The people's commune was the highest of three administrative levels in rural areas of the People's Republic of China during the period from 1958 to 1983 when they were replaced by townships. Communes, the largest collective units, were divided in turn into production brigades and production teams. The communes had governmental, political, and economic functions during the Cultural Revolution. The people's commune was commonly known for the collective activities within them, including labor and meal preparation, which allowed for workers to share local welfare. at a people's commune in Beijing during Richard Nixon's 1972 visit to China
In order to put this radical plan into action, Mao used the Anti-Rightist Movement to silence the right-wing of the party so he faced virtually no opposition when he finally implemented the People's communes. Using various propaganda campaigns, Mao was able to get the support of the peasantry. The People's communes were formed in support of the Great Leap Forward campaign and remains an inseparable part of the campaign, as shown in the Three Red Banners propaganda poster. Each commune was a combination of smaller farm collectives and consisted of 4,000–5,000 households. Larger communes could consist of up to 20,000 households.
Commune life
In the commune, everything was shared. Private kitchens became redundant, and everything in the private kitchen, such as tables, chairs, cooking utensils and pans were all contributed to the commune's kitchen. Private cooking was banned and replaced by communal dining. Everything originally owned by the households, private animals, stored grains and other food items were also contributed to the commune. They were put to different uses as assigned by the commune. All farming activities were to be centrally assigned by cadres every morning. Everybody in the commune was assigned jobs by their commune leaders. The communes exercised management and control of all rural resources such as labor and land. Because of governmental mismanagement of resources and bad weather from 1958 to 1960 the Great Chinese Famine spread over the countryside, with much food being exported to urban areas.
Labour Models
Labour models were individuals selected for special instruction in agricultural and industrial techniques, which could then be disseminated to the wider labouring population. Men and women were called on as models, and this was a way for women to enter leadership roles during the era of the People's Communes.
