Cultural Revolution: Quick Facts

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Sep. 17, 2026

Also Known As	Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution • Wu-ch’an Chieh-chi Wen-hua Ta Ke-Ming • Wuchanjieji Wenhua Dageming
Date	August 1966 - August 1977
Location	China

Defense Minister Lin Bao circulated the now-famous Little Red Book at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution to stimulate the personality cult surrounding Mao Zedong.
Mao Zedong was infuriated and motivated by the play The Dismissal of Hai Rui From Office, which he saw as attacking him and supporting dismissed defense minister Peng Dehaui.
Millions were imprisoned, lost their property, or were tortured during the Cultural Revolution. Around 1.5 million people were killed.