The Early Life and Influences of Mao Zedong Mao Zedong, born on December 26, 1893 in Hunan Province, China, grew up in a financially stable family with a strict father. His early education was influenced by Confucianism but he later rejected traditional Chinese culture for popular novels. At age 13, under parental pressure, he married an older woman whom he never acknowledged as his wife; this experience fueled his future criticism of forced marriages.
Revolutionary Awakening: From Nationalism to Socialism After the death of his first wife at age 16 and returning to school amidst bullying due to class status as a farmer's son, Mao joined revolutionary forces during China's major revolution against the Qing Dynasty in 1911. He became involved with the nationalist party Kuomintang (KMT) before discovering socialism through an article that inspired him towards leftist ideologies.
Education Journey Leading Towards Political Activism In pursuit of knowledge and teaching credentials after several failed educational attempts across various institutions from police academies to law schools—Mao eventually graduated from teacher training college in Hunan. By joining Beijing University’s library staff around this time while starting a family with three children led him deeper into political activism following Lenin's Russian Revolution influence.
'Red Army' Formation Amidst Civil Strife By founding the Communist Party of China (CPC) alongside other leaders like Chen Duxiu in Shanghai during its inception year (1921), Mao began rising within communist ranks despite initial setbacks when KMT severed ties leading to violent purges against communists by nationalists thereafter prompting armed resistance efforts spearheaded by Mao himself.