China descended into chaos under the direction of its own leader in 1966. Mao Zedong, facing diminished influence after the Great Leap Forward’s disastrous failure, launched what became known as the Cultural Revolution.

It was framed as a purge of “counter-revolutionary” elements, but at its core, it was a campaign to reassert Mao’s authority by turning the population, especially the youth, against the country’s own institutions, intellectuals, and even families.

Millions of students became Red Guards, emboldened by Mao’s rhetoric to dismantle the old world. Schools shut down, libraries were burned, and educators were beaten in the streets. Temples, artworks, and ancient traditions were destroyed in the name of ideological purity.

The upheaval lasted a decade and led to the persecution

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