible
Who collaborated with Lin Biao to compile the Little Red Book?
Chen Boda
What was the Little Red Book formally entitled as?
‘Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong’
What was included in the Little Red Book?
Collection of thoughts and sayings of Mao since the 1920s and was mainly from the volumes of his writings and speeches already published by the CCP.
Had 33 chapters raging from over a wide set of subjects and highlighted such titles as ‘The Communist Party’, ‘Classes and Class Struggle’ and ‘Culture and Art’.
When did the Little Red Book first appear?
1964
What did the Little Red Book look like?
Encased in bold red plastic covers and was printed in handy pocket sizes
Within 2 years of the publication of the Little Red Book, how many copies of it were distributed?
740 million
What was the Little Red Book compared to the works of?
Confucius
Why were specially designed copies of the Little Red Book presented as precious wedding gifts to couples?
They were urged to read from it before intercourse so that the bride may conceive.
In what ways was the Little Red Book to be incorporated into every one’s life?
Became source of curriculum in schools and universities.
Was essential for everyone to have a copy.
In factories, workers were uplifted by continual loudspeaker broadcasts of readings of Mao’s words.
What did the PLA adopt as inspiration?
Mao’s Little Red Book
