The Cultural Revolution in China, initiated by Mao Zedong in 1966, aimed to enforce communist ideology and eliminate perceived capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society. This decade-long campaign encouraged widespread social, political, and cultural upheaval, with youth mobilized into Red Guard factions to challenge authority and intellectuals. Schools were closed, traditional customs, art, and religious practices were condemned, leading to chaos, violence, and persecution against perceived "counter-revolutionaries." The Cultural Revolution severely disrupted education, stunted economic growth, and left deep societal scars, shaping China's modern history and prompting subsequent governmental assessments and reforms in the post-Mao era.