Nien Cheng, [Yao Nien-Yuan 姚念媛] (1915 - 2009) Chinese author who recounted her harrowing experiences during the Cultural Revolution in her memoir 'Life and Death in Shanghai' Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quote Share via Email Print this Page [1-3] of 3 Nien Cheng quotesNien Cheng QuotesNien Cheng Day and night the city resounded with the loud noise of drums and gongs … looting and the ransacking of private homes … The violence of the Red Guards seemed to have escalated. … Articles in the newspapers … encouraged the Red Guards and congratulated them on their vandalism. They were … exhorted to be fearless in their work of toppling the old world and building a new one based on Mao’s teachings. ~ Nien Cheng [A]fter unleashing the Red Guards … to serve his political purposes, Mao Zedong was no longer able to control them.~ Nien Cheng The newspaper announced that the mission of the Red Guards was to rid the country of the ‘Four Olds’: old culture, old customs, old habits, and old ways of thinking. There was no clear definition of ‘old’; it was left to the Red Guards to decide. First of all, they changed street names.~ Nien Cheng Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print