Men's Red Guard uniform
Object No. 98/126/18
Uniform (8 pieces), Red Guard, mens, cotton / rubber / metal / plastic / canvas, PLA Clothing Factory, Beijing, China, 1966 - 1976
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Summary
Physical Description
Jacket: loose fitting slightly tailored jacket made of khaki green cotton. Long straight sleeves and small turn-down collar. Two slash pockets at left and right front at breast height with shield shaped flaps on the outside over the opening which fastens under the flap with a small brown plastic button and fabric loop. Two more slash pockets at hip level with rectangular flaps over opening on outside. Centre front opening fastens with five brown plastic buttons and a small metal hook and eye at collar. Machine sewn and unlined. Badge: attached to left front of jacket above pocket. Round, gold coloured aluminium with a raised profile of Mao Zedong in centre from which radiates a corona of lines coloured with red enamel. Other emblems in gold around bottom with a Chinese character "Zhong" (loyalty). Pin on back. Mark impressed on reverse (awaiting translation) Trousers: western style loose fitting slightly tailored, straight leg trousers made of same khaki green cotton with soft pleats at front waist. Five belt loops around waistband. Two slash pockets inset into left and right side seams at hip level. Centre front fly opening fastens with three small brown plastic buttons and a larger one at the waistband. Machine sewn and unlined. Shirt: loose fitting long sleeve shirt made of white polyester cotton blend fabric. Small turn-down stiffened collar and narrow yoke across shoulders. One patch pocket at left front breast. Centre front opening fastens with five small white plastic buttons and cuffs with one button each. Machine sewn and unlined. Cap with badge: Peaked cap made of khaki green cotton, flat topped with a small stiffened peaked brim. Inside hat band made of green vinyl. Machine sewn and unlined. Badge on centre front of cap made of gold coloured aluminium, star shape, with a raised, 3/4 profile of Mao Zedong set in the centre of a circle of red enamel. Pin attached to reverse. Belt: adjustable brown vinyl belt with square silver metal clasp at each end. Buckle is stamped with star and Chinese character motif. Sandshoes: pair of flat soled sandshoes made of khaki green canvas trimmed with green cotton tape, black rubber soles and khaki green rubber reinforcment strip around toe cap and around join of upper to sole. Green fabric shoelaces through metal reinforced holes. Lined in white canvas. Armband: strip of red synthetic fabric with Chinese characters in beige 'Hong Wei Bing' (The Red Guards). Machine hemmed edges. Book: 'Red Book', red plastic cover decorated on front with a raised white plastic rondel printed in colour with a 3/4 profile of Mao Zedong, a raised silver garland of flowers curves under the rondel and along the bottom Chinese characters printed in silver. Chinese characters underneath "Long live the victory of Ideology of Mao Zedong", white paper pages printed with black text in Chinese characters. Red ribbon page marker extending from spine. Handwritten inscription fly leaf, Chinese characters in blue ink with date "70.2.25". The front page says that it is for internal use only, that it wasn't to be sold to foreigners or exported.
PRODUCTION
Notes
Red guards were young revolutionary activists and a powerful political force during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). They wore 'national defence green' army-style uniforms. The inspiration for the uniform came from Mao Zedong, who wore it in 1966 at the first rally of Red Guards in Tiananmen Square. The design of the jacket is the zhifu or uniform. This uniform was made in 1960-1970s by the PLA Clothing Factory, China.
HISTORY
Notes
Red guards were young revolutionary activists and a powerful political force during the Cultural Revolution (1966-76). Between 1966 and 1968, under the guidance of Mao Zedong, the Red Guard were dedicated to eliminating people who were perceived to deviate from his teachings. Houses were ransacked and gold, silver and art objects were stolen. There were countless deaths. On 27 July 1968 the army was brought in to disband the Red Guards and to attempt to regain control of the country. The Cultural Revolution officially ended in 1976. In 1981 the Communist Party of China denounced this period as a grave error. Collected by Sang Ye from China in 1996 on behalf of the museum.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Purchased 1998
Acquisition Date
22 September 1998
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