Original: Mao led the Communist Party of China ( CPC ) to victory against the Kuomintang ( KMT ) in the Chinese Civil War , and was the leader of the People 's Republic of China ( PRC ) from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976 .
Simplified: He was the leader of the People 's Republic of China ( PRC ) from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976 .