Five Black Categories

The "Five Black Categories" (Chinese: 黑五类; pinyin: Hēiwǔlèi) were classifications of political identity defined during the period of the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) in the People's Republic of China by Mao Zedong, who ordained that people in these groups should be considered enemies of the Revolution.

The groups were:^[1]^[2]^[3]

Landlords (地主; dìzhǔ)
Rich farmers (富农; fùnóng)
Counter-revolutionaries (反革命; fǎngémìng)
Bad influencers ["bad elements"] (坏分子; huàifènzǐ)
Right-wingers (右派; yòupài)

Conversely, Mao categorized groups of people, such as members of the Chinese Communist Party, poor farmers and low class workers, as Five Red Categories.^[1]^[2] This new Red/Black class distinction was used to create a status society.

^ ^a ^b Sorace, Christian; Franceschini, Ivan; Loubere, Nicholas (2019-05-21). Afterlives of Chinese Communism. Verso Books. ISBN 978-1-78873-476-9.
^ ^a ^b Jian, Guo; Song, Yongyi; Zhou, Yuan (2006-07-17). Historical Dictionary of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6491-7.
^ Song, Yongyi (2011-08-25). "Chronology of Mass Killings during the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)". Sciences Po. Retrieved 2019-11-30.

[:0-1] Sorace, Christian; Franceschini, Ivan; Loubere, Nicholas (2019-05-21). Afterlives of Chinese Communism. Verso Books. ISBN 978-1-78873-476-9.

[:1-2] Jian, Guo; Song, Yongyi; Zhou, Yuan (2006-07-17). Historical Dictionary of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-6491-7.

[:13-3] Song, Yongyi (2011-08-25). "Chronology of Mass Killings during the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)". Sciences Po. Retrieved 2019-11-30.

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