Why do the Chinese admire Mao Zedong?

Answer 1

It is a generalisation to say that the Chinese admire Mao Zedong, also known as Mao Tse-tung. It is true that he tried to follow through with his promises of equality to all people, and this meant better wages for some people. He was a skilled military strategist, as seen in his rise to power from extremely humble, peasant beginnings. This in itself was an example to others. Mao glorified the agricultural worker - of which there were many in China - and elevated them to new status, thereby giving them new respect in the eyes of others. Intellectuals and professionals were brought down to their level.

Mao Zedong's reforms and philosophies provided a vital means for China to break free of its traditional feudalism, characterised by very real class divisions. No longer was there such a clear hierarchical distinction: everyone was now equal.

However, a truly great and admired leader would leave his legacy within the culture, politics and economy of his country once he died. This was not the case with Mao. After his death, the focus of former economic policies changed quickly, especially as China was forced to face problems which Mao's philosophies never even considered as a possibility. In many ways, the Chinese now regard Mao's rule and the Cultural Revolution with some embarrassment. Many contemporary adults grew up in an era when research departments were shut down and "learning" was not encouraged: this generation grew up without doctors and other necessary professionals as a result of Mao's reforms.

Mao Zedong Thought remains a central guiding principle within China, but the solutions he offered no longer apply to China's current conditions.

Answer 2

Mao used a lot of wall posters as a form of Propaganda. Some things that many of the posters had in common were that there were sun light rays coming out from behind him. He also rarely tries to look intimidating and was nearly always smiling. In some of the propaganda posters, he was talking to the peasants to show that they are equal in the world, and also to remind the peasants of his former life as a peasant. This would help his acquisition to power because it would make the peasants realise that he was also once a peasant, just as they are, and they would know that he knows what they are going through. Because of the fact that the peasants knew that Mao was once like them caused them to believe that they knew him better, thus trusting him more.