“Chairman Mao was great. Our great leader and national hero.” These words might echo in the square. They come from a young man planning a trip to Canada. But let’s delve deeper into the story behind this Statue of Chairman Mao.
Here at East China Normal University, we find one of the few remaining statues of Chairman Mao Zedong on a Chinese university campus. Over 2,000 statues were built to commemorate him. They stood as symbols across China. Photographer Cheng Wenjun has captured many of these Mao statues since 1997. He found that about a third of them reside on university campuses.
The presence of the Statue of Chairman Mao here is a reminder of China’s complex history. Mao remains a controversial figure. His legacy is still debated today. The statues serve as historical relics. They are from a period of intense political and social change.
The first outdoor statue of Mao Zedong appeared in 1952. It was built in Xinjiang October Tractor Factory in Urumqi. However, the trend really took off after 1967. A statue unveiled at Tsinghua University sparked a nationwide replication. This happened during the tumultuous years of the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1976.
Interestingly, some statues were designed with symbolic numbers. At Fudan University in Shanghai, the Mao statue was 7.1 meters tall. This symbolized the birth of the Chinese Communist Party on July 1. Its base measured 5.16 meters. This commemorated the ‘516 Announcement’ which outlined the guidelines for the Cultural Revolution. The sum of these numbers is 12.26. This corresponds to Mao Zedong’s birthday on December 26.
Authorities tried to control this massive statue-building campaign. But it proved difficult. Many statues were quietly dismantled after 1977. However, some survived. This Statue of Chairman Mao is now a historical artifact.
Consider the layers of meaning embedded in this statue. It represents a complex figure. Mao united China. He gave its people a sense of identity. Yet, his policies also led to significant upheaval.
So, as you stand before this Statue of Chairman Mao, think about its history. Think about the Cultural Revolution. Consider Mao’s impact on China. This statue is more than just a sculpture. It is a symbol. It embodies a complex and transformative period in Chinese history.