Mao Zuren

Mao Zewen's great-grandfather, Mao Zuren, spent his life farming. Coming from a poor family, he struggled to make a living and ultimately had to pawn his land due to heavy debt. His wife, Zhou, was born in 1820 and died in 1876. They had one son and one daughter. Mao Zuren passed away in 1893 at the age of 70, at which time Mao Zedong was still in his mother's womb. Although Mao Zedong never met his great-grandfather, he learned from family memories that Mao Zuren was a hardworking and suffering farmer. In 1949, Mao Zedong mentioned their family's circumstances during a conversation with his cousin Mao Lian, reflecting their great-grandfather's poverty. In 1959, Mao Zedong returned to his ancestral home in Shaoshan to pay homage to his ancestors, reminiscing about Mao Zuren and referring to him as "Duke Tai." Mao Zedong's family has ten cousins, among whom he is the third. Several of his relatives sacrificed their lives in the revolution. Mao Zedong's grandfather, Mao Yichen, and his cousin Mao Lian also had a significant influence on his growth and life path. The Mao family genealogy shows that Mao Zedong's family maintained a strict and pragmatic family tradition. Despite the hardships of early life shaping their character, these experiences laid a foundation for the stories of great people to come.