In China, people call Mao Zedong (1893-1976) “Mao Zhuxi,” or “Chairman Mao.”

Mao, who led his country’s communist revolution, was once chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party; chairman of the Political Bureau, or Politburo; and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Yet none of these titles in particular made “Chairman Mao” an enduring fixture of political history and popular culture.

As the towering figure at the summit of Communist China’s history, Mao became so closely identified with the title that Chinese people speak of “Chairman Mao” almost as though “Chairman” were part of his name.

China’s current leader, Xi Jinping, is also called “Xi Zhuxi,” or “Chairman Xi.” But in his case, the term is........

© The Asahi Shimbun