Mao Zedong was a Chinese communist revolutionary and the founding father of the People's Republic of China. He was the leader of the Chinese Communist Party from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976. During the Cultural Revolution, Mao was seen as a figurehead and was widely revered by the Chinese people. He is remembered for his role in leading the Chinese people through the Cultural Revolution, which aimed to eliminate capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society.