red guard

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Thân thiện
Definition

Noun: 1. A member of a radical political movement: Specifically, a young person in China who was part of a mass paramilitary social movement, active during the initial phase of the Cultural Revolution (c. 1966-1968). These individuals were mobilized to enforce Maoist ideology and attack perceived enemies of the Communist Party and traditional elements of Chinese society.

Usage Examples
  • Noun:
    • During the Cultural Revolution, a Red Guard might denounce a teacher for having "bourgeois" ideas.
    • The Red Guards were known for their fervent loyalty to Chairman Mao.
    • Historical accounts describe the violent campaigns led by the Red Guards.
Advanced Usage
  • The term is almost exclusively used in a historical context to describe this specific group and period.
  • It can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe things related to the movement, e.g., "Red Guard faction," "Red Guard activism."
Variants and Related Words
  • Red Guards (plural noun): The collective term for the movement's members.
  • Red Guardism (noun, rare): The principles or activities associated with the Red Guards.
Synonyms
  • Maoist militant (general)
  • Cultural Revolution activist (descriptive)
Notes on Meaning
  • The term carries significant historical and political weight. It refers not to a formal military unit but to a revolutionary militia of students and youths.
  • In contemporary discourse, the term is neutral-historical; however, assessments of the Red Guards' actions and legacy vary widely.
Noun
  1. a radical political movement by Chinese youths who espoused Maoist principles

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