How did big-character posters spread the Cultural Revolution in Chinese schools?

During the Cultural Revolution, big-character posters, or dazibao, served as a primary instrument for mobilizing students and spreading revolutionary fervor throughout Chinese schools. These handwritten posters, typically displayed on walls or bulletin boards, allowed students to publicly criticize university officials, professors, and local party members.12

The movement gained significant momentum in May 1966, when the educational system was prioritized for reform. Dazibao spread rapidly from principal campuses in Beijing across the nation, encouraged by central authorities who sought to challenge "bourgeois" authorities. By providing an inexpensive and accessible medium for political expression, these posters enabled students to organize, hold mass meetings, and identify targets for struggle.21

The influence of these posters was solidified when Mao Zedong issued his own dazibao titled "Bombard the headquarters," which served as a direct call to denounce and remove senior officials. This effectively transformed schools into centers of political maneuvering and turmoil, fueling the mobilization of urban youth into groups known as the Red Guards.12