National Security Online Resource Center

Chairman Mao Zedong, the founder and first President of the People’s Republic of China, is still a celebrated icon in the present Chinese state. This article highlights the recent 60th anniversary celebration of the Communist Revolution, documents a state-sponsored video of Mao’s life, but also features the commercialization of Chairman Mao’s image. The article notes that a number of Mao-related souvenirs are flying off shelves, including “T-shirts, matches, even a revolutionary Mao alarm clock.” Thanks to the “Mao alarm clock,” citizens can wake up every morning to China’s favorite hero! Unfortunately, we cannot ascertain whether the alarm clock plays the Chinese national anthem, a selection from a famous Chinese opera, or a recitation of Chairman Mao’s famous poetry.

This article also mentions the great irony that despite Chairman Mao’s fervent opposition to capitalism, his image has been used on souvenirs to generate profit. The same has been done with the image of Comrade Ernesto “Che” Guevara, whose likeness has been seen on as many t-shirts and souvenirs as that of Chairman Mao.

I picked up on this irony when I was seventeen, so I purchased this t-shirt. My protest was worth it. After I wore the shirt to my school, a member of my class informed me that he had stopped wearing his “Che” shirt for the very irony on which my t-shirt shed light.

Hopefully the sale of Chairman Mao’s likeness is a prerequisite to free-market capitalism in China, which would follow with democracy. But this is probably wishful thinking on my part.