The Secret History of the Fortune Cookie | China Uncensored

China Uncensored2 minutes read

Fortune cookies are a beloved tradition worldwide but are absent in China due to Mao Zedong's anti-traditional culture campaign. Mao believed in the power of fortune cookies, using them for secret messages and decision-making, leading to disastrous consequences during the Great Leap Forward.

Insights

  • Mao Zedong's campaign against traditional culture in China during the Cultural Revolution resulted in the absence of fortune cookies in the country, despite their global popularity.
  • Mao's personal belief in the power of fortune cookies, utilizing them for secret messages and decision-making during the Chinese Civil War, ultimately had catastrophic effects during the Great Leap Forward, highlighting the dangerous consequences of superstition in governance.

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Recent questions

  • What is the origin of fortune cookies?

    Fortune cookies originated in the Shang Dynasty, where oracle bones were used for future predictions in a feudalistic setting.

  • Why are fortune cookies not found in China?

    Fortune cookies cannot be found in China due to Mao Zedong's campaign against traditional culture during the Cultural Revolution.

  • How did Mao Zedong view fortune cookies?

    Mao Zedong believed in the power of fortune cookies, using them to deliver secret messages during the Chinese Civil War and making decisions based on their predictions.

  • What was the impact of Mao Zedong's obsession with fortune cookies?

    Mao Zedong's obsession with fortune cookies led to disastrous consequences during the Great Leap Forward, contributing to the Great Famine and other tragic events.

  • Why did Mao Zedong target fortune cookies during the Cultural Revolution?

    Mao Zedong targeted fortune cookies during the Cultural Revolution due to their political significance and association with failed uprisings against the Ming Dynasty.

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Summary

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Mao's Fortune Cookie Obsession: A Tragic Legacy

  • Fortune cookies are a beloved Chinese restaurant tradition worldwide, but they cannot be found in China due to Mao Zedong's campaign against traditional culture.
  • The origins of fortune cookies date back to the Shang Dynasty, where oracle bones were used to predict the future in a feudalistic manner.
  • Mao Zedong targeted fortune cookies during the Cultural Revolution due to their political significance and association with failed uprisings against the Ming Dynasty.
  • Mao believed in the power of fortune cookies, using them to deliver secret messages during the Chinese Civil War and making decisions based on their predictions.
  • Mao's obsession with fortune cookies led to disastrous consequences during the Great Leap Forward, contributing to the Great Famine and other tragic events.
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