In this context, proposals for changes to the national flag and anthem have emerged.
Some extreme proposals included reducing the four stars of the five-star red flag to two, arguing that two of them represented the bourgeoisie and intellectuals who had already been criticized, and that only the stars representing the workers and peasants should be retained.
Others wanted to make the design of the flag more personal, such as adding a big star and other small stars representing Mao Zedong, or adding paintbrushes and guns to the flag as a dual tool for cultural and military power.
These proposals sparked widespread discussion at all levels of society at the time. At the Constitution Drafting Committee in Beijing, the proposals were discussed in detail, including those submitted from provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.
Political leaders such as Kang Sheng and Zhang Chunqiao also participated in the debate on how to deal with the proposals. In particular, the revision of the national anthem focused on whether to set "Dongfang Hong" as the new national anthem or modify the lyrics of "March of the Volunteers", which reflected the importance attached to the political significance of cultural symbols at that time.
While many of the proposals were creative, many were motivated by extremism in the particular political context of the time. The handling of these proposals illustrates the complexity of political decision-making at the time, with discussions involving not only cultural and historical considerations, but also far-reaching implications for China's image and national identity in the future.
As for the objections, they are mainly based on the consideration of historical continuity and stability, and believe that the status quo of the national flag and national anthem should be maintained in order to maintain the unified image of the country and national cohesion.
Although the discussions of this period did not ultimately lead to a large-scale revision of the national flag and anthem, they themselves reflected the dynamics of China on a cultural and political level. Through these heated debates, not only the diverse voices within the Chinese political system are revealed, but also the important role of cultural symbols in the country's political life.
Looking back at this period of history today, we can see that while some of the proposals of the time may seem extreme, they arose in a specific historical context and reflected the complexity and pluralism within Chinese society during that period.
I wish the motherland prosperity and happiness every day!