Five Red Categories
The "Five Red Categories" during the Chinese Cultural Revolution were the social classes favoured by the Chinese Communist Party, as opposed to the Five Black Categories that were classified as potential threats or enemies. In the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, Red Guards were only allowed to come from the "Five Red Categories". These included:
- Poor and lower-middle peasants
- Workers
- Revolutionary soldiers within the People's Liberation Army
- Revolutionary cadres who are active members of the CCP in good standing
- Revolutionary martyrs, including immediate family members, children, grandchildren and relatives of deceased CCP members and PLA service personnel killed in action