Specification of Statues of Mao Zedong

Standardized specifications for statues of ex-president of China have been released in Hunan Province, China, where the founder of People's Republic of China was born, as reported by Xinhua News Agency, one of the two state-owned new agencies in China.

Mao was described as 'the guide and the leader' of China's communist movement. The idolization of Mao in China peaked at China's Cultural Revolution. His images were displayed everywhere and the books of collections of his quotations were considered as 'red bible'. After the Cultural Revolution, the Cult of Personality of Mao was not mandatory or part of education as they were. Mao's image, like that of Che, turned into a symbol of pop culture.

In China, nonetheless, the cult of Mao never set. According to a survey on religious belief of Chinese people conducted by a Chinese agency, more than 11% of Chinese city dwellers display Mao's image at their home, office or vehicle. His image was believed to reduce traffic accident if it was displayed in cars.

The arthority of Hunan was 'concerned about the quality' of Mao's statues being sold in markets. They regulated the 'colour, texture, look' and other specification of Mao's statues 'in reponse of increasing complaints of customers'. Mao's grandson made a statement praising the implementation of this regulation.

Mao Zedong waving to Red Guards.Image from Scape TV. Distributed under CC

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