“What thoughts might swirl within that bronze head?” Right here we stand before the Statue of Mao Zedong at East China Normal University in Shanghai. It is a silent sentinel of a complex past. This statue, like over 2,000 others across China, serves as a reminder of Mao’s enduring presence.
Mao Zedong, the founding father of modern China, remains a controversial figure. His legacy is still debated today. These statues, including the one before us, were erected to commemorate him. They stand as historical relics of a transformative era.
Photographer Cheng Wenjun has documented these statues since 1997. He has journeyed across China capturing images of Mao. He found that about a third of the Mao statues are on university campuses. This one at East China Normal University is among them.
The first outdoor statue of Mao Zedong was built in 1952. It was erected in the Xinjiang October Tractor Factory in Urumqi. However, the trend gained momentum after the unveiling of a statue at Tsinghua University in 1967. This sparked a wave of reproductions during the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976.
Interestingly, some statues have symbolic dimensions. At Fudan University in Shanghai, the Mao statue was built with “magic numbers”. Its height is 7.1 meters. This symbolizes the birth of the Chinese Communist Party on July 1. The base measures 5.16 meters. It commemorates the ‘516 Announcement’. This announcement outlined the guidelines for the Cultural Revolution. Adding these numbers together equals 12.26. This is Mao Zedong’s birthday.
The central government attempted to curb this massive campaign. However, their efforts proved largely ineffective. After 1977 many of these statues were quietly dismantled. The ones that remain have become modern historical relics. They offer a glimpse into China’s intricate past. The Statue of Mao Zedong stands as a testament to a bygone era. It invites reflection on the complexities of history and legacy.