Cultural Revolution

noun

1. a radical sociopolitical movement in China c1966–71, led by Mao Zedong and characterized by military rule, terrorism, purges, restructuring of the educational system, etc. Compare Gang of Four, Red Guard.

Cultural Revolution

noun

1. (in China) a mass movement (1965–68), in which the youthful Red Guard played a prominent part. It was initiated by Mao Tse-tung to destroy the power of the bureaucrats and to revolutionize the attitudes and behaviour of the people Also calledGreat Proletarian Cultural Revolution

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cultural Revolution¹

Translation of Chinese wénhuà gémìng

Example Sentences

They have dubbed the online attacks calling Chinese figures unpatriotic a “Cultural Revolution 2.0”, the latest in a series of drives ensuring ideological purity.

From BBC

"Today, the Sanhe police department seems to see Gao Zhen's artistic works as evidence of crime, repeating the persecution of the Cultural Revolution," the letter said.

From BBC

I tried not to shut my eyes at the coldblooded beating of a physics professor at the height of the Cultural Revolution in 1967.

From New York Times

For fans of The Three-Body Problem, which features an alien civilisation and is set against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, the parallels were clear.

From BBC

For director Derek Tsang, who worked on the first two episodes and did extensive research to ensure the show’s portrayal of the Chinese Cultural Revolution was authentic, “history is really important.”

From Los Angeles Times