Big Ideas Understanding China's history is crucial for Australia
Nov 18, 2025
Guests Linda Jaivin, Louisa Lim, and Edward Wong dive into China's tumultuous history and its impact on contemporary Australia. Jaivin sheds light on Mao’s Cultural Revolution, exploring the chaos among Red Guard factions and propaganda's surrealism with mango cults. Lim contrasts British and Chinese narratives of Hong Kong while discussing its protest culture and the King of Kowloon. Wong compares control in Xinjiang to U.S. imperialism, revealing the continuity of power from Tiananmen to Xi Jinping, linking history to current political tensions.
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The Mango Cult Of The Cultural Revolution
- Mao presented a basket of mangoes to workers after Red Guard violence and those mangoes became venerated national relics.
- People preserved mangoes in formaldehyde and replicas spread through daily life as a mini cult during the Cultural Revolution.
A Wax Mango And A Wine Fridge
- Louisa Lim bought a rare wax mango for her book advance and endured great lengths to preserve it.
- The mango slightly puckered in Melbourne heat, forcing her to store it in a wine fridge to avoid further damage.
Hong Kong's Rebel Creation Myth
- Hong Kong's history contains a local rebel narrative tied to ancient salt farming and uprisings.
- That lineage reframes modern protests as part of a long tradition of local resistance to central authority.
