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The Cultural Revolution was a radical
political movement, taking place in China (between 1966 and 1976). In
the 1960s, Mao believed that the socialist society of China would experience
a long time during which the class struggling would exist and it was very
possible and dangerous that the capitalism would restore in China. Guided
by the theory of ¡°continuous revolution under the proletarian dictatorship¡±,
Mao initiated the Cultural Revolution. But it was utilized by Linbiao
and the Gang of Four Bloc and it was carried out mainly by the Red Guards.
The Cultural Revolution was intended to eliminate counterrevolutionary
elements in the government, unfortunately it resulted in the social and
economic chaos(civil strife) in China.During the Cultural Revolution,
Mao organized China's urban youths into groups who were called the Red
Guards. Mao shut down China's schools, and encouraged the Red Guards to
attack all traditional values and ¡°bourgeois things.¡± The Red Guards soon
split into zealous rival groups who even fought against each other for
power. In 1968 Mao sent millions of them to the rural hinterland that
was called ¡° up to the mountain and down to the village¡± movement. During
that time a lot of party members, government officials and intellectuals
were purged, were verbally attacked, physically abused and even persecuted
to death. Some were sent out to work in the farms or the factories. Some
of them were imprisoned. For a time, the zealous Red Guards had considerable
power. They ransacked homes, deliberately destroyed artworks and architectural
treasures. During the Cultural Revolution Mao¡¯s cult of personality reached
its highest stage. Mao¡¯s utterance known as the Red Book was widely published
and sent to every people¡¯s hand. Mao really made serious mistakes and
who should be culpable. But he was still a great person who should be
respected by Chinese.
