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Arts & Communication Lianhuanhua during Mao’s era

enabled it to serve as a vital medium for communication study, only 10 of the 78 books published in the 1950s
and education in a largely illiterate society. were suitable for children. However, by the 1960s, 98 of
The CPC recognized the importance of national education the 122 publications were children-focused, and by the
both before and after coming to power. A cornerstone of its 1970s, nearly all 200 lianhuanhua books were designed
efforts was the “literacy movement,” which included strategies for children, earning the nickname “wawashu” (娃娃书;
meaning children’s books).
such as establishing community schools, simplifying Chinese
characters, and promoting accessible reading materials such A systematic examination of children’s cultural
as lianhuanhua. While originally not exclusively intended for production during Mao’s era reveals two key influences.
children, these books became an effective educational tool On the one hand, the Mao Zedong-Zhou Enlai cabinet
for the general population. borrowed heavily from Eastern Europe’s child-focused
cultural systems, particularly those of the Soviet Union. They
The CPC’s literacy campaign pursued two main goals: prioritized building children’s palaces, theaters, libraries,
enhancing the general knowledge of the populace and and cultural institutions while fostering international
consolidating government influence by ensuring citizens cultural exchanges. Public diplomacy also portrayed Song
had access to reliable, ideologically aligned information. Qingling, First Lady of the Republic of China, as a nurturing
As a result, lianhuanhua became a key instrument of figure and the nominal leader of children’s initiatives in
enlightenment, widely used to disseminate knowledge and China. Officially dubbed “Mum Song,” she was celebrated
promote CPC values. Particularly in the 1950s, it served as a despite not having children herself. On the other hand,
significant medium for spreading knowledge across China. 7 leaders of Mao’s era viewed children as vital to ideological

For instance, the Beijing Zhaohua Fine Arts Publishing security. They feared that the younger generation, faced
House released works such as Sun Lao Tou (Old Mr. Sun) with a challenging international environment, might lose
and Xiao Mian Hu Yu Luo Jiu (Laughing Wolf Yu Luojiu), faith in socialism and abandon the communist vision,
which aimed to promote social ethics, scientific awareness, potentially jeopardizing the CPC’s regime.
and public health. These examples illustrate how The study of lianhuanhua creators during Mao’s era reveals
lianhuanhua was utilized not only as a cultural product two notable characteristics. First, many were professionals
but also as a tool to advance the CPC’s educational and employed by publishing houses or magazines. For example,
ideological objectives. He Youzhi, Zhao Hongben, and Zhao Sandao served as

Over time, lianhuanhua increasingly focused on editors at the Shanghai People’s Fine Arts Publishing House,
children’s literature, reflecting the emphasis of Mao’s era while Dai Dunbang worked as an art editor for Children’s
on child welfare. In 1951, China established the Chinese Times. Within the cultural framework of Mao’s era, these
People’s National Committee for the Defense of Children, roles granted them official cadre status, along with benefits
supported by leaders such as Zhou Enlai, Soong Ching- similar to those of government officials. This allowed them to
ling, and Deng Yingchao, highlighting the importance of focus on their work without depending on sales for income.
children’s education and cultural rights. Concurrently, the Second, these creators often belonged to various levels of art
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CPC launched the “Cultivating Successors for Communism” associations, affording them unique opportunities to publish
program, which established youth organizations like the and profit from their works – a rare privilege during the era.
Young Pioneers. The CPC also established the Communist Notably, He Youzhi recounted that in 1980, shortly after
Youth League of China as a permanent ministerial-level Mao’s era ended, his works were displayed in a prestigious
organization directly under the Central Committee of Beijing gallery and were among the highest-priced pieces.
the CPC. Leaders of the Communist Youth League often This context illustrates how lianhuanhua was strategically
advanced within the CPC hierarchy, integrating into its used to shape the political consciousness of children, aligning
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highest levels of authority. The CPC leaders believed that their values with the CPC’s ideological goals.
fostering communist ideals among youth was essential 2 In an interview with the Oriental Morning Post published
for securing long-term governance, attributing the on March 23, 2016, He Youzhi recounted that he did
Kuomintang’s (KMT) loss of power partly to its neglect of not actively sell his paintings. Instead, he entrusted the
young people. sale of his artwork to close friends who acted as agents.
During Mao’s era and the early years of Deng’s era (with
Under these directives, lianhuanhua evolved into a interruptions during the Cultural Revolution), the market
tool for “enlightenment and revolution,” becoming an for paintings and calligraphy in China remained state-
affordable and widely accessible genre of illustrated books controlled. Artworks were bought and sold through cultural
for children. By the 1960s, a significant shift in its audience relic stores or art stores nationwide, with profits distributed
occurred. Of the 400 lianhuanhua books analyzed in this to the artists based on a predetermined percentage.

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 3 doi: 10.36922/ac.5738