A Brief History of the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong
Designing and constructing a private family mausoleum gives you the opportunity to tell the story of your family through the use of art. We are reminded of this as we learn about the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong – as this stately resting place includes art in and around the Memorial Hall that pays tribute to this leader.
Who was Mao Zedong?
Mao Zedong, often referred to as Chairman Mao, was a Chinese communist revolutionary who was the founder of the People’s Republic of China. He was the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party from 1949 until his death in 1976. He is known for leading a totalitarian regime responsible for countless deaths, with estimates ranging from 40 to 80 million victims. During his reign, China became a leading world power.
Chairman Mao Memorial Hall
Mao died in September of 1976 and left behind instructions to be cremated. However, these wishes were ignored, and the body was embalmed.
Since the embalmed remains needed a place of honor to rest, the construction of the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall began immediately. The middle of Tiananmen Square in Beijing was chosen as the location. The final resting place of Mao is on the site of the former Gates of China and north of the Monument to the People’s Heroes.
The project was completed in record time. The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall opened in May 1977 – just eight months following the death. The imposing structure has two floors and includes forty-four granite posts on a large burgundy granite base, holding a golden double-eaved roof.
The North Great Hall, the Memorial Hall, and the South Great Hall are all located on the structure’s first floor. The second floor holds memorial rooms that showcase the achievements of Mao and other leaders, including Zhou Enlai, Liu Shaoqi, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping, and Chen Yun. In addition, marble statues of these six leaders can be viewed on this floor.
Art and Symbolism in the Mausoleum of Mao Zedang
Chairman Mao’s remains lie in a crystal coffin in the Central Hall. He’s covered with the flag of the Communist Party.
Besides the statues of the “six leaders,” visitors will also see many other pieces of art in and around the Memorial Hall that pay tribute to Chairman Mao. Additionally, 30 red flags fly at the South Gate, representing 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions.
Materials from all over China were used to create the building, and approximately 700,000 people from different provinces, offered “symbolic voluntary labor” to complete the work in record time.
You can visit China’s Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (or Mao Mausoleum). However, there are many rules, so make sure you understand them before approaching the Tiananmen East entrance. Also, the Hall is closed on special occasions. Check out this website for opening hours and other details that will help you visit this tourist site and the Forbidden City.
Things to Consider When Choosing Your Final Resting Place
As you consider the final resting place for yourself or your family members, you may wonder how best to tell your family’s story. When you work with Forever Legacy, the premier builder of private family mausoleums in North America, you will be given the opportunity to work one-on-one with an expert team who will help you add those fantastic artistic flourishes (such as a statue, frieze, or bas-relief) to your design.
Belinda McLeod has a degree in Secondary Education, specializing in English and Journalism. She began her career as a freelance writer in 2018 since a flexible schedule would allow her to help care for an aging parent. Since then, Belinda has specialized in writing for the funeral industry. Belinda has written for Cake, a funeral-planning website, nursing homes, mausoleum companies, cremation companies, and funeral homes.
