China’s Cultural Revolution: The Impact on Education and Intellectuals

Abstract

This article examines the impact of China’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) on the education system and intellectual life in the country. The study delves into how the Chinese Communist Party, under Chairman Mao Zedong, sought to reshape society by targeting intellectuals and the educational infrastructure, leading to the persecution of scholars, teachers, and students. By analyzing archival materials, memoirs, and educational reforms from the period, the paper explores the mechanisms through which the Cultural Revolution sought to uproot traditional educational practices, promote ideological conformity, and replace intellectualism with revolutionary fervor. The research also explores the consequences of these changes on Chinese intellectual thought and education in the post-revolutionary period, highlighting the long-term effects on the academic community and the ideological foundations of Chinese society. The paper concludes by assessing how the Cultural Revolution’s legacy continues to influence modern Chinese education and its approach to intellectualism and freedom of thought.