Quiz

Considered by many to have been the single most powerful leader in the world's history, as absolute ruler of one-fourth of humankind, whose voice was revered as divine revelation and who has successfully brainwashed/convinced most of his dissidents into believing that it was they, not he, who were wrong, during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), a period in which his "Little Red Book" outsold the Bible.

Henry Kissinger, when he learned of the death of Mao, commented that if Mao were to join God in Heaven, it would be "too powerful a combination".

Following his death it was disclosed that he had large "pleasure gardens" stocked with hundreds of women.

Contrary to popular belief, Mao did not oppose to the right to bear arms. In fact, during his rule, many adult Chinese joined militia organizations and kept at least one rifle at home. It was after his death the Chinese government started implementing gun restrictions.

Attended the Hunan First Normal School (early 1910s).

As a reaction to the Maoist insurrection in Paris and Lyon in May, 1968, the Charles de Gaulle administration decided to reorganize tertiary education in France. During the reorganization, the prestigious architecture school of Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux Arts was split from the school and divided into several smaller schools.

Still worshipped as a god by some Chinese, especially peasants and taxi drivers, with his photos being used as charms.

Chairman (chief of state) of the People's Republic of China (1949-1959).

Officially hailed "the Great Leader, great mentor, great helmsman and great commander" of the Chinese people during the Cutural Revolution (1966-1976).

His radical ideology has inspired countless revolutions far beyond China's borders, including guerilla activities in Nepal, Peru, Philippines, and student protests/demonstrations/riots in Europe during the late 60s, the most prominent one in France, between May and August, 1968.

A personal pal of French Existentialist philosopher and Nobel Laureate Jean-Paul Sartre, who got arrested for distributing inflammatory Maoist newspapers in 1970.

Inspired countless European film directors, including Jean-Luc Godard (aka "Jean Luc Godard"), a professed Maoist in the late '60s.

Received Soviet Chairman of the Council of Ministers (i.e. Prime Minister) Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971) in his swimming pool to show his defiance for the latter. During the meeting, Mao asked Khrushchev to jump into the pool and swim with him. Khrushchev was extremely embarrassed as he didn't have a swimming suit with him at the time.

His "great leap forward" campaign of 1959-1962 created what is considered the worst man-made disaster--a mass famine due to the attempt to turn China into a planned agrarian economy, which resulted in the deaths of over 20 million people by starvation.

He launched the Cultural Revolution in 1966, which caused widespread chaos throughout China and led to purges of "disloyal elements" at all levels of society.

Mao once worked as an assistant to the chief librarian of the University of Peking. He was passed over for advancement, which spurred him to join the Chinese Communist Party, where he hoped to get ahead faster.

When once compared to the first Chinese emperor Quin Shi Huang, he bragged that "Quin had amounted to burying alive only 460 scholars whilst the communist party during its anti-rightist campaigns had purged or even buried alive 46000 intellectuals, thereby outdoing the emperor by a hundredfold".

Upon receiving Richard Nixon during the American president's historic visit to China in February 1972, Mao welcomed and greeted Nixon at the Great Hall Of People in Beijing, quoting that he had "voted for him", much to Nixon's humourous delight.

Cat owners not infrequently name their cats "Chairman Meow" as a joke.