By: Briana Wu
Informanitive China
XIANYANG- Since April 7, 1966 students all over China have been dropping out of school to become more focused on being Red Guards. As a result schools have been closing at a rapid rate. There are simply not enough students to keep the schools open. Many suspect Chairman Mao of encouraging them to do this.
Mao wanted to spread the communist China throughout the nation. So he persistently encouraged students to leave school and leave home. After they would go to faraway cities to, "fan the fire of the Cultural Revolution." There are mixed feelings about this massive change. A " close friend" of Chairman Mao says," Mao has a wonderful effect on children. I tried so hard to get my son to become a Red Guard. After Mao talked to him he has been so dedicated."
Since this started many parents have changed their past veiw on education. Mr. and Mrs. Yang used to encourage an education. But, when students started to leave they saw you really didn't need an education to be successful. They said," We saw how successful our nephew was and he had dropped out of school. So we thought why should we deprive our son of dropping out too." Not everyone is happy about this event though. A young man with the initials L.C. says he did not want to drop out but, was forced to because his school shut down. He says," I hate this revolution. I need an education."
A Red Guard says," Everybody should take advantage of this moment. It is probably the best the best thing that could happen to anyone." You have seen many veiwpoints in this article. What do you think?
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
LESS RED GUARDS MORE SCHOOLS!!!!!
China doesn't need any more Red Guards. Our children need to get an education and jobs that feed them, clothe them, and put a roof over their head. Mao won't rule forever. When he is thrown out of power or quits because of the pressure, there won't be a need for Red Guards anymore. When they come home they will have lost their chance to get an education and a good job. Is that what you want for your children?
Because our children face so much pressure to join the Red Guards they are now leaving home. Since Mao insists that they fan the fire of communism, our children want to leave home. They are not even surre of the living conditions. Parents worry if their children will come safely. Or they worry they will get disowned by their children because they are not big supporters of the Revolution. Parents never had to worry about that before, why start now?
Although you need more Red Guards to spread the communism spirit and destroy the four olds, sacraficing our children is not worth it. We already have so many Red Guards, we do NOT need any more. If we don't have any educated children, than where is China's future? Children are the future of China but, if they don't go to school and get jobs than where are our doctores, lawyers, and teachers? GONE!!!!!!! That's where they are. G-O-N-E!!!!!!!
Shutting down schools and letting our children leave is just about the WORST thing to do. Red Guards are not needed that much that we have to give up our children. The safety of our children comes way before Chairman Mao.
Because our children face so much pressure to join the Red Guards they are now leaving home. Since Mao insists that they fan the fire of communism, our children want to leave home. They are not even surre of the living conditions. Parents worry if their children will come safely. Or they worry they will get disowned by their children because they are not big supporters of the Revolution. Parents never had to worry about that before, why start now?
Although you need more Red Guards to spread the communism spirit and destroy the four olds, sacraficing our children is not worth it. We already have so many Red Guards, we do NOT need any more. If we don't have any educated children, than where is China's future? Children are the future of China but, if they don't go to school and get jobs than where are our doctores, lawyers, and teachers? GONE!!!!!!! That's where they are. G-O-N-E!!!!!!!
Shutting down schools and letting our children leave is just about the WORST thing to do. Red Guards are not needed that much that we have to give up our children. The safety of our children comes way before Chairman Mao.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
The Wonders of Calligraphy
Chinese calligraphy was a very interesting form of art. It requires a certain brush and ink. Calligraphy was thought to exercise the mind, body, and spirit all at once. It was also thought to bring good health and longevity. Some say Chinese calligraphy is older than China itself. It is one of China’s highest form of art. This art was very popular during the cultural revolution.
Map of China During the Cultural Revolution
The dynasty before the Cultural Revolution was the Qing Dynasty. When the Qing Dynasty was in power China included Mongolia and it also streched a little to the west. During the Cultural Revolution China looked pretty much how it looks now. Mongolia is it's own country and China went east a little.
Interview with JIn-Jun; a Former Red Guard
Q: Did you quit school to become a Red Guard?
A: Yes. I did. Mao persistently encouraged us students to quit school and focus on being good Red Guards. My dad put a lot of pressure on me too. So I quit and became more focus on helping communist China. Mao encouraged us attack and punish counter revolutionist.
Q: Did you come from a black family?
A: Yes. My father’s dad was a landlord and both my parents were teachers. I decided to change my last name so that I could control my future. It was really hard to tell my parents. I never really talk to them unless I needed to or to beg them to repent. What really made me become a Red Guard was when our house was searched. I realized I wanted to do the same but, to those who deserved it. Eventually parents came around.
Q: What was your favorite part of being a Red Guard?
A: Like I said earlier I wanted to search houses to destroy the four olds. I wanted to search people who deserved the hard experience. Now that I look at it I’m horrified that I liked what I was doing. I guess I was taking out my past anger out on people I thought deserved it. We literally turned homes upside down. We looked under tables, between sofa cushions, and even in toilets.
Q: What was the hardest thing about being a Red Guard?
A: I think the hardest thing was that I had to leave home so much. Mao wanted us to," fan the fire of the Cultural Revolution." I went to far away cities every two months or so. We gave speeches to encourage children to do the same as we did. We also searched houses there.
Q: Well I appreciate the time you are taking to do this interview. I have one last question. How dedicated were you to being a Red Guard?
A: I was very dedicated. I searched out the four olds like I searched for my homework when I was in school. I destroyed the four olds that it was almost frightening to anyone who wasn’t a Red Guard. When I did I felt that in some way I would be praised by Mao Ze-dong himself. But that never happened.
A: Yes. I did. Mao persistently encouraged us students to quit school and focus on being good Red Guards. My dad put a lot of pressure on me too. So I quit and became more focus on helping communist China. Mao encouraged us attack and punish counter revolutionist.
Q: Did you come from a black family?
A: Yes. My father’s dad was a landlord and both my parents were teachers. I decided to change my last name so that I could control my future. It was really hard to tell my parents. I never really talk to them unless I needed to or to beg them to repent. What really made me become a Red Guard was when our house was searched. I realized I wanted to do the same but, to those who deserved it. Eventually parents came around.
Q: What was your favorite part of being a Red Guard?
A: Like I said earlier I wanted to search houses to destroy the four olds. I wanted to search people who deserved the hard experience. Now that I look at it I’m horrified that I liked what I was doing. I guess I was taking out my past anger out on people I thought deserved it. We literally turned homes upside down. We looked under tables, between sofa cushions, and even in toilets.
Q: What was the hardest thing about being a Red Guard?
A: I think the hardest thing was that I had to leave home so much. Mao wanted us to," fan the fire of the Cultural Revolution." I went to far away cities every two months or so. We gave speeches to encourage children to do the same as we did. We also searched houses there.
Q: Well I appreciate the time you are taking to do this interview. I have one last question. How dedicated were you to being a Red Guard?
A: I was very dedicated. I searched out the four olds like I searched for my homework when I was in school. I destroyed the four olds that it was almost frightening to anyone who wasn’t a Red Guard. When I did I felt that in some way I would be praised by Mao Ze-dong himself. But that never happened.
Day in the life of Ming-Ming Fang
June 12, 1966
Today I really did not want to get out of bed but, someone had to go to the market. Sometimes I really miss our maid Lin Wu. We had to let her go because if we kept her we would be undermining the working class. I got dressed in the most airy and cool outfit I could find and left for the market on my bike. I picked up some vegetables and fish. Also I got a bag of sweet hard candies that my friends I could share at school. I was riding home when I noticed some people gathered around this old red chest. They were thinking of to destroy it. I wondered why for a small second when I realized that the chest is four olds. I decided to tell them how to destroy it. I went over and I said," Hello. I see your predicament. I think a good way to get rid of that chest is to go to a high spot and then drop it." They decided it was a good idea and tried it. It worked! They were so happy that they told me I was a great supporter of Mao. I felt proud to support Mao.
June 14, 1966
Today at school my friend, Dao Ming, told me she about how much she wanted to be a Red Guard. I told her I wanted to be one too. I admired them so much. In school we learned about communism and we memorized quotes in our Little Red Books. My other friend, Mei-Xing, told me that her house was searched. Then she said she hated the Revolution. I told her not to say that. It was for the better. That encouraged her! When I got home my mother was sitting at the table waiting for me which usually doesn’t happen. She works overnight. What she told me shocked me. My uncle Deshi was arrested. I was so surprised. All night I wondered what he did.
June 17, 1966
It was a Sunday morning and I was looking forward to sleeping in. I was awakened by a loud banging on the front door. My mother was not home. I ran to the door. When I opened the door I saw about four angry Red Guards. I said," Sorry, I was sleeping. Are you looking for someone?" A tall girl stepped forward and said she was her to search the house of the Fang family. That was us. They tore everything apart. Everything was out of order and upside down. It looked like a tornado hit our apartment. What was I going to tell my mama. She already had so much to worry about. I think about all the times I thought about quitting schools to become a monster like the ones who did this to our house. I will never become them. I’m starting to doubt the Revolution like Mei-Xing did a few days ago. But this time I has no good advice to give myself.
Today I really did not want to get out of bed but, someone had to go to the market. Sometimes I really miss our maid Lin Wu. We had to let her go because if we kept her we would be undermining the working class. I got dressed in the most airy and cool outfit I could find and left for the market on my bike. I picked up some vegetables and fish. Also I got a bag of sweet hard candies that my friends I could share at school. I was riding home when I noticed some people gathered around this old red chest. They were thinking of to destroy it. I wondered why for a small second when I realized that the chest is four olds. I decided to tell them how to destroy it. I went over and I said," Hello. I see your predicament. I think a good way to get rid of that chest is to go to a high spot and then drop it." They decided it was a good idea and tried it. It worked! They were so happy that they told me I was a great supporter of Mao. I felt proud to support Mao.
June 14, 1966
Today at school my friend, Dao Ming, told me she about how much she wanted to be a Red Guard. I told her I wanted to be one too. I admired them so much. In school we learned about communism and we memorized quotes in our Little Red Books. My other friend, Mei-Xing, told me that her house was searched. Then she said she hated the Revolution. I told her not to say that. It was for the better. That encouraged her! When I got home my mother was sitting at the table waiting for me which usually doesn’t happen. She works overnight. What she told me shocked me. My uncle Deshi was arrested. I was so surprised. All night I wondered what he did.
June 17, 1966
It was a Sunday morning and I was looking forward to sleeping in. I was awakened by a loud banging on the front door. My mother was not home. I ran to the door. When I opened the door I saw about four angry Red Guards. I said," Sorry, I was sleeping. Are you looking for someone?" A tall girl stepped forward and said she was her to search the house of the Fang family. That was us. They tore everything apart. Everything was out of order and upside down. It looked like a tornado hit our apartment. What was I going to tell my mama. She already had so much to worry about. I think about all the times I thought about quitting schools to become a monster like the ones who did this to our house. I will never become them. I’m starting to doubt the Revolution like Mei-Xing did a few days ago. But this time I has no good advice to give myself.
Music
Music during the Cultural Revolution was not very important. Most songs they had were about Chairman Mao. They were about the how great the Revolution was. Or they praised Mao for his work.
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