Description

Mao Zedong (1893-1976) was a multifaceted Chinese leader who played pivotal roles as a politician, military strategist, poet, and revolutionary. Founding the People's Republic of China in 1949, he served as its leader until his death and chaired the Chinese Communist Party during that period. Mao's ideologies, military strategies, and policies are encapsulated under Maoism.

Raised in Hunan, Mao embraced Chinese nationalism and anti-imperialism, later adopting Marxism–Leninism. As a founding member of the Chinese Communist Party, he led significant movements like the Autumn Harvest Uprising and played a crucial role in the Chinese Civil War. After defeating the Nationalist government in 1949, Mao established the PRC as a Marxist–Leninist state under CCP control. His leadership witnessed major campaigns, including land reform, suppression of counterrevolutionaries, and the ambitious Great Leap Forward, which unfortunately resulted in the Great Chinese Famine and millions of deaths.

Despite contributing to China's transformation into a global power and advancements in literacy, women's rights, healthcare, and education, Mao's policies led to immense human suffering and deaths. His legacy is marked by both admiration and condemnation, with estimates of victims ranging from 40 to 80 million due to starvation, persecution, and mass executions. Mao's impact on China and the international communist movement is undeniable, making him a figure of complex historical significance.