Mao Zedong's infamous mango cult - Vivian Jiang
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- Опубликовано: 13 май 2024
- Dig into the era of China’s Cultural Revolution, and how communist leader Mao Zedong used mangoes as a propaganda tool.
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In August 1968, factory workers overheard news of a mandatory meeting. Whispered rumors described shipments of a gift from the country’s Communist leader, Chairman Mao Zedong. And sure enough, managers soon distributed a gift to every factory worker- a glass box encasing a golden wax replica of a mango. What was the meaning behind this unusual offering? Vivian Jiang investigates.
Lesson by Vivian Jiang, directed by Kayu Leung.
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View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/mao-zedong...
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Animator's website: www.kayuleung.com and / kayu.caillou.kayu
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Cool
Cults are fun. Do the tRump one next.
The animation looks great! Suit the dark story.
2024(G) “Respect and dignity.” Furthermore:
Disliked your propaganda and reported for misinformation.
The animation style and audio goes VERY well with the bizarre seemingly harmless but horrifying nature of Mao’s Mangoes
True
It makes it look like a creepy fever dream
this is easily one of the best and most thematically fitting ted ed animations.
Music too
reminds me of Detention, easily one of my favorite games out there
Imagine commenting that a fruit doesn’t impress you and losing your life for it.
All mangos matter.
It’s so bizarre to me
@@sketchyskies8531 me too
That is history for you.
they should have let that man go
This style of animation works really well with the story. With the majority of the color scheme being a grayscale with the highlighting the red and mango’s colors really brings attention to the morbidity of Mao’s Mango’s
You are very gullible if you believe any of this story. Apparently Pakistani pm did give a crate of mangoes to chairman, but he didn't like the fruit, so he gifted it to factories around the country. There was a large personality cult around Mao at the time, as it happens when you do good things, so, being unable to get close to Mao, workers transferred that reverence to mango instead. They moved mangoes on jets around so that everyone could bask in their glory, and shared them among themselves, to the point where every worker got to enjoy a single drop of mango juice, there just wasn't enough of mangoes in one crate, for entire China.
When Mao was told about this, he found it amuzing. He definitely didn't have anyone killed for disliking mangoes, as he disliked them first
@@mimosveta 🔥
@@mimosveta “there was a large personality cult around mao at the time, as it happens when you do good things,” ah yes the dictator who was responsible for the deaths of 100 million people “do good things” if that’s the case then i ended global warming, world hunger, poverty, and established world peace
@@mimosveta He probably never ordered the death of anyone for disliking mangoes. The problem is caused by people going "we can prove our loyalty to Mao by whacking this dude who dared to question the mango". The reason they did that? To prevent somebody else going "you allowed that traitor to go unpunished, and therefore you're a traitor too". This is why personality cults + authoritarianism is bad.
@@enderguardian7443 Wait a minute what do you mean with that last sentence
The piece played in the background is from Schubert’s Piano Trio in E flat Major, the second movement, in case anyone was curious. 😊
Fantastic piece of music, and fits the theme well here.
was really helpful thanks there
Why does it fit the theme?
it was used in the movie barry lindon by kubrick
@@sharon__a Just the rhythmic consistency of the piano, the reptition of the main theme throughout, as if repeating history. It's just a great piece, and the sort of incomplete, fast forward pushing theme just works well witht he idea of communism and mangoes ^^
thanks, now my comment is useless lol. Thx
This is the most weirdest story that I ever heard from China during the Mao Regime.
And given how nuts the Mao Regime was , that saying something.
and now someone will comment here with a even weirder story
@ me when that happens
Same
Another story that come to my mind is the extermination of sparrows which lead to a plague of insects.
i really appreciate the criticism of china and propaganda without xenophobia or disrespect towards traditional chinese culture. the animations are gorgeous too, just a really well made video.
There is one small gesture of disrespect (and a well earned one)
Near the end when she speaks about the aftermath, they put a picture of pooh bear bear mao.
Pooh is used to mock Xi Jinping, china's current president.
It's really funny, because even though pooh doesn't really look like Xi, the govt. decided to censor pooh, meaning he's offended by it for some strange reason
@@thunderbird1921 let's hope you'll achieve freedom.
The same goes for Iran. Things are hearing up there right now.
The only fear I have is that they'll have a repeat of the Arab spring.
Big revolts lead to the government falling, but once the old tyrant falls, a new one takes his place. It's really depressing. But you have to try :')
China as a whole deserves disrespect. Just not the citizens
No this is literally YELLOW PERIL propaganda. Also, who cares about traditional Chinese culture? Are you Chinese? Cuz Chinese people absolutely hate their traditional culture. It's like slavery and foot binding isn't exactly something anyone should be proud of. Traditional Chinese culture literally advocates total slavery and stupidity, too bad Mao didn't do a good job eradicating it. May God liberate China from traditional Chinese culture.
@@MooImABunny iirc some chinese netizens commented that xi looked like pooh for whatever reason, and somehow offended xi
It is so important to address that actually most of the history is painful, buried and it's saddening that this particularly is not allowed to be discussed in China when it is so important especially for the youth to know about their past and how far they've come along.
Chinese citizens are not allowed to know history. They are suppressed and propagandized.
It's not just China, many countries have this. America is trying to start as hard as they can.
@@spiderplant not even many but I'd rather say all the countries. I wrote China because the topic of the video is related to it.
@@spiderplant Nah I think it's just China
I think its not only important to know how far they've come along since then, but also equally or more important to know where they are headed to, since Xi is actively dismantling every safeguards enacted by the party to prevent the rise of another Mao.
In Pakistan, The mango holds status as the 'King of fruits' and is actually rather common even now to gift people entire slates of it especially during summer season, usually when you visit their house as a guest. Very intriguing how what seemed like an attempt to forward a cultural practice just blazed into birthing a completely different cultural recognition somewhere else.
This Mango was given by President Ayub to China
In America the bean holds the status of the 'magical fruit'
@@worldcatloversheavenwatcht2927 ...jeez.
The thought of what was lost to the cultural revolution will always bring tears to my eyes
Mine too.
It’s one of the worst crimes in human history.
What was lost?
If you can't even name some intrinsic value lost to the Chinese culture, then your entire argument is invalid.
I cannot even begin to Fathom what was lost. The video states the red guard destroyed statues and burned books
@@obsidianstatue if you had educated yourself on the events, you would know.
@@sylviamontaez3889 You can't name anything 🤭🤭
Anyway, as a Chinese with family members at the heart of the Cultural Revolution
Let me tell you this, the claimed "destruction" of culture is vastly overblown.
CR was more about factional struggle within the party, things about culture was secondary
For instance, traditional philosophies like Legalism was preferred over Confucianism, both are just as influential on Chinese culture
Yet one was praise, the other denounced, so it was way more complex than what you may have heard
Wow Ted Ed! What a work! This art style is a triumph and I expect to see it mimicked widely. This type of progress is even more valuable when it is within education and bringing attention to how malicious powers can turn people against each other is extremely relevant today
There's a certain kind of dissonance in the animation which matches the music and topic really well. Great lesson as always!
I feel like the words 'mango' and 'cult' shouldn't be together in a sentence.
That was funny... with some reasons I can't explain.
I'd love to form a cult around a fruit :D
@@Ash-gk8jp What is your favourite fruit? Mine is banana.
@@georgianamotco7839 I love melon, it's great. Without it... I can't dream a summer.
@@rightwhereyouleftme12 Wow, cool, i personally dont like watermelon cos it just has too much water in it though ik that is the point lol
The animation fits the story like a shoe. It's shaky, flickering style helps highlight the dark and bloody history - and perhaps future - being told in a very chilling manner. Never have I been more scared of a mango until now
I am a 26 year-old Hong Konger.
This video is so true and depressing.
History of cultural revolution was something mandatory in history lesson when I am still a high school student.
Not sure whether this will still be the case in near future.
Why wouldn't it be? Xi Jinping and his family were victims of the Cultural Revolution.
@@andro7862
1. Everyone was a victim of cultural revolution.
2. As the video has already mentioned, discussion of the cultural revolution is still restricted across China like in 5:45.
Why are you trying so hard to be like an internet troll under under comment section of Chinese's painful history? Are you a tankie?
@@jellyboy00 the first part is completely true for me, a Vietnamese person. I’m never allowed to follow my belief
@@Nahoko_Satomi Schooling across Asia focuses primarily on memorisation and leaves the fun out!
My friend teaches English in Vietnam and he’s never allowed to include engaging and creative activities in his lessons because otherwise the school would complain about him ‘wasting their time’ : (
Hi fellow Hong konger.
Absolutely stunning visual style
I noticed your Winnie the Pooh reference at 5:30, Ted Ed. Great job!
Amazing 😂
Based TED ED 🫡🫡
Respect🫡
Good eye
-15 social credit
everything in this video is beautifully done, from the art and animation, the music and the narration on telling this story. History is heartbreaking.
Human beings are depressing.
this is perfection, the animation to music to story and narration, has there been something called a perfect yt video, I think this would be it. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING work by ted team.
Easily one of the best videos I've ever seen. Thanks Ted ed!!
The animation, the music, everything here was masterfully done. Congrats!
Love the animation style as always. the narrator brought a lot to the storytelling as well! fantastic work :)
We learned the culture revolution from our history book for Middle school students. But I have to admit that it is not in detail. There is a novel named 牛棚杂记 written by a famous Chinese scholar about his miserable life during that period of time, still available in China. Learn China from foreigners who lived in China for sometime not from foreign media.
Is it painted negatively/positively?
@@SirFaceFone it is described as a "negative" and "false" action by Mao in middle school history books. However, it is true if you do not dig in by yourself, schools won't teach anything else about this specific revolution. But on the other hand, like what the comment said, there are many novels based on this revolution people can read and learn about themselves.
@@kazx008 that is called "sweeping under the rug", which means they know they did something very wrong and everybody else knows it, but they pretend it didn't matter and ignore it as much as possible.
@@SirFaceFone negatively
What's the English translation?
this is the most dark ted ed video hands down. everything looks real, yet so strange. and with so much realistic blood and such good music to pair
Best visual so far. Thank you Ted-ed.
Well, a mango cult is probably the strangest thing I’ve learned existed today
Bravo to the Audio-Visual team! You did such a great job!
Beautiful animation, story telling, music. As always, I'm enamoured. Thanks again Ted ed
Thank you for making such a well researched, beautiful video TED-ED ❤️
What an animation, what a style, what a narration and what a background music, loving the entire design of this video
Absolutely brilliant storytelling and animation. I think the style successfully conveyed strong and oftentimes mixed emotions of the people and of Chinese society at the time. It brought to life the historical events discussed much more than, say, a more ‘corporate’ or ‘playful’ style would have. Brilliant work!
Amazing everything; tale, narration, animation, music choice.
Thanks for another top notch video.
This animation was really creepy! It makes us feel oppressed by the regime... Nice job, as usual!
wow the animation style this episode is incredibly cool. so eerie and unsettling, very fitting.
I like how the chinese names are being pronounced correctly in the video. Great job TED-Ed!!
shes a native chinese and a voice actor for teded animations for years too
This is so fascinating!! And the animation is absolutely breathtaking paired with the music and the narration. Kudos!! and thank you TedEd
Wait, I don't get it, he sent wax mango replicas to factories all over China, and later it's told that people ate the fresh mangoes. Something doesn't add up.
The order is a bit weird. He sent fresh mangos and wax replicas were created and distributed further.
this is nothing but Western anti communist propaganda pulled out of thin air.
This is the best animation, music and story I've ever seen. This is a true work of art
Mesmerising visual effects to narrate a bizzare story .
☆☆☆☆☆
But ...regarding Mao legacy and cultural revolution we cannot ignore these facts too:
#China's humiliating defeat and colonialism was effectively ended by Mao .
#Women's status was uplifted nationwide.
#Heavy industries were established.
China relinquished occupied #Arunanchal territory to India after the war as a gesture of goodwill.
#Millions of ethnic Chinese expelled from Malaysia and Indonesia were given refuge in people's Republic.
#China blasted its nuclear bomb and hydrogen bomb in thd 1960s, just fifteen years after the great October revolution.
#China was admitted to UN in 1971 due to widespread support from developing countries of Africa and Asia, for whom China built numerous infrastructure projects as gifts.
#Hybrid rice was introduced to the developing world.
#First satellite and rocket launched into space orbit in 1970.
#Nixon visited China when Chairman Mao was still in power.
Really love the animation! It gives an eerie feel but it's also very beautiful!
The animation style is sublime. I look forward to seeing this style again in other videos. To say nothing of the topic. I have honestly never heard/read about this (and I thought I was well-read regarding everything related to Mao). Another fantastic video Ted Ed.
Thank you TED-Ed for making this video; history tend to repeat itself if it's forgotten, it is crucial that we record even the darkest part of human history.
History repeats itself everyday, everywhere. It's not only about memory. If that was the case we would definitely live in a better society, but here we are.
The art on the wall at 5:28 .. I see what you did there :) Damn good animation, to boot!
the animation was just something else, superb!
Thank you so much for educating us on these topics
The animation style is incredible.
This is so well written
beautiful artwork in this!! I could see someone getting a part of it tattooed !
wow I didnt know about this. Amazing storytelling and animation!
Interesting detail but the carpet at 5:52 is the carpet from the Overlook Hotel in the Shining! I just noticed this, amazing symbolism.
Ted ed is the best teacher ever! Please don't stop posting videos
One of the best videos y’all have ever made
the visuals are getting better and better
If I could like this twice, I would.
That gorgeous emotive music, those perfectly on-theme visuals, the clear intent towards the most informative content.. man, I’m impressed.
Well done guys.
Animation is so strong. It reflects the pain, the confusion, the horror, the nationalist pride all at the same time. Its just brilliant.
The animation is well-done and fitting for the bizzare topic
Fantastic animation & music !! A work of art in itself!
A superb presentation! With superb artistic expression! A fan and an admirer from Pakistan.
This is extremely interesting information on the cultural revolution! Thank you!
Wow, so great to see Ted-Ed doing a video on this thing not a lot of people know about!
I was surprised this was thing and so many of us have never heard of it.
This is so beautifully made.
there's a really good autobiography that takes place during the cultural revolution called Red Scarf Girl by Ji-li Jiang.
It is a coincidence that I watch this when I begin reading the novel "The Three-Body Problem (三体)" by Liu Cixin which began on the Cultural Revolution, and had recently adapted to a live-action series in WeTV.
(I never imagine how brutal the Cultural Revolution is as a dark decade-long history of China).
just saw the review of that novel, I would love to see it. Terrific setting
So interesting and so beautifully done!
The animation the music the charecter designs every this about this one is just so Erie a perfect way to show the nature of this cult. Beautiful work!!
Such beautifully disturbing animation. Would love to see more of this.
I've never heard of this mango story, although my grandparents told me a lot of what happened in the Cultural Revolution. Maybe it happened mostly in the north. Also, even though people are not allowed to talk about it openly, it's more of a soft, implicit rule. It's taught in history classes, so at least everyone knows it happened. Novels and memoirs of that topic still get to be published, and movies released. However, this mango story seems to become abruptly hot online in the last two years 🤔🤔🤔The real taboo in China is the Tian'an'men Square Protests. Everyone is acting like that never happened while waiting for certain people to die.
these visuals are awesome!
Beautiful animation, really fits the theme of this video!
4:01 Oversimplified?!
The animation is gorgeous, despite depicting such a brutal piece of history
Amazing work !
beautiful and informative video as usual
It's times like these I'm glad the internet exists. Watching this video before knowing my great-grandparents escaped China to the Philippines to escape Mao's rein let me understand the severity of their situation, and knowing a little more about the grandparents my mom adored ❤
that animation is all one can ask for in life lol, truly really beautiful
Gorgeous animation!
Gorgeous animations!!!
I would like to see Tiananmen Square Massacre on Ted-Ed because it’s hidden from outside world for very long time and was recently talked about. I feel like current and future generations should learn this dark history. It’s very important that people need to learn the massacre. I’m Chinese and I want to learn the Chinese history that’s often hidden of me. Thank you so much for this video and bring up mango as Chinese propaganda.
Its literally in this video
@@Channel7331 did you not watch the whole damn video? there *is* no major mention/more explanation about that in the video, you're a spam bot
@@jamesbrendan5170 Agreed, it should get it's own video/videos. I did watch the whole video. Did you? Do you remember what the mangoes were for?
I was primarily responding to Abby 's point that it's hidden from the outside world, because...it's very well known by the outside world.
As for the "Chinese bot" insult, I'd ask you to not use that so flippantly, you'll cause it to lose all weight.
Tianenmen Square protests happened under the Dengist government, not the Maoist one, so I don't understand what you mean.
@@stratospheric37 What I’m trying to say is that because China is a Communist country. The government hide its history from citizens and us. This is meant to prevent revolt against the Communist government.
Animation is exquisite
The visuals are just so overwhelming and pressuring. Great.
And it shows how illogical and brutally cruel all of what happend and still happening there really is. Sad.
I love the subtle nod to Pooh Pear and Xi at 5:30
history is bizarre and sad sometimes, mostly sad.
In August 1968, Mao Zedong received a delegation from Pakistan, headed by the foreign minister. At that occasion, he was presented with a basket of mangoes. According to some stories, Mao actually disliked mangoes, but the fruits were given an important and symbolic role in the complex political situation of the Cultural Revolution. For Mao did not eat the mangoes himself, but presented all seven of them to a corresponding number of Worker-Peasant Mao Zedong Thought Propaganda Teams that were active in the capital. These Teams had been sent to universities and factories to restore order and bring an end to the intense and bloody factional struggles between various groups of Red Guards. The media at the time reported that the gift was intended to mark the second anniversay of Mao’s own big-character-poster Bombard all Headquarters. In reality, the mangoes served to indicate that Mao had become dissatisfied with the Red Guards, and henceforth would support the Teams. The Red Guards subsequently were sent to the countryside to learn from the Poor and Lower-Middle Peasants in the Up to the mountains, down to the villages-campaign.
Damn, So Mao Zedong did nothing wrong?
@@JubulusPrime not necessarily. Mao made mistakes but wasn't some genocidal maniac. Furthermore, my point here is that the Reg Guards were not monolithic. They fell into factions based on party heads. Something Mao wasn't trying to engineer as this video intended.
The symbolism and creativity are amazing
The animations were one of the best I have ever seen
Imagine dying because you insulted a bloody mango
lets take a moment to appreciate the animation though
Agreed
fr
It needlessly exaggerated some parts of the video but it was different
Brilliant graphics. Brilliant.
Beautiful animation and very intersting story
This has insanely good animations!
Also, can you guys make a video about how some or all female geckos reproduce just by themselves next?
That was quite odd.
The art is amazing, great work
the animation is just 👌💯
Cultural Revolution is still mentioned in secondary school history textbooks in China. Learned something new as in my years the notion of Mao's mango was not mentioned.
When feeble minds are tainted by wicked men, when they hold a person, an item, or an idea above everything; the innocent suffer.
We all want to believe something is right so much, that we ignore logic and will stoop to violence to make it so.
🙈🙉🙊
I love this animation style!
This is one of the weirdest videos that I have seen! Very creative. I enjoyed it!
The animators knew what they were doing at 4:03 💀
Indeed they did
Imagine being executed for not thinking that a mango is very special, only for everyone to agree with you a year later
This blew my mind!
the animation is stunning