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The Last EmperorPuyi of the Qing Dynasty

1908-1912

Sun Yatsen

The Republic of China

Reality: rule byWar Lords

Sun Yatsenand Jiang Jieshu

Leaders of the Guomindang

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Early Years of Republic

May 4 Movement (1917): student-led;frustration with Japan;

disappointment with Versailles

Guomindang works closely with USSR

Jiang Jieshior

Chiang Kai-shek

Civil War between Nationalists and Communists

In addition, the Japanese are makinginroads into China

1930’s:

The Long March 1934-35

Late 1930’s - 1945: A Common Enemy:

Mao and Jiang Jieshi “join forces”

Communists (CCP)happy to let Nationalists

do the real fighting

Supreme Leader: 1949

Nationalists are left with Taiwan

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The Great Leap Forward: 1958

In the end: up to 38 million died of starvation and

relocation

“Production first: Life takes second place.”

Mao on the Great Leap Forward:

On peasants: “Educate peasants to eat less, and have more thin gruel.”

On the 38 million deaths: “Deaths have benefits. They can fertilize the ground.” (or) We are

prepared to sacrifice 300 million Chinese for the victory of the world revolution. Don’t make a fuss (over this). At most - people die ...it’s best if half

the population is left.”

On loyalty:

“My farts are socialist farts, they have to be fragrant.”

Out with the Old: “Growing flowers is a hangover from the old society, a pastime for the scholar

class, bourgeois class, and other layabouts. We must change it now. Get rid of most gardeners.”

Anti-Intellectual: “The more books you read, the more stupid you

become. Reading too much ruins you.”

The Cultural Revolution 1966-1976

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“Poisonous Weeds”:

Folk Art

Opera

Theater

Story telling

all music, except songs praising CCP and Mao

dance

cinema

comics

poetry

literature

traditional architecture

porcelain

Really, really bad: any kind of western art

The Red Guard

Humiliation to all “opponents”. Or: death

Mao and Nixon

Mao: to this day - a much beloved figure in China