Mao Tse Tung

Mao Tse Tung was born on December 26, 1893, in Shaoshan, China, during the Qing Dynasty. He was a politician, theorist, revolutionary, and military man. He founded the People’s Republic of China and remained in charge of the party until his passing. There has been a lot of controversy around Mao’s life, but no one can deny his impact on today’s China. The politician helped China to arise and thrive. Let’s find out more about Mao’s life.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Mao Tse Tung

Nickname:

Chairman Mao

Birth date:

December 26, 1893

Death date:

September 9, 1976 (age 82)

Zodiac Sign:

Capricorn

Height:

5' 10"

Net Worth:

$1 million

Background

Mao Tse Tung was born in Shaoshan, Hunan, China, on December 26, 1893. The revolutionary man was born into a peasant family. His father was Mao Yichang, an authoritarian man, and his mother was Wen Qimei. Mao attended elementary school, but he was forced to quit to help on the family farm. When Mao turned 17, he left his home to enroll in secondary school.

From a young age, Mao was interested in China’s political affairs. When he was 18, a Revolutionary War raged on in China — he immediately enrolled in the Revolutionary Army, joining the Nationalist Party, the Kuomintang. Mao attended Hunan First Normal School, where he graduated as a teacher in 1918. Inspired by the news of the successful Russian Revolution in 1921, Mao and other revolutionaries founded the Chinese Communist Party (C.C.P.). The Communist Party kept growing and gaining territory over China, and Mao was eventually named president of the C.C.P. After the war against Japan, another civil war started in China. The C.C.P. defeated the Nationalist government, and in 1949, Mao made history and founded the People’s Republic of China (P.R.C.).

In the upcoming years, the P.R.C., controlled by the C.C.P., ruled with a totalitarian regimen, sometimes through coercion and violence. The reign of Mao took China from being a semi-colony to becoming a world power.

Career timeline

1911
A Revolutionary War on China

Mao joins the Revolutionary War through the Nationalist Party.

1918
He Becomes a Teacher

He completes his education and graduates as a teacher.

1921
The C.C.P. Foundation

He founds the Chinese Communist Party (C.C.P.).

1949
The P.R.C. Foundation

He founds the People's Republic of China (P.C.R.).

Why We Love Mao Tse Tung

  1. He helped China become a world power

    Mao’s methods were severely criticized. Even so, the politician managed to take China out of its state and helped the country become a world power.

  2. He helped China’s society

    Mao did a lot to help his people. The revolutionary man helped improve women’s rights, literacy, and healthcare access.

  3. He loved poetry

    Mao had a passion for poetry. He wrote poetry for over 30 years.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. He was a librarian

    After graduating, Mao worked as a librarian at a university.

  2. The population grew under his leadership

    During Mao's reign, China's population almost doubled.

  3. He had heart attacks

    Mao passed away after having a series of heart attacks in 1976.

  4. He had several wives and children

    Mao had four wives and a total of 10 children.

  5. He has a biography

    After Mao's death, his physician published “The Private Life of Chairman Mao.”

Mao Tse Tung FAQs

Is it Mao Tse Tung or Mao Zedong?

‘Zedong’ is the English romanization of ‘Tse Tung’ but Tse Tung is used the most in publications.

What did Mao Tse Tung defend?

Mao defended a revolutionary vision of communism and that all aspects related to society should be connected to ideologies.

How did Mao Tse Tung change education?

He reduced the required years for each stage of education with the idea that working would also benefit individuals.

Mao Tse Tung’s birthday dates

YearDateDay
2024December 26Thursday
2025December 26Friday
2026December 26Saturday
2027December 26Sunday
2028December 26Tuesday

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