China's Power Struggle

1.)What tensions developed within the CCP between 1962 and 1966?
Mao, once he dropped from the prominent place of power was still worried that his most loyal colleagues (Liu and Deng) would put him out of power so they could attain the power themselves. In the early 1960s in the provinces of Gansu and Qinghai, supporters of Liu and Deng took over the local government and began to reverse the collectivization program. Mao was beginning to regret being withdrawn form the prominent spot of the party; his leaving was leading to factions being developed.

2.) How did Lin Biao help turn Mao into a cult?
In the early 19060s Lin Biao and Chen Boda created the "Little Red Book," which was a collections of thoughts and ideas from Mao from the 1920s. This book became a 'bible' like book in which people read, followed, and acted upon his teachings, it was a source of 'truth.' The PLA (military). This way the strongest force with the highest prestige was solely committed to Mao. It then spread to the "civilian sphere" and the PLA was an example of a true revolutionary spirit. It soon became a book read everyday and taught in schools and social necessity.

3.) Why was the play "The Dismissal" of Hai Rui from Office', so significant in the power struggle?
This play was performed between 1961 and 1965 and told the story of a court official who was demoted and punished after defying the orders of a cruel emperor. The director wasn't a supporter of Mao so it could be assumed that it was in reference to Mao's dismissal of Peng Dehuai for oppsoing the Great Leap Forward and stating the truth at Lushan about the famine. The play provided Lin Biao with a pretext for moving against the anti-Maoist elements in the party. However, because the play undermined and made a move against promoting anti-Mao movements he was charged.

4.) What differences of opinion within the CCP did the Wu Han affair reveal?
This affair deepened the division in the CCP and between the CCP and the PLA. Mao's wife denounced "reactionaries and revisionists" on the right of the party. She also aimed at undermining he Group of Five. The Group of Five was aimed to act as peacemakers to prevent parties from splitting wider. She did this under the fact that they "moderation at a time when utter ruthlessness was the only proper response." Gang Four was a ruthless group which had risen in the CCP and was feared and had become members of the Politburo. Mao's wife urged the removal of these men from the CCP and further demanded that Chinese culture should be cleansed of those writers and artists whose attitude betrayed their lack of commitment to Mao's revolution. The severity of her approach made Lin Biao ask her to be in charge of the PLA's cultural policy.
The Shanghai Forum identified the 'counter-revolutionaries' who must be struggled against and destroyed. The Forum's answer was for the PLA to lead China in "rooting out anit-socialist weeds" and take out all the " traces of artistic corruption that delayed achievement of a truly protalitarian culture." Lin's statement about tearing down class enemies began a purge of the party.

5.) Why was the creation of the CCRG such a significant move?
The CCRG was dominated by the Gang of Four which was an instrument in which Mao used to run the Cultural Revolution. The CCRG had such heavy influence that it could undermine the CCP and Mao began to define the enemy within the CCP. Mao stated that "those representatives of the Bourgeoisie..once conditions ripen..will seize power and turn the dictatorship of the proletariat into the dictatorship of the Bourgeoisie." This statement led to the "announcement" that China had entered a tumultuous and terrifying period of political and social history known as the Cultural Revolution.