It was the first time that a national mourning period had been declared for something other than the death of a state leader , and many have called it the biggest display of mourning since the death of Mao Zedong . At 14:28 CST on May 19 , 2008 , a week after the earthquake , the Chinese public held a moment of silence .
Many people say it the biggest display of mourning since the death of Mao At 14:28 CST on May 19 , 2008 , one week after the earthquake , the Chinese public held a moment of silence .