The "Five Red Categories" () during the Chinese

Cultural Revolution The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a sociopolitical movement in the People's Republic of China (PRC) launched by Mao Zedong in 1966, and lasting until his death in 1976. Its stated go ...

(1966–1976) were the social classes favoured by the

Chinese Communist Party The Chinese Communist Party (CCP), officially the Communist Party of China (CPC), is the founding and sole ruling party of the People's Republic of China (PRC). Under the leadership of Mao Zedong, the CCP emerged victorious in the Chinese Ci ...

(CCP), as opposed to the Five Black Categories that were classified as potential threats or enemies. In the beginning of the Cultural Revolution,

Red Guards Red Guards () were a mass student-led paramilitary social movement mobilized and guided by Chairman Mao Zedong in 1966 through 1967, during the first phase of the Cultural Revolution, which he had instituted.Teiwes According to a Red Guard le ...

were only allowed to come from the "Five Red Categories". These included: *Poor and lower-middle peasants () *Workers () *Revolutionary soldiers () within the

People's Liberation Army The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the principal military force of the People's Republic of China and the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The PLA consists of five service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, ...

*Revolutionary cadres () who are active members of the CCP in good standing *Revolutionary martyrs (), including immediate family members, children, grandchildren (if any) and relatives of deceased CCP members and PLA service personnel killed in action

See also

References

Further reading