Hua Guofeng's cult of personality

Hua Guofeng's cult of personality was the attempted cult of personality of Hua Guofeng, who became the second Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party from 1976 to 1981 after the death of Mao Zedong.

Background
Hua Guofeng, relatively unknown to the public at his appointment, launched a nationwide campaign in late 1976 to criticize the Gang of Four and rehabilitate those punished during the Cultural Revolution, restoring over 4600 disgraced cadres between October 1976 and December 1978. Deng Xiaoping was also rehabilitated in July 1977, marking significant changes in the Central Committee's composition.

Hua famously stated; "We will resolutely uphold whatever policy decisions Chairman Mao made, and unswervingly follow whatever instructions Chairman Mao gave," later referred to as the "Two Whatevers (两个凡是)." Hua was criticized for his perceived blind obedience. He initiated the first National College Entrance Examination since the Cultural Revolution and mandated the display of his and Mao's portraits side-by-side at official gatherings. In 1978, Hua played a key role in drafting a new state constitution, which aimed to restore some rule of law and planning mechanisms, though it retained elements of continuous revolution. Despite his efforts to elevate his prestige through reforms and propaganda, Hua's changes were eventually overshadowed by Deng Xiaoping's rise.

Building a Cult
Hua Guofeng attempted to establish a cult of personality by closely associating himself with Mao Zedong's legacy. He adopted Mao's style, including his distinctive hairstyle, and often emulated Mao's public demeanor. State media and propaganda were employed extensively to project Hua as Mao's rightful successor, positioning him as the new helmsman of the revolution. Hua also leveraged Mao's supposed endorsement, prominently featuring the phrase "With you in charge, I’m at ease," which was attributed to Mao, to legitimize his leadership. This endorsement was heavily promoted to reinforce his authority and connection to Mao.

Additionally, Hua sought to embed his image into the daily lives of Chinese citizens. Schools, government offices, and public institutions were required to display his portrait alongside Mao's. He also revised the national anthem to incorporate Mao's name and the Communist Party, reflecting a shift towards a more ideologically driven tone.

Despite these efforts, Hua's cult of personality failed to resonate deeply with the public or within the Communist Party, largely due to the emerging influence of Deng Xiaoping and the general shift away from the extreme cultism of the Mao era. Hua's reliance on Maoist rhetoric and symbolism was seen as out of step with the country's growing desire for reform and modernization, contributing to the eventual decline of his political influence.