Grandson shines in reflected glory of Mao

BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- He likes watching TV with his family, especially programs about the history of the Communist Party of China, once led by his grandfather. And when he goes to karaoke bars with friends, the corpulent dark-skinned chap only sings tribute songs to late Chairman Mao Zedong.

"Unlike other people, I feel that I have a special historical responsibility and mission," said 38-year-old Mao Xinyu, member of the 11th National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who is better known as Mao's grandson.

LIFE IN SHADOW OF MAO

Although more than 30 years have passed since his death, Chairman Mao, whose name and works frequently appear in Chinese textbooks, is still an icon to many people, young and old.

Xinyu's father, Mao Anqing, the second son of Chairman Mao, succumbed on March 23, 2007. His mother, Shao Hua, was a photojournalist.

Having grown up as a "descendant of the giant," Xinyu said he was already "a seasoned soldier in the battlefield."

"There are pressures and everyone pins high expectations on you," he said.

While studying at Renmin University of China, he had visitors almost every day asking about his family. In public, he was often recognized by strangers who would ask for his autograph or request that he pose in a group photo.

Insisting on wearing his army uniform in front of the media, the normally quiet Xinyu becomes talkative and emotional at the mention of his grandpa.

His most unforgettable memory dates from 1996, when Xinyu and his mother took part in a commemoration in Huining in northwestern Gansu Province, a revolutionary base where three fronts of the Red Army joined forces after the Long March.

"Tens of thousands of people from that impoverished county came out voluntarily, flanking the roads with some holding the portrait of my grandpa and shouting 'long live Chairman Mao'," Xinyu recalled, his voice raised in excitement. As his jeep passed, several local people ran with it. "I was really touched by their deep feelings toward the late Chairman," he said.

GREAT HELMSMAN OR JUST "GRANDPA"

Xinyu's name was bestowed by his grandfather, who was then 78 years old. In Chinese, the name means "new universe."

He has felt the influence of his grandpa since childhood, when Gen. Shao Hua taught him, a five-year-old kid, to recite Mao's poems.

Because he was so young then, Xinyu's memory of the elder Mao is a little obscure. The clearest part is perhaps the giant's death.

"It was on Sept 9, 1976, when mom said to me mournfully, 'you are six years old now and should stop being naughty'," he recalled. "She told me, 'Today is a special day, your grandpa passed away'."

The boy was shocked. Later he saw that everyone was weeping.

The grown-up Xinyu strongly resembles his grandfather. He loves history, philosophy, swimming, mountain climbing, and even a kind of braised pork now named after the Chairman. When he reads a book, he likes making marks in the margins and taking notes - something Mao did.

His friends are from all walks of life, but they share something in common: they are all fans of Chairman Mao.

"It is my happiest moment to find new treasures in the rich mine of my grandpa's thoughts through discussion with them, and I would be angry hearing unfair comments about the old man," said Xinyu, who is now a researcher with the Academy of Military Sciences.

"Young people nowadays should learn more about history of the Communist Party of China, the People's Liberation Army and the new China, so as to better understand the development of our mother country."

Xinyu has often been invited to speak at colleges across China. One of the most frequently asked questions he hears is: "How do you see the mistakes Mao made?"

Usually, that means the Cultural Revolution, which ran from 1966 to 1976. Many people, including many loyal Party members, were persecuted and the economy nearly ground to a halt.

"Admittedly, Chairman Mao made big contributions in re-writing China's history, but as the socialist road on which China embarked was unprecedented, no one could avoid making mistakes when groping for a way," he said. "Besides, we can't ignore the historical context. Chairman Mao's initial intention was not bad."

FAN OF FANS AND INDULGENT DAD

Journalists who have interviewed Xinyu remark on his unusual hobby: he always appears with folding fans. In fact, he began collecting fans in 1994.

"The first fan in my collection, which is also the cheapest one, was a gift on a flight," he said. He has nearly 5,000 fans now, the most expensive of which cost about 6,000 yuan (about 845 U.S. dollars).

Displaying a folding fan with a carved wooden frame, he disclosed his goal, "I want to expand my collection to 10,000 or 20,000."

Xinyu's wife is also a soldier, who gave birth to their son on Dec. 26, 2003, miraculously the same date as Chairman Mao's birthday.

Talking about his four-year-old boy, Xinyu was proud. "He is cleverer than me and can now recite several of my grandfather's poems," he beamed. "I hope that he could join the People's Liberation Army as well, but of course, the final choice lies with him."

Xinyu hasn't given his son a formal name yet -- he just uses the nickname Dongdong. Dong is the same Chinese character used by Chairman Mao in his given name Zedong, which means east.