Right-Facing

The vast majority of Maozhang portray the Chairman facing to the left. In the highly competitive circumstances of the Cultural Revolution, when the slightest nuance could be charged with disproportional significance, there are stories, some of which are undoubtedly true, of individuals being struggled against and persecuted for the "crime" of showing Mao facing in the "wrong" direction. However, while a left-facing image was preferred, and was in the eyes of revolutionary pedants more ideologically "correct" (see example at right), it was by no means an inviolate rule. The badges below, and examples from other media, clearly demonstrate that while relatively uncommon, right-facing images could be deployed without apparent criticism.