The activities of Mao Zedong occupy a special place in the history of the People's Republic of China. A huge number of books have been written about him, many films have been shot. Despite the fact that Mao Zedong is still remembered as a great tyrant, his personality, politics and philosophical teachings had a decisive impact on the fate of China.
Biography of Mao Zedong
The political leader and leader of the People's Republic of China, Mao Zedong, was born in the Hunan province of Shaoshan on December 26, 1893, into a peasant family. His parents were poor and illiterate, but they were able to give their son a primary education. His father was a simple rice trader, and his mother worked in the field and did household chores. Mao's mother was a Buddhist, so the boy was initially completely imbued with this teaching, but after meeting representatives of other movements, he decided to become an atheist. At school, the young man studied classical ancient Chinese literature and Confucianism.
In 1911, a revolution took place in China, during which the Qing dynasty fell. Mao had to give up his studies and join the army. Upon the young man's return home, his father wanted to see him as his assistant. However, Mao avoided heavy physical labor, preferring books to him. He decided to continue his studies and demanded money from his father. He could not refuse his son. Mao Zedong comes to the city of Changsha and receives a teacher's education.
At the suggestion of his teacher, after receiving his education, Mao Zedong comes to Beijing and gets a job at the capital's library. Of greatest interest to the young man were the books from which he learns about the teachings of Marxism, communism and anarchism. Of the teachings presented and studied, communism attracted the most attention. Acquaintance with a prominent representative of this trend, Li Dazhao, influenced the formation of Mao Zedong as a communist.
Participation in the revolutionary struggle
Until 1920, Mao traveled around the country and became increasingly convinced of the necessity of teaching communism. He faces class inequality and strife and decides to create underground revolutionary cells in Changsha. Mao assumed that the situation in China could be changed by the principle of the October coup in Russia. Mao Zedong founded a cell of the Socialist Youth Union in Changsha and later formed a small communist circle.
The victory of the Bolshevik Party in Russia convinced Mao of the correctness of the dissemination and development of the ideas of Leninism. In 1921, the young man became a member of the founding congress of the Chinese Communist Party, and then the secretary of the Hunan branch of the CPC. To rid the people of class inequality, Mao became one of the organizers of the 1927 peasant uprising. However, government forces suppressed the rebels, and Mao himself was forced to flee from persecution.
In 1928, after settling in Jiangxi Province, Mao Zedong created a strong Soviet republic. Mao's growing influence was influenced by the support of his policies from the Soviet Union.
Mao Zedong's political career
After becoming the leader of the first free Soviet republic, Mao Zedong carried out many reforms. He is confiscating and redistributing land, implementing social reforms, and empowering women to vote and work. All of his reforms were based on the peasantry. He becomes a major leader of the Communist Party and, following the example of JV Stalin, carries out the first purge of the CPC.
Mao Zedong tried to quickly get rid of those who criticized the political regime established in China and the work of Stalin. At this time, the case of an underground espionage organization was fabricated and many of its supporters were shot. Mao Zedong becomes dictator of the People's Republic of China.
From 1930 to 1949, there was a struggle between the Kuomintang and the CPC, as a result of which Mao wins. The Kuomintang party goes aside, and a communist regime is established in the country.
Personal life of Mao Zedong
The birth of the future leader of the PRC in a simple peasant family could predetermine his fate. His father married him to a second cousin, but Mao did not take this marriage for granted. After the wedding, he ran away from home and lived with his friend for a whole year. The father was forced to come to terms with the decision of his son.
The first official wife of Mao Zedong is the daughter of his beloved teacher Yang Kaihui. The woman gave birth to three children. The marriage ended tragically. Yang Kaihui was executed by Kuomintang agents. After Mao married again. His choice fell on the girl who led the self-defense squad. But after a few years, Mao Zedong had a new hobby in the person of actress Lan Ping. She committed suicide in 1991.
Interesting facts from the life of Mao Zedong
The great helmsman of China believed that anyone should live to be 50 years old and open the way for a new young generation. However, over time, his views changed. Mao Zedong lived to be 83 years old. To maintain his health, the Chinese leader constantly chewed hot pepper, which promotes the expansion of the blood vessels of the heart, gives a charge of vigor and strength.
Mao Zedong never brushed his teeth. Instead, he chewed tea leaves. His "Great Helmsman" title is currently a commercial brand. In China, souvenirs with the image of the CCP leader can be seen everywhere.
Mao Zedong died at the age of 83 on September 9, 1976.
