Formation of the Red guards
-granting the rights
The youths from Qinghua University Middle School in Beijing showed supports to Mao at an earlier stage during the Cultural Revolution. They formed a group on their own to actively enforce Mao’s ideas to the public, and named themselves “the Red Guards”. This first group of Red Guards sent Mao two big-character poster supporting his visions. Mao replied them with a letter, stating his joy of seeing youths supporting him, as well as some advice for them.
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The numbers of Red Guards continued to increase day by day, and factionalism was clearly visible. Mao realized that these young supporters had the potential to help him to achieve his goals of reform. He believed that “young people are full of vigour and vitality like the sun at eight or nine in the morning” (Mao, The Little Red Book). It was clear that he had to use the Red Guards in some ways. Not long after he wrote the letter, he granted the Red Guards rights to carry out all the actions necessary to unite people’s thoughts into one. Mao was not going to change China alone. By giving the rights of actioning to people who trust him, everything would move in a faster pase. As the Red Guards received Mao’s granted rights, they immediately committed into action. Mao’s words were like commands to the Red Guards.
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“Here I want to say that I myself as well as my revolutionary comrades-in-arms all take the same attitude. No matter where they are, in Peking or anywhere in China, I will give enthusiastic support to all who take an attitude similar to yours in the Cultural Revolution movement.”
-Mao, A Letter to the Red Guards of Qinghua Middle School
-Mao, A Letter to the Red Guards of Qinghua Middle School