Glossary
TermsB Black Categories – “According to Chairman Mao and the Communist Party, the worst enemies of Communism and the common people…were: landlords, rich peasants, counter-revolutionaries, criminals, and rightists.”
Bourgeois/Bourgeoisie – “…middle class. In China, this term is used in a derogatory manner to describe a person who enjoys and admires a luxurious, ‘capitalist’ lifestyle.” CCommunism – “An economic system in which, all means of production, such as land and natural resources, are owned by the entire community and used for the good of all its members.”
Communist Party – "The Chinese Communist Party is China’s ruling political party.” (CCP) Counter-revolutionary – “A person who actively fights against the Communist Party. A counter-revolutionary is seen as a public enemy.” D-FDa-Zi-Bao [Big Character Posters] – “A form of propaganda in the shape of a large, hand-written poster presenting an important issue…da-zi-bao was used to attack and humiliate people.”
Four Olds – “Old ideas, old culture, old customs, and old habits…people in power…used this as an excuse to attack people and destroy property.” M-PMaoism (aka Mao Zedong Thought) – "A theory and practice which claims to be an advancement of Marxism, developed as a critique of the Soviet Union..."
People’s Liberation Army – “The national army of Communist China” (PLA) Proletarian – “A member of the working class, especially a farmer or factory worker.” Propaganda – “Information intended to promote a particular belief…” R-SRed Guards – “…a very popular and semi-formal organization of high school and college students…from ‘red’ family backgrounds or…had proved themselves to be firm revolutionaries. They were Chairman Mao’s supporters and the pioneers of the Cultural Revolution.”
Rightist – “A member of a conservative party who disagreed with or opposed the Communist Party.” Socialism – “An economic system in which government ownership of land, industries, transport, natural resources, and so on, is supposed to help distribute wealth more evenly between the rich and the poor.” Struggle Meetings – “A meeting within a work unit to publicly criticize someone. Often, these meetings included humiliation or even physical assault.” PeopleD-J Deng Xiaoping – “(1904-1997)… [Deng] headed the party Secretariat from the mid-1950’s to the Cultural Revolution. Purged in 1966 and again in 1976, Deng surged back after Mao Zedong’s death to become the architect of China’s post-Mao reforms…”
Hua Guofeng – “(1921- 2008)...Led China through the transitional period immediately following the...Cultural Revolution...After the death of Chairman Mao, Hua eventually allowed for the rehabilitation many who had fallen from favor during the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Hua succeeded Mao Zedong as the de facto leader of China after out maneuvering 'Gang of Four' in a power struggle later in 1976. Deng Xiaoping's policies of reform began to take shape during Hua's tenure, beginning around 1978. By 1980, power and formal leadership had gradually shifted to Deng Xiaoping and his supporters..." Jiang Qing – “(1913-1991)…Jiang Qing had been an actress in Shanghai in the 1930’s before moving to Yan’an, where she met and married Mao Zedong. She played a leading radical role in the Cultural Revolution. She particularly focused on the policy toward culture; over which she assumed ultimate control in the late 1960’s…She was imprisoned in 1976 as a member of the Gang of Four, which also included Wang Hongwen, Yao Wenyuan, and Zhang Chunqiao…” L Lin Biao – “(1907-1971)…Lin fostered the Mao Zedong personality cult and played a key role in the Cultural Revolution, becoming Mao’s designated successor in 1969. Lin died in a plane crash in Outer Mongolia in 1971, purportedly while fleeing after a botched attempt to assassinate Mao.”
Liu Shaoqi – “(1898-1969)…[Liu] was widely regarded as Mao’s likely successor, but was purged and vilified during the Cultural Revolution…Liu died of the severe treatment he received during the Cultural Revolution…” M-P Mao Zedong – “(1893-1976) The Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, and leader of China from 1949 to 1976...established the People’s Republic of China, in October 1949...In May 1966, Mao initiated the Cultural Revolution...Formerly spelled Mao Tse-Tung.”
Peng Dehuai – “(1898-1974)…Peng clashed with Mao over various issues from the early 1940’s through the 1950’s…[and] was purged at the Lushan plenum in August 1959 after delivering a strong critique of the mistakes of the Great Leap Forward. Peng received very rough treatment during the Cultural Revolution and died as a result of this persecution.” W-Z Wang Guangmei – “(1921-2006)…Born in the United States…[and] Liu Shaoqi married her in 1948…Jiang Qing resented Wang’s upper-class background and when Jiang gained power…[in] the Cultural Revolution, she had Wang thrown in prison…for nearly twelve years.”
Zhou Enlai – “(1898-1976)…Zhou was Mao Zedong’s key colleague. He never frontally challenged Mao. Rather, he played an essential role in turning Mao’s wide-ranging ideas into actual programs and activities. In some instances, he used his power to tone down the excesses of Mao’s initiatives.” |
All quotes in Glossary are taken from Ji-Li Jiang's Red Scarf Girl, Kenneth Lieberthal's Governing China, and Encyclopedia of Marxism