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Cultural Revolution
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Cultural Revolution: Facts & Related Content

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News •

Many Chinese See a Cultural Revolution in America • Mar. 6, 2025, 12:35 AM ET (New York Times)

Facts

Also Known As Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution • Wu-ch’an Chieh-chi Wen-hua Ta Ke-Ming • Wuchanjieji Wenhua Dageming
Date August 1966 - August 1977
Location China

Did You Know?

  • Defense Minister Lin Bao circulated the now-famous Little Red Book at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution to stimulate the personality cult surrounding Mao Zedong.
  • Mao Zedong was infuriated and motivated by the play The Dismissal of Hai Rui From Office, which he saw as attacking him and supporting dismissed defense minister Peng Dehaui.
  • Millions were imprisoned, lost their property, or were tortured during the Cultural Revolution. Around 1.5 million people were killed.

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Key People

Kang Sheng
Chinese leader
Liu Shaoqi
Liu Shaoqi
Chinese statesman
Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping
Chinese leader
Lin Fengmian
Chinese artist
Gao Xingjian
Gao Xingjian
Chinese author and critic
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong
Chinese leader
Song Binbin and Mao Zedong
Song Binbin
Chinese revolutionary
Lin Biao
Lin Biao
Chinese military leader
Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai
premier of China
Jiang Qing and Mao Zedong
Jiang Qing
Chinese politician
Chen Boda
Chinese revolutionist and propagandist
Wang Hongwen
Chinese politician