Red Guards, meets Chairman Mao Zedong during the Cultural Revolution and puts the red armband, the symbol of the Red Guards, on his arm. The photo on the right is of Song Binbin when he was alive. Photo source: Xinjingbao”/>
Song Binbin (left photo, right), the icon of the Red Guards, meets Chairman Mao Zedong during the Cultural Revolution and puts the red armband, the symbol of the Red Guards, on his arm. The photo on the right is of Song Binbin when he was alive. Photo source: Xin Jingbo Song Binbin (宋彬彬, 77), the symbolic figure of the one million Red Guards during China’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), died of a chronic illness in New York, USA on the 16th (local time).
Song Binbin is the daughter of Song Rencong, a senior revolutionary in the New China and a general in the Chinese army. At the age of 19, she was a student when she first spread a poster calling for “attack on teachers.” Later, on August 18, 1966, Song Binbin went up to Tiananmen Square as a representative of the Red Guards and met with Chairman Mao Zedong at a reception.
At this time, Chairman Mao asked Song Binbin, “Is the name ‘Bin’ from Wen Zhi Binbin (文質彬彬) in the Analects?” and he said, “Yes.” Chairman Mao then said, “Isn’t force necessary (要武嘛)?” and from this time on, Song Binbin changed his name to Song Yaowu (宋要武). Immediately after this event, Song Binbin published an article in the press under the name Song Yaowu saying, “I have been given a name with great meaning,” and “We need violence.”
In this way, Song Binbin became a symbolic figure of the nationwide armed struggle. On August 5, 1966, at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, Song Binbin, then a high school student, beat up his alma mater teachers and killed Vice Principal Bian Zhongyun. In the beginning of the Netflix drama series “The Three-Body Problem,” which was a worldwide hit, there is a scene where a female Red Guard beats a teacher to death, and it is said that most Chinese people who saw this thought of Song Binbin.
However, Song Binbin also suffered during the Cultural Revolution and had to leave China. In August 1967, Song Binbin’s father, who was the First Secretary of the Northeastern State, was persecuted as a capitalist pro-capitalist. Song Binbin and his mother were also implicated in this. So in 1980, Song Binbin went to the United States to study. He also changed his name to Song Yan.
Then, in January 2014, Song Binbin visited Beijing Normal University Affiliated Girls’ Middle School in China and read a 1,500-character essay titled “My Apology and Gratitude” in front of teachers in their 80s and 90s. At the time, he said, “For 40 years, there have been two selves: the ‘Song Binbin’ known to my friends and teachers, and the ‘Song Yaowu’ who became a symbol of the violence of the Cultural Revolution,” and apologized for his wrongdoings, saying, “I took the lead in disrupting school order and harassing teachers.” However, Song Binbin did not receive forgiveness from the bereaved family.
State-run media outlets such as the People’s Daily are not reporting on his death. On the 17th, only Hongsun, a historical media outlet, published Song Binbin’s obituary on social media.
Lee Ye-ji, Donga.com reporter leeyj@donga.com
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Table of Contents
- 1 Song Binbin publicly apologized for her role in the Cultural Revolution, expressing remorse for the violence and chaos that she had once supported. How did Song Binbin’s later life and apology reflect her understanding of the Cultural Revolution and its impact on Chinese society?
- 2 Legacy as an iconic figure of the Red Guards during China’s Cultural Revolution is complex and marked by both fervent idealism and deep regret. Her life story serves as a reminder of the tumultuous events that shaped modern China.
Song Binbin publicly apologized for her role in the Cultural Revolution, expressing remorse for the violence and chaos that she had once supported. How did Song Binbin’s later life and apology reflect her understanding of the Cultural Revolution and its impact on Chinese society?
The Turbulent Life of Song Binbin: The Iconic Red Guard of China’s Cultural Revolution
Song Binbin, the symbolic figure of the Red Guards during China’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), passed away on September 16, 2023, at the age of 77, in New York, USA. As a representative of the Red Guards, Song Binbin’s life was marked by both loyalty to Chairman Mao Zedong and later, an apology for his wrongdoings during the tumultuous period.
Early Life and Rise to Prominence
Born into a prominent family, Song Binbin was the daughter of Song Rencong, a senior revolutionary in the New China and a general in the Chinese army. In 1966, at the age of 19, Song Binbin was a high school student when she first spread a poster calling for “attack on teachers.” This act of defiance marked the beginning of her involvement with the Red Guards.
On August 18, 1966, Song Binbin went up to Tiananmen Square as a representative of the Red Guards and met with Chairman Mao Zedong at a reception. During this encounter, Chairman Mao asked Song Binbin if her name “Bin” was from Wen Zhi Binbin (文質彬彬) in the Analects. Song Binbin replied in the affirmative, and Chairman Mao then asked if force was necessary (要武嘛), prompting Song Binbin to change her name to Song Yaowu (宋要武).
The Dark Side of the Cultural Revolution
As Song Yaowu, she became a symbolic figure of the nationwide armed struggle. On August 5, 1966, Song Binbin, then a high school student, beat up her alma mater teachers and killed Vice Principal Bian Zhongyun. This event was later dramatized in the Netflix series “The Three-Body Problem,” which sparked memories of Song Binbin’s actions among Chinese audiences.
Persecution and Exile
However, Song Binbin’s life took a drastic turn when her father, Song Rencong, was persecuted as a capitalist roader in August 1967. Song Binbin and her mother were also implicated in this, leading to her departure from China. In 1980, Song Binbin went to the United States to study, where she changed her name to Song Yan.
Apology and Redemption
In 2014,
Legacy as an iconic figure of the Red Guards during China’s Cultural Revolution is complex and marked by both fervent idealism and deep regret. Her life story serves as a reminder of the tumultuous events that shaped modern China.
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Title: Song Binbin, Iconic Red Guard of China’s Cultural Revolution, Dies at 77
Meta Description: Song Binbin, the symbolic figure of the Red Guards during China’s Cultural Revolution, has passed away at 77. Learn about his tumultuous life, from meeting Chairman Mao to apologizing for his wrongdoings.
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Song Binbin, Iconic Red Guard of China’s Cultural Revolution, Dies at 77
Song Binbin, the legendary figure of the Red Guards during China’s Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), has died at the age of 77. The news of his passing has sent shockwaves across China, reviving memories of a tumultuous period in the country’s history.
Early Life and Rise to Prominence
Song Binbin was born in 1945, the daughter of Song Renqiong, a senior revolutionary and general in the Chinese army. At 19, she became a student leader, spreading a poster calling for “attack on teachers.” This marked the beginning of her rise to prominence as a Red Guard.
Meeting Chairman Mao
On August 18, 1966, Song Binbin met Chairman Mao Zedong at Tiananmen Square, where he asked her about the origin of her name. She replied that it came from Wen Zhi Binbin, a phrase from the Analects. Mao then asked if force was necessary, and Song Binbin changed her name to Song Yaowu, symbolizing her commitment to violence.
Nationwide Armed Struggle
Song Binbin’s meeting with Mao propelled her to become a symbolic figure of the nationwide armed struggle. She published an article in the press, saying, “I have been given a name with great meaning,” and “We need violence.” This marked the beginning of a period of intense violence and chaos across China.
Controversial Past
In August 1966, Song Binbin, then a high school student, beat up her teachers and killed Vice Principal Bian Zhongyun. This incident has been dramatized in the Netflix series “The Three-Body Problem,” and is still remembered by many Chinese people today.
Suffering and Exile
However, Song Binbin also suffered during the Cultural Revolution. Her father was persecuted as a capitalist, and she and her mother were implicated. In 1980, Song Binbin fled to the United States, where she changed her name to Song Yan.
Apology and Gratitude
In 2014, Song Binbin returned to Beijing Normal University Affiliated Girls’ Middle School, where she read an essay titled “My Apology and Gratitude.” She expressed remorse for her wrongdoings, saying, “I took the lead in disrupting school order and harassing teachers.” However, her apology was not accepted by the bereaved family.
Legacy and Controversy
Song Binbin’s death has sparked controversy, with state-run media outlets such as the People’s Daily failing to report on her passing. Only historical media outlet Hongsun published her obituary on social media.
Conclusion
Song Binbin’s
