Mao, Cultural Revolution cast long shadow over China 50 years on

Fifty years after his death, Mao Zedong remains central to modern China because both the ruling political establishment and ordinary citizens continue to draw directly from his legacy. Across the country, supporters have gathered to pay respects to the founder of Communist China, chanting "Long live Chairman Mao." At the same time, young Chinese are turning to Mao Zedong for life advice, seeking personal guidance from his figure. The political continuity is unmistakable at the highest level of government.

Nikkei Asia notes that Xi Jinping still draws power from Mao's doctrine of the "barrel of a gun," underscoring how foundational revolutionary power structures continue to sustain modern leadership. Mao still matters in China because his ideology and methods remain woven into the fabric of contemporary governance. Yet that persistent reverence is complicated by the country's turbulent past.

As Reuters observes, both Mao and the Cultural Revolution cast a long shadow over China fifty years on. The contemporary interest in his figure coexists alongside the historical trauma of that period, leaving his legacy deeply fraught even as his influence endures.