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Long Live the Victory of Mao Zedong Thought

Long Live the Victory of Mao Zedong Thought is an epoxy resin statue in Shenyang, Liaoning province, China, located in Zhongshan Square in the city center. It is one of the largest statues of Mao Zedong in the country and a major provincial monument from the Cultural Revolution era that was not removed in later years. The monument was built by students from the Academy of Art, under the supervision of a committee of peasants and workers, and inaugurated on 1 October 1970 for the 21st anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The statue of Mao is 9 meters tall and stands on a 9-meter base, with the inscription on the front. Around the base are 58 figures of workers, peasants, and soldiers arranged in eight groups.

Long Live the Victory of Mao Zedong Thought monument with a raised-arm bronze figure on a pedestal and smaller figures around the base
The Long Live the Victory of Mao Zedong Thought monument, shown with a central bronze figure and surrounding sculpted figures.
May 2014 © Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. · CC0
Bronze monument of Mao Zedong with his right arm raised, surrounded by smaller figures at the base.
Long Live the Victory of Mao Zedong Thought, a bronze monument topped by a raised-arm figure and surrounded by smaller sculpted figures.
© · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colossal bronze statue of Mao Zedong with his right arm raised, standing above a multi-tiered base with bronze figures below it.
The Long Live the Victory of Mao Zedong Thought statue in Shenyang, showing Mao Zedong above dynamic bronze figures on the pedestal.
October 2007 © · CC BY 2.0
The Long Live the Victory of Mao Zedong Thought statue in a city square, with Mao raising an arm on a tall pedestal and smaller bronze figures around the base.
The Long Live the Victory of Mao Zedong Thought monument in Zhongshan Square, Shenyang, with Mao Zedong standing atop a tall pedestal.
May 2014 © Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D. · CC0
Bronze monument Long Live the Victory of Mao Zedong Thought showing a raised-arm figure above smaller bronze figures at the base
The Long Live the Victory of Mao Zedong Thought monument features a towering bronze figure with smaller figures clustered around the base.
May 2012 © · CC BY-SA 3.0

Identification

TitleLong Live the Victory of Mao Zedong Thought
TypeStatue
SubjectMao Zedong
Original-language title毛泽东思想胜利万岁

Creator

CreatorsStudents of the Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, under the guidance of experienced sculptors

Historical context

PeriodCultural Revolution
Historical significanceA major provincial monument of the Cultural Revolution era that was not removed in later years

Discovery and provenance

Construction periodTwo years
Completion year1970
Inauguration date1 October 1970
Inauguration occasion21st anniversary celebrations of the founding of the People's Republic of China

Physical characteristics

Base dimensions11 × 23 meters
Number of surrounding statues58
Arrangement of surrounding statuesDivided into eight groups
Total heightApproximately 20.5 meters
Height of base9 meters
Height of Mao statue9 meters

Materials

MaterialEpoxy resin

Appearance

DepictionMao Zedong standing in a long coat with his right arm extended forward

Iconography and meaning

Right-side group themes"Socialism Is Good", "Long Live the Three Red Banners", and "Carry the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution Through to the End"; depict the socialist revolution
Left-side group themes"A single spark can start a prairie fire", "Long live People's War", and "Carry the revolution through to the end"; depict struggles during the Chinese Civil War
Rear group theme"Party Building"; depicts the early phase of the Communist Party of China
Front group themeSoldiers and civilians calling for the 9th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party with the slogan "Unite to win even greater victories"
Original accessories of surrounding figuresMost originally held copies of Mao quotations or the Little Red Book, later removed
Theme of surrounding figuresDifferent struggles of the Chinese people under the leadership of Chairman Mao
Surrounding figuresWorker-peasant-soldier heroes
Base inscription"Long Live the Victory of Mao Zedong Thought"

Location and ownership

LocationZhongshan Square, central Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
CityShenyang
ProvinceLiaoning
CountryChina

Significance

Relative significanceOne of the largest statues of Mao Zedong in China