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

Streets are flooded with enthusiasm. We have recently heard from our teachers about this incredible idea. Writing down our angry thoughts on old newspapers to carry down our ideas. This new expression is called “Da Zi Bao”. BRING DOWN THE BOURGEOUS! OUT WITH THE FOUR OLDS…CARRY OUT THE NEW CHINA! These words circle my mind as I think of how great this new idea is. Mr. Liu, my teacher has told us that writing these posters would make Mao Zu Xi happy, and when Mao Zu Xi is happy, we are happier!  In school, whenever we are not studying The Little Red Book, we would be making these posters on whatever we could find! Whenever I wrote one, I felt good. Like I was contributing to the society. I was doing the good, even if I didn’t quite understand what I was writing. I just knew that it was making Mao Zu Xi happy. Our leader had noticed our posters today. It felt so good to know that he is watching down on us. Mao Zu Xi had broadcasted our posters on live television. Now we red guards are even more passionate about making these posters. I can’t even explain my feeling of being in this project with these people that are just as enthusiastic as I am. I feel like I belong. Unlike the bourgeois, and capitalists, I was contributing for the good.  I had walked down the street three days ago to school only to see people smiling and greeting me. These posters had showered our streets. I listened to the radio that was playing inside of a home. “ 毛主席真诚的感谢大家的努力，他觉得这些大字报在路边还满好看的” (Mao Zhu Xi thanks every from the bottom of his heart for putting up the big character posters. He thinks that they make the roads much more pretty). I looked out at the posters, what I thought was ugly posters that proved a great point, suddenly turned into beautiful posters that proved and even greater point. Our leader has such great taste! Later that day, I had time to travel with my friends to meet other people in our country because our school hours have been cut short. We would meet others like us and share our knowledge while they share theirs. It was so great meeting these people. We also wrote some Da Zi Bao together. We arranged schedule so we could meet again and spread the Mao thoughts together. We were becoming great friends. I will continue to make these posters and please Mao, and I will, along with my family, friends, and other red guards, make China a better place. I am sure of it.

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

 I looked down at my tinted brown white slippers. I had only found these shoes a week ago. I recall the time when I first got these slippers. I found them by my family’s wheat farm. They looked brand new and so clean; I couldn’t help my temptation of trying them on. Ever since the great leap forward we were poorer than ever, all my clothes and shoes were always my brothers’. Our family had escaped to Shanghai at that time. Whenever I think of the Great Leap Forward, I always have tears come to my eyes. Our family was starving, yet we still held on and pushed through. Others weren’t as fortunate. I took the shoes. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. The shoes also fitted perfectly, like it was meant for me. And the day after I found the shoes, our beloved leader Mao Zu Xi greeted us Red Guards in Tiananmen Square.

 We had Mao Zu Xi’s full support as red guards. After that, I was almost absolutely sure that these shoes had some type of power, that they were lucky. I cannot even explain the type of emotion that I had just then. On one hand, it felt good, superb, exceptional happiness was carried inside of me. On the other hand, I felt extreme pressure. I was thinking about how we Red Guards will be able to please Mao Zu Xi. Perhaps all we had to do was keep on supporting him, and continuing what we were doing from the start. Or we might have to do something way bigger. Possibly even change our country, or even change the world.  After that day, things changed, we were much more dedicated. We were much more enthusiastic about reading and memorizing, “ 毛主席语录 ” (The Little Red Book) and trying to take down everyone Mao disliked. Mao was our hero. He meant well. He will make our country a better place and I know it. Mao Zu Xi gave us hope. We pushed on for him. He felt like a father to us, and we all truly owe him everything for what we have today. During The Great Leap forward, things were really bad. And Mao decided to stop it because he knew that it was hurting us. Like a father would do to his child. Save his child from danger, even if it would not be the best thing to do for himself. Wan Sui Mao Zedong Wan Sui! 

January 1967- “January Storm”

One final look at Mr. Guo…

Heading back to homeland!

 My mother told me that it is good to go out and spread the Mao words. So I did. One of my 老乡 (someone that originated from the same place you did) told me about heading back to our hometown to abolish the bourgeois, and the bad elements of the society. Before I went with my pals back to our homeland, my mother packed me a treat, my favorite 话梅糖 (Plum sugars). She was so proud of me for doing this. Being so brave for our country.  The first day that I was in An Hui, I went back into our neighborhood. I tried to remember anyone who I ever despised. The one who stood out most was Mr. Guo, our math teacher who had said that he didn’t like how time was been taken from math class for a new class where we study The Little Red Book. He had insulted the beloved Mao Zedong! I remember thinking that this should never be allowed! And I would make him pay. A few us Red Guards paid a visit to Mr. Guo’s house after I had told them what happened. They were furious, just like I was. And we thought it was time to teach him a lesson. We had everything ready…the dunce cap, and the dunce board. Once we had dragged him down onto the street, Ming, my close friend started shouting and explaining to everyone Mr. Guo’s bad deeds, humiliating him in public. People were so furious; some demanded Mr. Guo to be punished to an even higher level. My closest buddies started kicking him and beating him. I was about to join when I saw his family screaming and crying in the distance. Mr. Guo was 68 years old. He had three sons, two daughters, and 5 grandchildren. I had that one moment of thought, and Mr. Guo was beaten to death.  It has been exactly 10 days since this incident, the country called it The January Storm. Apparently the idea of going back to your hometown was not original. Red Guards were eliminated after this. We had gone out of hand. The murder of Mr. Guo has bothered me for these 10 days, and I am sure that it would not stop bothering me for a very long time. I cannot describe my feeling. Had I done anything wrong? After all, I was the one that told my friends about Mr. Guo. Even so, all I was doing was defending Mao Zhu Xi. Since Mr. Guo had talked against Mao, I thought he had to be punished. He was acting like a capitalist, as Mao would say. I know that what I had done, I had done for the good of the country. Although this is true, I don’t know why the fact that Mr. Guo is dead bothers me. Maybe he is just a sacrifice to the country and I am over thinking it. After all, revolution is not a dinner party. 

January 1967-Down to the countryside movement

Down to the countryside!

Us working.

 Down to the mountains! We were being required, on behalf of Mao, to go the countryside to be reeducated. Many fresh high school graduates like myself, who are being known as the “Rusticated Youth of China”. In order to make our country better, the youth, like us, would have to work hard. We were being taken the remote areas of China. Let me rephrase that: We were being forced to go to the remote areas of China. I had wanted to attend college. But I guess I would not be able to. After all, being apart of the “Down to The Countryside Movement” was contributing positively to the society. I guess us Red Guards did get a little out of hand. I haven’t been able to finish my entry the last week since I had to leave for the deportation instantly as the Peoples Liberation Army had blasted the horn that was the signal for departure. Now I have settled down in this foreign land. Everyday we would work with the rural peasants. Either memorizing more statements from The Little Red Book, or working in the mountains with them. We were not fed well, and we had to work long hours. Sometimes it felt as if I would die of exhaustion. I’ve seen it happen before, and it has only be the first week here. My housing mate had died two days ago. He was quite skimpy in the first place. Just like the rest us, he was not fed well. This adding to the extreme work we had to do everyday…his body just couldn’t handle it. Sometimes I wonder if this project is really contributing to the society. If everyone who works here dies, how is that a good thing? If only Mao Zhu Xi was here to see what was really going on. He certainly wouldn’t have thought it would be like this and I know it. After all, Mao Zhu Xi wouldn’t want to hurt anyone who was good. And according to every source I could find now, we were good by supporting Mao, and frowning upon Capitalists and the Bourgeois. Perhaps we did get slightly out of hand with the whole destroying them forever, but how long were we going to get punished for it?  I have heard from others that there are other reeducation centers in China. Also, that there are huge numbers of people dying from malnutrition. I wonder when it would be my turn to go. I just hope that my life would get better before then, that I would be able to see my mother again. Help us Mao Zhu Xi. Come to the countryside, visit us, see our pain before your own eyes. You are the only one that can help us now.

Sep. 9, 1976 Mao's death

Rest in peace Mao Zhu Xi

Us gathered in Tiananmen Square after Mao’s death.

Our beloved leader had passed away yesterday. The reeducation camps have been shut down just a few days before this. After we heard the news, what everyone felt like the sky has fell to the ground. It was hard to find a smile anywhere that day. There were lots and lots of tears. A few even managed to slip my eyes. To tell the truth, I was a tiny bit relieved. Although the revolution had helped our country develop, we had also suffered. I am starting to have thoughts about how maybe the suffering overpowered the thriving of China. I hope that no one finds our about this. People are still connected to Mao Zhu Xi like a father is connected to his first-born son. Who knows what they will do to me? Mao was just a person. Breathing and laughing like everyone else. What made him so different? Now when I think about it, it feels silly. We were willing to do whatever it took to please Mao. It was like he was a god or something. Don’t get me wrong; I still praise Mao Zhu Xi. I don’t even know how I feel now. I just feel confused. If only I was born in a different generation I wouldn’t have to experience all this. I would have a normal life. I wouldn’t be thinking about Mao Zhu Xi’s quotations all day, or about abolishing the four olds etc. Sometimes I think about my life if the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution did not exist. I imagine it being wonderful.  I first heard about the news from my mother. She came sprinting to my room. Tears rushing down her eyes. I instantly knew something was wrong since my mother didn’t cry often. My mother was so sorrowful that she couldn’t even put words together. What had happened? Had something happened to Dad? Finally, when she managed to put her words together. I was so shocked; I had fainted instantly.  One question that surrounds my mind now is why did people have so much respect for Mao? Maybe it was the fact that he had power. How did he gain that power in the first place? I don’t even know. For all I know, it could have been anyone. Perhaps even my father. Power controls people. We were all so young and easily manipulated. We were believers. We had so much hope in a better life. This was the hope that got us through the Great Leap Forward and other bittering moments. The hope is what helped us survive. Nevertheless, Mao Zedong was trying to make China a better place, and at the end of the day, that is what matters. Rest in peace Mao Zhu Xi. 12. 26. 1893- 9. 9. 1976 

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.