Red Sun in the Sky

"Red Sun in the Sky" (Chinese: 天上太阳红彤彤; pinyin: Tiānshàng tàiyáng hóng tōngtōng) is a 1975 Chinese patriotic communist song. It is meant to honor Mao Zedong,^[1] socialism, and the Cultural Revolution, as well as the broader phenomenon of Mao Zedong's cult of personality, where Mao was frequently portrayed as a radiant "red sun" guiding the nation.

1968 lithograph of Chairman Mao Zedong.

Background

"Red Sun in the Sky" was written by Xu Wenjing and composed by Song Yang. The song was adapted from the Jiangxi folk song "Ballad of Picking Tea".^[2]

The phrase "red sun" was a prominent metaphor used in various songs and propaganda materials to glorify Mao Zedong.^[3] These songs aimed to reinforce his image as the central figure of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the nation's savior. "Red Sun in the Sky" is one example of many songs that use this imagery.

It is often confused with or used interchangeably with "The East Is Red" (Chinese: 东方红)(1950s), another prominent song from the same period, which also employs the "red sun" imagery. While "The East is Red" is far more widely known internationally, "Red Sun in the Sky" represents the same genre of songs that were used to build up the persona of Mao Zedong 1893-1976.

Adaptations and legacy

After the Chinese Civil War, Song Yang and another musician Yi Yang adapted "Red Sun in the Sky" into a four-part harmony in Changsha. By that time, the song was already widely distributed.^[2] The third volume of the album New Songs from the Battlefield, released in May 1974, included "Red Sun in the Sky".^[4] "The Red Sun: Odes to Mao Zedong", released in 1991, also includes this song.^[5] Singer Anson Hu also sang this song, which was included in the album Red Song, released in 2009.^[6][7]

See also

• Propaganda in China