Front Cover News Article

Start Of The Cultural Revolution

by: Romina Romei

October of 1966

Cultural Revolution Times

            CHINA-Mao Zedong our political ruler has just started the Cultural Revolution, just as the Great Leap Forward ends.  The Cultural Revolution is starting all across China.  The Cultural Revolution happened to get rid of the four olds, used in “ancient’ China.  Mao Zedong has decided that the Cultural Revolution will eliminate all of the four olds including; Old custom, old culture, old habits, and old ideas.  The Cultural Revolution is suposingly going to help modernize China, and help China being led to a brighter, better future. 

            Before the Cultural Revolution, the Qing dynasty was in power.  The Qing dynasty was known for many things.  One of the accomplishments done by the Qing Dynasty was claiming the Mandate of Heaven.  The Mandate of Heaven is an “order” delivered by the Gods.  It was believed that if you were a very good ruler, cared for you dynasty, and provided what was needed, that the Gods would send you great things for your dynasty.  Things such as fertile soil, good weather for agriculture, etc.  The Cultural Revolution after this because they thought that the Mandate of Heaven was becoming an old tradition, or otherwise know as an old custom.  The Great Leap Forward did not take place during the Qing dynasty.  The Cultural Revolution took place during the Mao Era.

            Many people are for the Cultural Revolution, and getting rid of the four olds completely. “The four olds are traditions.  And we are trying to make China modern, so the four olds should definatley go.  Also everyone would be equal.” Quote by Zhao Bi Shou.  A poor man who lives in China.  Others are completely against the Cultural Revolution.  “The four olds, may be traditional, as we are trying to modernize China, but traditions are always good.  It reminds us of how people used to live, and to be thankful.  Also I don’t believe everyone should be equal since some people work harder for their positions, than others.” Quoted by Ju Bei Sheng,  a wealthy man, located in Beijing.  Many people have different opinion about the cultural revolution, but this is not stopping anyone from continuing the Revolution.  

Editorial: Start of the Revolution

Editorial:

The Start of the Cultural Revolution.

            This is the start of the Cultural Revolution.  The begining of the Cultural Revolution is all about geting rid of all of our four olds. and our old customs.  The Cultural Revolution will help us modernize China, and lead China to a brighter, better future.  Mao Zedong knows what is best for our country.  He will help us modernize China for a much better, and brighter future.

            The Cultural Revolution will help us with many problems that might be unseen.  One of the few things it will help us with, is with our future.  The Cultural Revolution will help us modernize China, just by the revolution, which will help us eliminate the four olds, such as old customs, and old tradition.  Another problem the Cultural Revolution will help us with, is equity.  The Cultural Revolution will make everyone equal, because they will eliminate old customs and traditions that only the rich would have.  The rich, and the poor would then be all equal.  This will help to unify China, and make everyone equal. 

Many others believe that the Cultural Revolution is a terrible idea.  Many have asked, “Why?”  They say that the Cultural Revolution is a terrible idea because traditions are always good to keep.  They help us remember our past and to be grateful for what we have.  It is believed that this opinion is wrong because traditions classify people and we are better off if everyone is equal because it will help us unify China, for a better future!

This is why it is believed that the Cultural Revolution is a great idea because it will help us unify China, and to help gain equity for China.  Mao Zedong knows what he’s doing, and how to make a brighter, better future for us.  So there is no reason for us to doubt him!

Map of Cultural Revolution & Qing Dynasty

Qing vs. Cultural Revolution

            The map of China during the Cultural Revolution times and a modern map of China are very similar.  They both consist of all of the same locations in China, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing.  They also had all of the same surrounding borders such as Mongolia, and Vietnam.  The Dynasty before the Cultural Revolution was the Qing Dynasty, which also had a map similar to modern China.  One city that is different is Taiwan.  Taiwan was not part of China during the Cultural Revolution, or Qing dynasty.  An important city to Mao was Shaoshan, Hunan China, which was where he was born.  Another important city during the Mao era, and the Cultural Revolution was Beijing.  Beijing was very important because that is where the Cultural Revolution has started.  

Interview with Mao Zedong

Interview with: Mao Zedong.

Interviewed by: Romina Romei

Question #1:

How did you grow up in your youth hood?

            I was born on December 26, 1948., in Shaoshan Hunan Province, China.  I grew up in a peasent family.  My father was a peasent, and was a prosperous farmer and grain dealer.  I started school at age 8.   When the Xinhai Revolution against the Qing Dynasty took place in 1911 I joined the Revolutionary Army in Hunan.  After my graduation in 1918, I travelled to Beijing, where I lived with Yang Changji, my college teacher and my future father-in-law.  Which is how I ended up here.

Question #2:

Throughout your life, which achievements do you think are major, or a best of all your other achievements?

            I believe that one of my greatest achievement was the Cultural Revolution.  I believe this because it was a time where we completely changed China.  We got rid of many of China’s old traditions and customs, also known as the “Four Olds” as we tried to modernize China for a brighter, and better future, as the many achievements China has now. 

Question #3:

Who are some people, or what are some things that have influenced you and your choices for China?

            Many of my influences came from the Revolutions I had, growing up.  Also many of them had come from the way I had grown up.  I grew up as a peasent, and thought it was unfair, so that thought also had much influence on me.  Those influences made me realize how unfair certain things are, which led to the Cultural Revolution.

Question #4:

Would you have changed anything you have done?

            I would not have changed anything that I have done.  One of the reasons for this is because of the accomplishments I have done, I have helped China take a big step out of traditions, and into modernization.  I am one of the reasons China is such a large, powerful country today.  I do understand that many things during the Revolution were harsh, but they were only for the better.

Question #5:

Thank you for all of these answers.  Now how is your health, or personal life?

            It is my pleasure.  At this moment, I am 119 but on December 26 I will turn 120.  On September 9, 1976, I had a very major heart attack that caused death.  When I had this heart attack I was married to a loving wife, Jiang Qing, and a daughter name Li Na. 

Arts During The Cultural Revolution

          

             During the Cultural Revolution, there was a repair, or an overhaul of many arts.  They were trying to produce more arts, that reflected the benefits, of a socialist party.  As a result of this, many artist during the Cultural Revolution, that had artwork that seemed bourgeoise were not aloud to sell, and the artists were abused or persecuted, and not aloud to work.  At the same time a very popular form of art was the Peking Opera.   Peking Opera is a combination of music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics.  Those are some very poplar, and non-popular/not aloud arts in China, dring the Cultural Revolution.  

Day In The Life

            The family I visited lived in Shaoshan, Hunan, China.  They were farmers.  This means that our life was much working, and not easy at all.  The family would work on the farm, all day, and everyday.  It was much work and preasure for the family.  There wasn’t much time for fun, but when there was the family would run around on the farm to have fun.  They prayed to the lords, and hoped for the Cultural Revolution to happen, so everyone would be equal.  Many times the family would eat items they grew, and sometimes if there was not enough they would eat trees or grass.

            The government had many rules for farmers.  They could not own more than a certain amount of property, and the state would own their property.  It was difficult because there was a large gap between the rich and the poor, and many things were unfair.  Then Mao Zedong had discussed the Cultural Revolution and many farmers and peasants were very happy, and greatful because it would make all people equal.  The rich, and the poor.  Our clothes were very simple because we had very little, to no money so wore very simple clothes such as linen.

            The houses were very small, because we lived on a farm.  There was little space.  Most houses only had one room, and most houses didn’t even have a bathroom.  There would be a public bathroom for a certain area, that everyone would share.  Only the wealthy could afford a bathroom in there house.  That was my day in the city of Shaoshan, Hunan, China.

Bibliography

Works Cited

“BBC News. Special Reports:Cultural Revolution.” BBC News. Special Reports. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2012. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/‌hi/‌english/‌static/‌special_report/‌1999/‌09/‌99/‌china_50/‌cult.htm>.

“Burkem Museum.  Living.” Burkem Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2012. <http://www.burkemmuseum.org/‌static/‌ordinarylife/‌living.htm>.

“Cultural Revolution.” Depts Washington Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2012. <http://depts.washington.edu/‌chinaciv/‌graph/‌9wenge.htm>.

“The Graet Proletarian.  Cultural Revolution.” San Jose` State University. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2012. <http://www.sjsu.edu/‌faculty/‌watkins/‌cultrev.htm>.

History Learnings. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2012. <http://www.historylearnings.com/‌mao_zedong>.

Jiang, Ji-Li. Red Scarf Girl. New York: HarperCollins, 1997. Print.

“Just China.” Justchina.org/‌. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Jan. 2012. <http://www.justchina.org>.

“Maoism/‌Cultural Revolution.” Library Thinkquest. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2012. <http://library.thinkquest.org/‌26469/‌cultural-revolution/>.

Trueman, Chris. “The Cultural Revolution.” History Learning Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Jan. 2012. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/‌cultural_revolution.htm>.

“Wikipedia. Chen Boda.” Wikipedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/‌wiki/‌Chen_Boda#the_cultural_revolution>.
“Map of Cultural Revolution.” China Map. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2012. <http://www.theage.com.au/‌ffximage/‌2007/‌11/‌16/‌ChinaMap_wideweb__470x352,0.jpg>.

“Qing Dynasty Map.” Qing Empire. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2012. <http://www.history-of-china.com/‌img/‌qing-empire-map-b.jpg>.

“Picture of Mao Zedong.” MaoZedong. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2012. <http://static.tvtropes.org/‌pmwiki/‌pub/‌images/‌MaoZedong_1610.jpg>.