Original 1960’s - 1970’s Chinese Cultural Revolution Banner.
Measuring an astonishing 15 ft in length, double sided, featuring painted characters.
The Cultural Revolution, also known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a sociopolitical event that took place in the People's Republic of China (PRC). It was initiated by Mao Zedong in 1966 and ended upon his death in 1976. Its main purpose was to uphold Chinese communism by eliminating remnants of capitalist and traditional influences from society. Despite its failure to achieve its objectives, the Cultural Revolution marked the resurgence of Mao as a dominant figure in Chinese politics, following a period of relative inactivity after the moderate Seven Thousand Cadres Conference and the events of the Great Leap Forward and the subsequent Great Chinese Famine.
In May 1966, Mao initiated the Cultural Revolution with support from the Cultural Revolution Group, claiming that bourgeois elements had infiltrated the government and society to revive capitalism. He urged youth to take over control and declared that "rebellion is justifiable". This sparked mass disorder in Beijing, dubbed Red August, and young people, especially students, formed Red Guard cadres nationwide. Mao's sayings were compiled into the Little Red Book, which gained reverence in his cult of personality. In 1967, radical groups took advantage and began overthrowing local governments and party branches, establishing new revolutionary committees in their place. These committees often fragmented, leading to armed conflicts among the radicals. With the downfall of Lin Biao in 1971, the Gang of Four gained power in 1972, extending the reach of the Revolution until Mao's passing in 1976, ultimately leading to the apprehension of the Gang of Four.
The last photo is for reference only, depicting how this banner would have been used and is NOT included in this sale.
