Hóngqí [Red Flag] Magazine – the Theoretical Journal of the Communist Party of China (1958-1977)

Red Flag

Red Flag

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Hóngqí [Red Flag] Magazine – the Theoretical Journal of the Communist Party of China (1958-1977)

Hóngqí [Red Flag] was the Chinese language theoretical journal of the Communist Party of China from 1958 to 1988. Depending on the year it usually appeared monthly or twice-monthly. During the early-middle part of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution its publication was suspended (from December 1967 to July 1968) but after it resumed publication it again became an extremely important revolutionary leadership force during the rest of the Maoist socialist era along with the newspapers People’s Daily and People’s Liberation Army Daily.

Hóngqí was given its name by Mao and the Chinese characters used for the journal’s masthead were in Mao’s calligraphy. Its first editor was Mao’s secretary Chen Boda. It was the successor to the earlier CCP theoretical journal Xuexi [Study]. The capitalist-roaders replaced the by-then already totally revisionist Hóngqí journal with a new twice-monthly journal Qiúshì [‘Seeking Truth’] in July 1988.

The Joint Publications Research Service of the U.S. government translated into English many articles from issues of Hóngqí published during and after the Mao era and also many entire issues. We have made as many of these translated issues and articles as we can locate available here. However readers should keep in mind that these translations are unofficial and may not be entirely reliable.

A page for issues of Hóngqí in the years 1977-1988, which were published by the capitalist-roaders after Mao’s death, can be found here

Below we only include those issues for which we have an English translation. A much more complete collection of the magazine in Chinese can be found on the bannedthought website at Hóngqí [Red Flag] Magazine.

Theoretical and polemical documents can also be found in the pages of Peking Review, published weekly during the period of the construction of Socialism.

1958:

No English versions available.

1959:

No. 23 48 pages, with these articles:

The problem of being ‘Red’ and ‘Expert’ is a problem of world viewpoint
The slogan of so-called ‘Freedom, Equality, Fraternity’
Carry out the revolution in the organization of production in the coal mining enterprises
One result of the labor competitions: introducing experiences of competition in technical demonstrations at Anshan
Use natural resources as effectively as possible in serving the cause of Socialist construction

No. 24 27 pages, with these articles:

Guarantee that industrial production will rise in balance while developing at high speed, by Hsu Hsin-hsueh
Overcome the weak cycles, realize an all-around leap
Forward in industrial production, by Sun Hung-chih
Mathematics and the realities of production, by Kuan Chao-chih

1960:

No. 6 45 pages, with these articles:

Develop the great people’s health work
A health Red-Flag city – Foshan in Kwangtung
The path of combining biological research work and production realities
Victory certainly belongs to the great African peoples

No. 8 19 pages, with these articles:

The new climate in the technical revolution in the factories
The great accomplishment of Vietnam in Socialist reformed construction

No. 9 62 pages, with these articles:

The ‘small foreign groups’ are promoting the Great Leap Forward in the iron and steel industry
Extensive operation of local railways
The laboring people must be the masters of machines
Realization of the automation of tea processing
The movement for the study of theory by the masses in Heilungkiang
The high tide of the national democratic movement in Latin America
The Czechoslovakian ideological and cultural revolution is advancing toward victory

No.13 21 pages, with these articles:

Develop the comprehensive use of lumber with artificial boards as the core
Engage extensively in the comprehensive use of lumber and in the chemical industry for lumber production

No.15 78 pages, with these articles:

Intensify the Socialist-Communist education campaign in the rural areas
Further develop the ‘two-participation, one-innovation and three-union’ system and raise the managerial standard in all enterprises
Fully utilize the wild fibers
Expedite the reform of agricultural techniques, intensify the farm tool innovation movement
Mass line in educational work
On the unity of opposites

1961:

No English versions available.

1962:

No English versions available.

1963:

No English versions available.

1964:

No English versions available.

1965:

No. 1

Part 1, 40 pages, with these articles:

Premier Chou En-Lai Reports on work of the Government
Resolution of National People’s Congress
Sixteen Poems

Part 2, 49 pages, with these articles:

Self-Reliance is magic wand
‘One into Two’ and Dynamic Thought
To seek the differences or the similarities?
Workers firmly oppose theory of ‘Class co-operation’
On scientific experiment

No. 2

Part 1, 34 pages, with these articles:

Lenin’s predictions about the Revolutionary Storms of the East
The Vietnamese People will win, U.S. imperialism will lose
How to view the enemy’s opposition

Part 2, 62 pages, with these articles:

Preface to Volume 3 of ‘Khrushchev’s Statement’
A new thing
The Red Lamp
The lamentations of a certain gentleman

No. 3 54 pages, with these articles:

Comment on March Moscow Meeting
An introduction to the Book Polemics on the General Line of the International Communist Movement
To inquire into everything
Comment on history of Imperialism’s use of Christianity to invade Africa
Selection of Revolutionary Songs

No. 4 62 pages, with these articles:

The great victory of Leninism
Drive US aggressors out of Vietnam
Publisher’s explanation of Volume 5 of ‘Khrushchev’s Statement’
Seventh anniversary of founding of Agricultural Middle Schools in Liangsu
Chairman Liu Shao-Ch’i commemorates Tenth Anniversary of Bandung Conference
Poems and cartoons on Aid-Vietnam Oppose-US Struggle

No. 5 44 pages, with these articles:

Commemorate victory over German Fascism
Carry struggle against US Imperialism to end
Historical experience of war against Fascism
Seeing the film ‘Conquering Berlin’ again

No. 6

Part 1, 34 pages, with these 2 articles:

Speech by P’eng Chen at the Indonesian Aliarcham Academy
Marx on Wages Prices and Profits in Capitalist Society

Part 2, 30 pages, with this article:

Pertaining to the discussion on the new view of Basic Particles by the Japanese physicist Sakada Shoichi

1966:

No. 1

Part 1, 40 pages, with these articles:

Speech by Chou Yang at All-China Conference of Spare Time Literary Creation Activists
Leaders of C.P.S.U. are betrayers of Declaration and Statement
Politics the Supreme Commander the very soul of our work

Part 2, 46 pages, with these articles:

High standard quality comes from high standard thinking
We cannot sit and wait for the development of the Socialist enterprise
A rural Film Projection Team
Deliver the books to the hands of the peasants
Course of mankind’s understanding of chemical elements

No. 2 124 pages, with these articles:

Confessions concerning line of Soviet-US collaboration pursued by new leaders of CPSU
Two books by new USSR Communist leadership advocate Soviet-American co-operation
Era of mastering theory by the masses of workers, peasants and soldiers has begun
Workers, farmers and soldiers study Mao Tse-Tung’s Thought with ingenuity and under real world conditions
Theories from ‘On Contradictions’ applied in cement kilns
Ten thousand kilometres: and one kilometre
How the ‘Old Procedure’ was broken time and again
Tend the store counter for the People and learn the skills in practice
Wu Han’s bourgeois view of history
A poor peasant family

No. 3

Part 1, 18 pages, with this one article:

The revolution in historiography must be carried to the very end (Unsigned article written in 1964.)

Part 2, 42 pages, with these articles:

Love weapons not make-up
Constant revolution in ideology and technology
Developing the determination to be a Revolutionary
The Victory of Mao Tse-Tung’s literary and artistic thinking

No. 4 106 pages, with these articles:

Letter of reply dated 22 March 1966 of Central Committee of CCP to Central Committee of CPSU
Letter of Central Committee of CPSU dated 24 February 1966 to Central Committee of CCP
Great revelations of the Paris Commune
Comrade Chien Po-tsan’s outlook on history should be criticized
Comrade Chiao Yu-lu is good example of creative study and application of Mao Tse-tung’s Thinking
Philosophical story-telling meetings
Wisdom comes from practice
Dialectics in daily work
Simplicity or complexity?
Bring forth politics and oppose compromise-ism

No. 5

Part 1, 64 pages, with these 2 articles:

Give prominence to politics, put Mao Tse-tung’s Thinking in command of everything
‘Hai Shui curses the Emperor’ and ‘The dismissal of Hai Shui’ are two great poisonous weeds

Part 2, 38 pages, with this one article:

Literature and art must insist on Marxist Epistemology — A Critique of Substantialism

No. 6

Part 1, 28 pages, with these articles:

Worker-Peasant-Soldier masses criticize Wu Han’s anti-Party. anti-Socialist political stand and academic viewpoint
Participation by Worker-Peasant-Soldier masses in academic criticism is an epoch-making event

Part 2, 18 pages, with this one article:

Raise high the Great Red Banner of Mao Tse-tung’s Thinking, take an active part in the Socialist Cultural Revolution, editorial in Liberation Army Daily on 18 April 1966 reprinted in Hongqi

Part 3, 28 pages, with this one article:

Commenting On Wu Han’s [Play] T’ou-Ch’iang-Chi by Shih Shao-pin

No. 7

Part 1, 32 pages, with this one article:

Criticism of San Chia Ts’un — The Reactionary Nature of Yen Shan Yeh-hua and San Chia Ts’un Tsa-chi by Yao Wen-yuan

Part 2, 16 pages, with this one article:

The standpoint of which class do the Editorial Departments of Ch’ien-Hsien and Peking Jih-Pao Take? by Ch’i Pen-yu

Part 3, 32 pages, with these three articles:

Never forget class struggle
Workers, Peasants and Soldiers attack anti-Party and anti-Socialist elements
Enhance politics, fully portray Heroes — Review of the novel: ‘Song of Ouyang Hai’

No. 8 50 pages, with these articles:

Put Mao Tse-Tung’s Thought in the forefront, Cadres give the lead at every level
Long Live the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
Sweep away all monsters
Mao Tse-Tung’s Thought is the telescope and microscope of our revolutionary cause
Workers, Peasants, Soldiers and Students denounce ‘Three-Family Village’ Counter-revolutionary clique

No. 9 90 pages, with these articles:

Talks at the Yenan Forum on Literature and Art — May 1942
Trust the masses rely on the masses
The compass for the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution — Note on the reprinting of ‘Talks at the Yenan Forum on Literature and Art’
Thoroughly criticize and repudiate the revisionist line of some of the principal leading members of the former Peking Municipal Party Committee
Chou Yang’s Black Arrow to Turn History Upside Down — Comment on a note in the complete Works of Lu Hsun Vol. VI
‘National Defense Literature’ is a slogan of Wang Ming’s Right Opportunist Line

No.10 70 pages, with these articles:

Decision of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party concerning the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
A Programmatic Document of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
Energetically launch the mass campaign for studying Chairman Mao’s Writings speed up the Proletarian Revolutionization of Peasants’ Thought
Comment on Sun Yeh-fang’s reactionary political stand and economic program
The Three Poison Weeds of Hou Wai-lu’s comments of T’ang Hsien-tsu’s Plays

No.11 60 pages, with these articles:

Communique of the Eleventh Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
Our greatest leader, our dearest person
Comrade Lin Piao’s Speech
Comrade Chou En-lai’s Speech
Grow up braving storm and stress victoriously march forward along the road of Mao Tse-tung’s Thought
Selection of Revolutionary Big-Character Posters

  • What have Sung Shuo Lu P’ing and P’ei-yun done in the Cultural Revolution?
  • Long Live the Revolutionary Rebellious Spirit of the Proletariat
  • More on Long Live the Revolutionary Rebellious Spirit of the Proletariat
  • Third comment on Long Live the Revolutionary Rebellious Spirit of the Proletariat
  • Bring out the proprietary attitude
  • A letter to seven comrades

Hail the Big-Character Poster of Peking University
Saluting the revolutionary youths and teenagers
The General Election system of the Paris Commune

No.12 60 pages with these articles:

Comrade Lin Piao’s Speech (31 August 1966)
Comrade Lin Piao’s Speech (15 September 1966)
Comrade Chou En-lai’s Speech (31 August 1966)
Comrade Chou En-lai’s Speech (15 September 1966)
Hold fast to the main orientation in the struggle
Take firm hold of the Revolution and stimulate production
In praise of the Red Guards
Selected articles of the Red Guards
Chou Yang is not allowed to attack and disparage Lu Hsun

No.13

Part 1, 48 pages, with these 9 articles:

Comrade Lin Piao’s Speech
Follow along the high road of Mao Tse-tung’s Thought
For greater victories in revolution and production
Advance under the illumination of Mao Tse-tung’s Thinking
Ideological revolution motivates production revolution
Chairman Mao, you are the Red Sun of Our Heart!
The People’s Warriors remain loyal to Chairman Mao forever
The New Peking University forces ahead
Contribute your whole lifetime to the revolutionary cause

Part 2, 30 pages, with these 2 articles:

Build the company into a good school for Mao Tse-tung’s Thought
Manage well the oil wells for the People

Part 3, 20 pages, with this one article:

Arm the peasants with Thought of Mao Tse-tung, the basic experience of the Tachai Production Brigade in politico-ideological work

No.14 70 pages, with these articles:

Victory for the proletarian revolutionary line represented by Chairman Mao
Commemorate Lu Hsun and carry the Revolution through to the end
Learn from Lu Hsun, be faithful to Chairman Mao forever
Rebutting Simonov
Mao Tse-tung’s Thought illuminates Lu Hsun
Commemorating Lu Hsun’s rebellious spirit
Concluding speech at meeting in commemoration of Lu Hsun
Commemorating Lu Hsun Cultural Revolution
We must truly master the Thought of Mao Tse-tung
Dare to struggle, be good at struggle
Change the Thought of Mao Tse-tung into one’s own soul
Regard revolutionary interests as primary in life
New people nurtured and brought up by the Thought of Mao Tse-tung

No.15 65 pages, with these articles:

Comrade Mao Tse-Tung’s Message of Greetings
Comrade Lin Piao’s Speech at Peking Mass Rally
Literature and Art workers hold rally for Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
Seize new victories
Dictatorship of the Proletariat and the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
The true features of Chien Po-Tsan an anti-Communist intellectual

1967:

No. 2

Part 1, 18 pages, with these articles:

Respond to Chairman Mao’s call, go among the masses
Long Live ‘To rebel is justified’
Creatively study and apply Chairman Mao’s
Writings in Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
Labor must stand on the front ranks of Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

Part 2, 69 pages, with these articles:

Message of greetings to Revolutionary Rebel Organizations in Shanghai
Take firm hold of the Revolution, promote production and utterly smash the new counter-attack launched by the bourgeois reactionary line
Revolutionary workers of newspapers send telegram saluting Chairman Mao
32 Shanghai Revolutionary Rebel Organizations issue ‘Urgent Notice’
Shanghai Revolutionary Rebels launch major attack on bourgeois reactionary line
Shanghai Revolutionary Rebel Organizations send telegram saluting Chairman Mao
Letter saluting Chairman Mao
Oppose economism and smash the latest counter-attack by the bourgeois reactionary line
Proletarian revolutionaries unite, thoroughly smash the new counter-attack of the bourgeois reactionary line
Firmly put in check the evil wind of economism
Money cannot change our will to rebel
Resolutely oppose economism
Proletarian Dictatorship and Proletarian Extensive Democracy
First step in forming one with the workers

No. 3

Part 1, 62 pages, with these 10 articles:

On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party by Mao Tse-tung (1929)
On the proletarian revolutionaries’ struggle to seize power
On revolutionary discipline and revolutionary authority of the proletariat
The People’s Liberation Army firmly backs the proletarian revolutionaries
A great victory in the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in Shansi Province
Great alliance is the key factor
Spring thunder over Southwest China
A new dawn breaks over the Northeast
Get rid of ‘self-interest’, forge a great alliance of revolutionary rebels
After seizure of power

Part 2, 33 pages, with these 6 articles:

Shansi Revolutionary Rebel General Headquarters Public Notice No. 1
Tsingtao Municipal Revolutionary Rebel Committee Notice No. 1
Public Notice of the Kweichow Proletarian Revolutionary Rebel General Headquarters
Public Notice No. 1 of the Revolutionary Committee of Red Rebels in Heilungkiang Province
Power to exercise leadership over newspapers must be seized
Let us grasp the destiny of the seaport

No. 4

Part 1, Not yet available.

Part 2, 7 pages, with 1 article:

Creatively study and apply Chairman Mao’s Writings in supporting the struggle of proletarian revolutionaries to seize power by Wang Tse-chun

No. 5

Part 1, 82 pages, with these 10 articles:

Letter from the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party
On the revolutionary ‘Three-way alliance’
Patriotism or national betrayal?
The bourgeois reactionary line on the question of cadres must be criticized and repudiated
Go all out to mobilize the masses, smash the scheme for counter-revolutionary restoration
How we supported proletarian revolutionaries
Bravely advance in the teeth of class struggle
Tachai marches on under the brilliance of Mao Tse-Tung’s Thought
Resolutely carry out Chairman Mao’s Cadres Policy
Put Revolution in the first place

Part 2, 34 pages, with these 4 articles:

‘Hit hard at many in order to protect a handful’ is a component part of the bourgeois reactionary line
Follow Chairman Mao, carry the Revolution through to the end
Transportation situation exceedingly favorable after power seizure in Harbin Railway Bureau
Put Revolution in command of production

No. 8 46 pages, with these articles:

We Workers, Peasants and Soldiers must dominate the arena of literature and art
Long Live Chairman Mao’s revolutionary literary and art line
‘Taking the Bandits’ Stronghold’

No. 9 61 pages, with these articles:

The Talks at the Yenan Forum on Literature and Art is a revolutionary program for carrying out the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
Dockers have ascended the dramatic stage
‘Raid on the White Tiger Regiment’ is a good play manifesting the Thought of Mao Tse-tung
Workers, Peasants and Soldiers must occupy the art stage
Long Live Chairman Mao’s boundlessly brilliant revolutionary line on literature and art
A new victory of Chairman Mao’s revolutionary line for art and literature
Long Live the all-conquering Thought of Mao Tsetung on art and literature

No.10

Part 1, 70 pages, with these articles:

‘On the correct handling of contradictions among the people’ by Mao Tse-tung
A theoretical weapon for making revolution under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat
A great strategic measure
Stop the encroachment of bourgeois ideology
Never forget the general orientation of the struggle

Part 2, 46 pages, with these articles:

Creatively study and apply Chairman Mao’s Writings, correctly handle contradictions among the people
Make a strict distinction between the two different types of contradictions, correctly handle the deceived masses
Be forever loyal to Chairman Mao’s proletarian revolutionary line
Correctly understand and practice extensive democracy under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat
Shantung Provincial Revolutionary Committee’s Regulations on conscientiously improving Cadres’ style of work
Combine the Big Criticism with each unit’s struggle, criticism and reform

No.11 100 pages, with these articles:

Mao Tse-tung’s Thought illuminates the road for our Party’s victorious advance
The Military Government of Ne Win, the Chiang Kai-shek of Burma, is bound to fail! The People are bound to win!
People of Indonesia Unite and Fight to overthrow the Fascist Regime
Statement by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Indonesian Communist Party
Self-criticism by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Indonesian Communist Party
It is necessary to topple self-interest in order to realize the great alliance of revolutionaries
Rely on the masses and realize a great revolutionary alliance
Realize the great alliance of revolutionaries, return to school to make Revolution
Forever preserve the revolutionary color of the proletariat
Only by eliminating self-interest and fostering devotion to public interest can we hold and exercise power well
Transact business in strict accordance with Party policies
Hold high the banner of revolutionary great alliance
Resolutely support revolutionary cadres in coming forward

No.12 98 pages, with these articles:

Chairman Mao Tse-tung on People’s War
Long Live the Victory of People’s War!
The proletariat must take a firm hold of the gun
Open fierce fire on the chief enemy of the people
Politically and ideologically overthrow completely the handful of Capitalist Roaders within the Party
Recommending one good article
Let us go forward triumphantly along Chairman Mao’s proletarian line of army building
Resolutely defend Chairman Mao’s proletarian revolutionary line

No.13 109 pages, with these articles:

Bombard the headquarters
Along the Socialist or the capitalist road?
Completely smash the bourgeois headquarters
Resolution of 8th Plenary Session of 8th Central Committee of C.P.C. concerning the anti-Party clique headed by Peng Teh-huai
From the defeat of Peng Teh-huai to the bankruptcy of China’s Khrushchev
Scheming to betray the Party is aimed at usurping the Party
The bankruptcy of China’s ‘devotee of Parliament’
Song of Triumph on Tsinghai Plateau
Message saluting Chairman Mao Tse-tung
Socialist enterprises can never be allowed to be dragged astray onto the road of capitalism
Thorough criticism of the ‘Three-self, one-guarantee’ system geared to restoration of capitalism
Angry rebuke of the capitulationist program of the top Party person in authority taking the capitalist road
Lessons of the Arab war against aggression

No.14 49 pages, with these articles:

Comments on Tao Chu’s two books by Yao Wen-yuan
Bring about the revolutionary great alliance in the course of the high tide of revolutionary mass criticism and repudiation
Steadfastly stand behind the proletarian revolutionaries
The great Chinese People’s Liberation Army is a reliable pillar of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat and for the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
Further implement Chairman Mao’s great principle for grasping the Revolution and stimulating production
Resolutely trust and rely upon the great majority of Cadres

No.15 36 pages, with these articles:

Chairman Mao inspects North Central-South and East China
Comrade Lin Piao’s speech
Long Live Victory of the Great Cultural Revolution under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat
A great revolution to achieve the complete ascendancy of Mao Tse-tung’s Thought
‘Combat self-interest, criticize and repudiate revisionism’, carry out well the struggle-criticism-transformation in various schools and unite
Working class unite

No.16 78 pages, with these articles:

Carry out revolutionary great alliances according to fields of work
Comrade Lin Piao’s speech
Advance along the road opened up by the October Revolution
Struggle between the two roads in China’s countryside
Thoroughly establish the absolute authority of the Great Supreme Commander Chairman Mao and of his great thought
Study classes for Mao Tse-Tung’s Thought based on Three-way Combination are very good indeed
A good way to combat self-interest and criticize and repudiate revisionism
Carry out the activity of ‘One helping another to form a red pair’, develop and consolidate the revolutionary great alliance

1968:

No English versions available.

1969:

No English versions available.

1970:

No English versions available.

1971:

No English versions available.

1972:

No English versions available.

1973:

No English versions available.

1974:

No.10 One article, 5 pages:

Grasp the dialectical method of one dividing into two

1975:

No English versions available.

1976:

No. 1 Only a few articles presently available:

The Dictatorship of the Proletariat and the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution by Chung Shih, 7 pages. (Article starts in the middle of the page.)
Firmly grasp the class struggle as the key link by Chih Heng, 7 pages.
Two articles, 13 pages:

Uphold Party’s basic line – a study of ‘On the correct handling of contradictions among the people’ The splendid poems that inspire us in our struggle – a study of the Two Poems of Chairman Mao by Yen Shui-kai

Communist Party Digest, No. 195, Author and Title Index to Hung-ch’i [Hongqi] for the years 1966-1967, 43 pages.

More on China …..

The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China

GPCR in Sining, Chinghai Province

GPCR in Sining, Chinghai Province

More on China …..

The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China

The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China was the logical outcome of the many years of the increasingly bitter ideological struggle that had been taking place within the International Communist Movement since Khrushchev’s denunciation of Joseph Stalin at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in February 1956.

There had been many efforts (some would say too many) to try and bring the errant first Socialist State back to the revolutionary principles of Marxism-Leninism but by 1960 it was becoming obvious that the revisionists had become firmly entrenched in Lenin‘s and Stalin‘s Party. Weaknesses (and the similar entrenchment of revisionism and social democracy) in other Communist and Workers’ Parties worldwide also ensured that those seeking to restore capitalism – in deeds if not in words – in the Soviet Union could claim they were only reflecting the majority trend in the International Communist Movement.

Although the majority of the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party was still following the revolutionary road those ‘capitalist-roaders’ (as they were called in China) did exist – and even at the highest levels in the Party.

Those revolutionaries, under the leadership of Chairman Mao Tse-tung, had to act to prevent China from going down the same anti-Socialist road. It would be for the Chinese workers, peasants, soldiers and students to decide the fate of their country. So, on 8th August 1966, the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution was born – one of the most important and significant events in the history of Communism.

Basic Documents of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution

Decision of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Concerning the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, adopted on Aug. 8, 1966, 20 pages. [This famous Circular of the Central Committee of the CCP was drawn up under Mao’s guidance and presents the 16 key points established to guide the GPCR.]

An Epoch-Making Document – In Commemoration of the Second Anniversary of the Publication of the Circular, May 17, 1968, 28 pages.

The Great Socialist [Proletarian] Cultural Revolution Series (1966-1967):

The Great Socialist Cultural Revolution in China (1), 2nd ed. (Peking: FLP, Oct. 1966), 78 pages. Includes these articles:

  • Hold High the Great Red Banner of Mao Tse-tung’s Thought and Actively Participate in the Great Socialist Cultural Revolution, editorial of the Liberation Army Daily [Jiefangjun Bao], April 18, 1966.
  • Never Forget the Class Struggle, editorial of the Liberation Army Daily, May 4 1966.
  • On ‘Three-Family Village’ — The Reactionary Nature of Evening Chats at Yenshan and Notes from Three-Family Village, by Yao Wen-yuan, May 10, 1966.

The Great Socialist Cultural Revolution in China (2), (Peking: FLP, 1966), 68 pages. Includes these articles:

  • Open Fire at the Black Anti-Party and Anti-Socialist Line!, by Kao Chu, first published in the Liberation Army Daily, May 8, 1966.
  • Heighten Our Vigilance and Distinguish the True from the False, by Ho Ming, first published in the Kuangming Daily, May 8, 1966.
  • Teng To’s Evening Chats at Yenshan is Anti-Party and Anti-Socialist Double-Talk, compiled by Lin Chieh, Ma Tse-min, Yen Chang-huei, Chou Ying, Teng Wen-sheng and Chin Tien-Liang, first published in the Liberation Army Daily and the Kuangming Daily on May 8, 1966.
  • On the Bourgeois Stand of Frontline and the Peking Daily, by Chi Pen-yu, first published in Red Flag, No. 7, 1966.

The Great Socialist Cultural Revolution in China (3), (Peking: FLP, 1966), 32 pages. Includes these articles:

  • Sweep Away All Monsters, editorial of Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily], June 1, 1966.
  • A Great Revolution That Touches People to Their Very Souls, editorial of Renmin Ribao, June 2, 1966.
  • Mao Tse-tung’s Thought is the Telescope and Microscope of Our Revolutionary Cause, editorial of Jiefangjun Bao [Liberation Army Daily], June 7, 1966.
  • We are Critics of the Old World, editorial of Renmin Ribao, June 8, 1966.

The Great Socialist Cultural Revolution in China (4), (Peking: FLP, 1966), 56 pages, Includes these articles:

  • Long Live the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, editorial of Hongqi [Red Flag], No. 8, 1966.
  • Capture the Positions in the Field of Historical Studies Seized by the Bourgeoisie, editorial of Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily], June 3, 1966.
  • Tear Aside the Bourgeois Mask of ‘Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’, editorial of Renmin Ribao, June 4, 1966.
  • New Victory for Mao Tse-tung’s Thought, editorial of Renmin Ribao, June 4, 1966.
  • To Be Proletarian Revolutionaries or Bourgeois Royalists?, editorial of Renmin Ribao, June 5, 1966.

The Great Socialist Cultural Revolution in China (5), (Peking: FLP, 1966), 36 pages, pamphlet with just one article:

  • Raise High the Great Red Banner of Mao Tse-tung’s Thought and Carry the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution Through to the End — Essential Points for Propaganda and Education in Connection with the Great Cultural Revolution, editorial of Jiefangjun Bao [Liberation Army Daily], June 6, 1966.

The Great Socialist Cultural Revolution in China (6), (Peking: FLP, 1966), 32 pages. Includes these articles:

  • A New Stage of the Socialist Revolution in China, editorial of Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily], July 17, 1966.
  • The Sunlight of the Party Illuminates the Road of the Great Cultural Revolution, editorial of Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily], June 24, 1966.
  • Trust the Masses, Rely on the Masses, editorial of Hongqi [Red Flag], No. 9, 1966.
  • From the Masses, to the Masses, editorial of Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily], July 21, 1966.
  • Be a Pupil of the Masses Before You Become a Teacher of the Masses, editorial of Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily], July 29, 1966.

The Great Socialist Cultural Revolution in China (7), (Peking: FLP, 1967), 36 pages. Includes these articles:

  • The Programmatic Document of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, editorial of Hongqi [Red Flag], No. 10, 1966.
  • Master the Ideological Weapon of the Great Cultural Revolution, editorial of Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily], Aug. 11, 1966.
  • Study the 16-Point Decision, Know it Well and Apply It, editorial of Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily], Aug. 13, 1966.
  • Sailing the Seas Depends on the Helmsman, editorial of Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily], Aug. 15, 1966.
  • Revolutionary Youth Should Learn from the People’s Liberation Army, editorial of Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily], Aug. 28, 1966.
  • Hold Fast to the Main Orientation in the Struggle, editorial of Hongqi [Red Flag], No. 12, 1966.

The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China (8), (Peking: FLP, 1967), 28 pages. Includes these articles:

  • Comrade Lin Piao’s Speech at the Peking Mass Rally to Receive Revolutionary Teachers and Students From All Over China, Nov. 3, 1966.
  • Victory for the Proletarian Revolutionary Line Represented by Chairman Mao, editorial in Hongqi, No. 14, 1966.
  • Seize New Victories, editorial in Hongqi, No. 15, 1966.

The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China (9), (Peking: FLP, 1967), 28 pages, pamphlet with just one article:

  • Carry the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution Through to the End, editorial of Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily] and Hongqi [Red Flag], Jan. 1, 1967.

The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China (10), (Peking: FLP, 1967), 48 pages. Includes these articles:

  • Message of Greetings to Revolutionary Rebel Organizations in Shanghai from the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the State Council, the Military Commission of the Party’s Central Committee and the Cultural Revolution Group Under the Party’s Central Committee, Jan. 11, 1967.
  • Take Firm Hold of the Revolution, Promote Production and Utterly Smash the New Counterattack Launched by the Bourgeois Reactionary Line – Message to All Shanghai People, Jan. 4, 1967. Urgent Notice – From the Shanghai Workers’ Revolutionary Rebel General Headquarters and 31 Other Revolutionary Mass Organizations, Jan. 9, 1967.
  • Telegram Saluting Chairman Mao – From the Rally Held by the Revolutionary Rebel Organizations of Shanghai and the Shanghai Liaison Centres of Revolutionary Rebel Organizations of Other Places to Celebrate the Message of Greetings of the Central Authorities and Completely Smash the New Counter-Attack by the Bourgeois Reactionary Line, from a rally held by revolutionary organizations in Shanghai, Jan. 12, 1967.
  • Oppose Economist and Smash the Latest Counterattack by the Bourgeois Reactionary Line – Editorial of Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily] and Hongqi [Red Flag], January 12, 1967.
  • Proletarian Revolutionaries, Unite, by Commentator, Hongqi, No. 2, 1967.

Other

Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution Pamphlets:

1966:

Mao Tse-tung’s Thought is the Invincible Weapon, four articles from 1966, 87 pages. (Peking: FLP, 1968)

1967:

The May Upheaval in Hongkong, by the Committee of Hongkong-Kowloon Chinese Compatriots of All Circles for the Struggle Against Persecution by the British Authorities in Hongkong, (Hongkong: 1967), 191 pages. About the extension of the Cultural Revolution to Hongkong.

Follow Chairman Mao and Advance in the Teeth of Great Storms and Waves, article about Mao’s famous swim in the Yangtse along with editorials from Renmin Ribao and Jiefangjun Bao, July 24-26, 1966, 28 pages. (Peking: FLP, 1967)

Forward Along the High Road of Mao Tse-tung’s Thought — In Celebration of the 17th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, including editorials and speeches by Lin Piao and Chou En-lai on Oct. 1, 1966, 42 pages. (Peking: FLP, 1967) PDF format [2,031 KB].

Betrayal of Proletarian Dictatorship is the Heart of the Book on ‘Self-Cultivation’, by the editorial departments of Renmin Ribao and Hongqi, May 8, 1967, 24 pages. (Peking: FLP, 1967)

Patriotism or National Betrayal? – On the Reactionary Film Inside Story of the Ching Court, by Chi Pen-yu, 44 pages. Original Chinese version in Hongqi #5, 1967. (Peking: FLP, 1967)

Great Victory for Chairman Mao’s Revolutionary Line – Warmly Hail the Birth of Peking Municipal Revolutionary Committee, including speeches by Chou En-lai, Chiang Ching, Hsieh Fu-chih, Chang Chun-chiao and editorials from Renmin Ribao and Jifangjun Bao, (Peking: FLP, 1967), 60 pages.

Commemorating Lu Hsun – Our Forerunner in the Cultural Revolution, a collection of speeches and articles on the 30th anniversary of the death of Lu Hsun, including speeches by Chen Po-ta, Yao Wen-yuan, Kuo Mo-jo and others, (Peking: FLP, 1967), 68 pages.

The Struggle Between the Two Roads in China’s Countryside, by the editorial departments of Renmin Ribao, Hongqi and Jifangjun Bao, Nov. 23, 1967, 36 pages. (Peking: FLP, 1968)

1968:

Take the Road of the Shanghai Machine Tools Plant in Training Technicians from among the Workers – Two Investigation Reports on the Revolution in Education in Colleges of Science and Engineering, by the editorial departments of Renmin Ribao and Hongqi, 68 pages. (Peking: FLP, 1968)

On the Revolutionary ‘Three-in-One’ Combination, four editorials by Hongqi, Jiefangjun Bao, or Wenhui Bao in the first half of 1967, 48 pages. (Peking: FLP, 1968)

On the Re-Education of Intellectuals, by Renmin Ribao and Hongqi Commentators, originally in Hongqi, #3, 1968. (Peking: FLP, 1968), 20 pages.

Absorb Proletarian Fresh Blood – An Important Question in Party Consolidation, Hongqi [Red Flag] editorial, #4, Oct. 14, 1968. (Peking: FLP, 1968), 34 pages.

1969:

Put Mao Tse-tung’s Thought in Command of Everything, New Year editorial for 1969 by Renmin Ribao [People’s Daily], Hongqi [Red Flag] and Jiefangjun Bao [Liberation Army Daily]. (Peking: FLP, 1969), 39 pages.

Grasp Revolution, Promote Production and Win New Victories on the Industrial Front, Renmin Ribao editorial, Feb. 21, 1969. (Peking: FLP, 1969), 26 pages.

Carry the Great Revolution on the Journalistic Front Through to the End — Repudiating the Counter-Revolutionary Revisionist Line on Journalism of China’s Khrushchov, by the editorial departments of Renmin Ribao, Hongqi and Jifangjun Bao. (Peking: FLP, 1969), 74 pages.

Hold Aloft the Banner of Unity of the Party’s Ninth Congress and Win Still Greater Victories, editorial of Renmin Ribao, Hongqi and Jifangjun Bao, June 9, 1969. (Peking: FLP, 1969), 26 pages.

Fight for the Further Consolidation of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat – In Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China. Includes speeches by Lin Piao and Chou En-lai, an editorial, and slogans for the celebration. (Peking: FLP, 1969), 54 pages.

1970:

Usher In the Great 1970’s, 1970 New Year’s Day editorial of Renmin Ribao, Hongqi and Jiefangjun Bao. (Peking: FLP, 1970), 34 pages.

Take the Road of Integrating with the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers, on the orientation of the youth movement. (Peking: FLP, 1970), 105 pages.

Communists Should Be the Advanced Elements of the Proletariat – In Commemoration of the 49th Anniversary of the Founding of the Communist Party of China. (Peking: FLP, 1970), 20 pages.

1971:

Outstanding Proletarian Fighters, about outstanding proletarian revolutionaries arising in all walks of life in China. (Peking: FLP, 1971), 101 pages.

To Trumpet Bourgeois Literature and Art is to Restore Capitalism – A Repudiation of Chou Yang’s Reactionary Fallacy Adulating the ‘Renaissance’, the ‘Enlightenment’ and ‘Critical Realism’ of the Bourgeoisie, by the Shanghai Writing Group for Revolutionary Mass Criticism, (Peking: FLP, 1971), 53 pages.

1972:

Strive to Build a Socialist University of Science and Engineering, about the Cultural Revolution in education. (Peking: FLP, 1972), 85 pages. In addition to the title article by the Workers’ and PLA Men’s Mao Tsetung Thought Propaganda Team at Tsinghua University, this pamphlet also includes the Summary of the Forum on the Revolution in Education in Shanghai Colleges of Science and Engineering convened by Chang Chun-chiao an Yao Wen-yuan in Shanghai, June 2, 1970.

Strive for New Victories, in Celebration of the 23rd Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China, editorial by Renmin Ribao, Hongqi and Jiefangjun Bao, (Peking: FLP, 1972), 18 pages.

1974:

A Vicious Motive, Despicable Tricks – A Criticism of M. Antonioni’s Anti-China Film China, by Renmin Ribao Commentator, Jan. 30, 1974. (Peking: FLP, 1974), 23 pages.

1976:

A Summary of the Opinions of the Inner-Party Bourgeoisie Issues, a Guangzhou area regional CCP document which was reprinted by the Publicity Department of Zhongshan County Committee of the CCP, and which is based on theoretical seminar materials and also the relevant articles of some university journals. It is only to promote further discussion and study by comrades on the inner-party bourgeoisie issue. (July 8, 1976), 14 pages. This document is especially interesting in that it is in part a late period summary of the central aspects of the entire GPCR. It consists of the following six sections:

  • Chairman Mao’s scientific assertion that the bourgeoisie emerged within the Communist Party is a major development of Marxism-Leninism
  • On how to understand the problem that the bourgeoisie is just in the Communist Party
  • On the question of changes in class relations during the socialist period
  • On the root causes of the bourgeoisie within the party
  • About the characteristics of the bourgeoisie within the party and the contradictory nature of the proletariat and the bourgeoisie within the party
  • Recognition and struggle against the bourgeoisie in the party

(An English translation should be available soon.)

Collections of Documents from the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution:

Important Documents on the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China, which consists mostly of speeches by Lin Piao [Lin Biao]. Pocket edition with red plastic cover. (Peking: FLP, 1970), 350 pages.

Fundamentals of Political Economy, edited and with an introduction by George C Wang, ME Sharpe, New York, 1977, 506 pages. This was an introductory economics text produced in 1974 as part of a Youth Self-education series for individual or group study – primarily designed to raise the cultural level of the young people who were going to the countryside.

And Mao Makes 5: Mao Tse-tung’s last great battle, edited with an Introduction by Raymond Lotta, (Chicago: Banner Press, September 1978), 539 pages.

Contents:

Introduction:

Section I: Background to the Struggle:

Section II: Criticize Lin Piao and Confucius:

  • Section II Intro:
  • Text 5: Carry the Struggle to Criticize Lin Piao and Confucius Through to the End
  • Text 6: Dare to Think and Do
  • Text 7: Study the Historical Experience of the Struggle Between the Confucian and Legalist Schools, by Liang Hsiao
  • Text 8: The Philosophy of the Communist Party is the Philosophy of Struggle, by Chiang Yu-ping
  • Text 9: Working Women’s Struggle Against Confucianism in Chinese History
  • Text 10: To Develop Industry We Must Initiate Technical Innovation, by Kung Hsiao-wen
  • Text 11: Has Absolute Music No Class Character?, by Chao Hua
  • Text 12: A Decade of Revolution in Peking Opera, by Chu Lan
  • Text 13: History Develops in Spirals, by Hung Yu
  • Text 14: Speech at Peking Rally Welcoming Cambodian Guests, by Wang Hung-wen

Section III: Fourth People’s Congress and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat Campaign:

Section IV: Criticize Water Margin:

  • Section IV Intro:
  • Text 22: Unfold Criticism of ‘Water Margin’
  • Text 23: Criticism of ‘Water Margin’, by Chu Fang-ming
  • Text 24: On Teng Hsiao-ping’s Counter-Revolutionary Offensive in Public Opinion (Excerpts), by Hung Hsuan

Section V: Criticize Teng and Beat Back the Right Deviationist Wind:

  • Section V Intro:
  • Text 25: Two Poems, by Mao Tse-tung
  • Text 26: Reversing Correct Verdicts Goes Against the Will of the People
  • Text 27: Counter-Revolutionary Political Incident at Tien An Men Square
  • Text 28: Communist Party of China Resolutions
  • Text 29: Firmly Keep to the General Orientation of the Struggle
  • Text 30: A General Program for Capitalist Restoration, by Cheng Yueh
  • Text 31: Criticism of Selected Passages of ‘Certain Questions on Accelerating the Development of Industry’
  • Text 32: Comments on Teng Hsiao-ping’s Economic Ideas of the Comprador Bourgeoisie, by Kao Lu and Chang Ko
  • Text 33: A New Type of Production Relations in a Socialist Enterprise
  • Text 34: Fundamental Differences Between the Two Lines in Education
  • Text 35: Repulsing the Right Deviationist Wind in the Scientific and Technological Circles
  • Text 36: What Is the Intention of People of the Lin Piao Type in Advocating ‘Private Ownership of Knowledge’?, by Liang Hsiao
  • Text 37: A Reactionary Philosophy That Stands on Its Head, by Hung Yu
  • Text 38: From Bourgeois Democrats to Capitalist-Roaders, by Chih Heng
  • Text 39: Capitalist-Roaders Are the Bourgeoisie Inside the Party, by Fang Kang
  • Text 40: Capitalist-Roaders Are Representatives of the Capitalist Relations of Production, by Chuang Lan
  • Text 41: Talks Concerning ‘Criticizing Teng Hsiao-ping and Repulsing Right Deviationist Wind’, by Chang Chun-chiao
  • Text 42: Deepen the Criticism of Teng Hsiao-ping in Anti-Quake and Relief Work
  • Text 43: Proletarians Are Revolutionary Optimists, by Pi Sheng

Biographical Material on the Four: 13 pages of photographs

Appendices: Documents from the Right:

  • Introduction:
  • Appendix 1: On the General Program of Work for the Whole Party and Whole Nation
  • Appendix 2: Some Problems in Accelerating Industrial Development
  • Appendix 3: On Some Problems in the Fields of Science and Technology
  • Appendix 4: Two Talks by Teng Hsiao-ping
  • Appendix 5: The Bitter Fruit of Maoism, by Y. Semyonov
  • Appendix 6: Speech at Special Session of UN General Assembly, by Teng Hsiao-ping
  • Appendix 7: A Complete Reversal of the Relations Between Ourselves and the Enemy, by Hsiang Chun
  • Appendix 8: CPC Central Committee Circular on Holding National Science Conference
  • Appendix 9: To Each According to His Work: Socialist Principle in Distribution, by Li Hung-lin

CCP Documents of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution: 1966-67, (Hong Kong: Union Research Institute), 1967 [?], 361 pages. This work included the original Chinese language documents plus the English translations. This version, however, only includes the English translations.

Commentaries on the GPCR

The papers included here might well be anti-GPCR but they contain either documents or information which will help to get a greater understanding of this crucial political movement.

Chinese Communism in crisis – Maoism and the Cultural Revolution, Jack Gray and Patrick Cavendish, Frederick A Praeger, New York, 1968, 279 pages.

The Cultural Revolution in China, Joan Robinson, Penguin, London, 1970, 154 pages.

Hundred Day War, the Cultural Revolution at Tsinghua University, William Hinton, Monthly Review Press, New York, 1972, 288 pages.

Micropolitics in Contemporary China – A Technical Unit during and after the Cultural Revolution, Marc J Blecher and Gordon White, ME Sharpe, New York, 1979, 135 pages.

Evaluating the Cultural Revolution in China and its legacy for the future, MLM Revolutionary Study Group in the US, 2007, 86 pages.

Reflections on my trip to China in 1971 and the eventual victory of the ‘Capitalist Roaders’, Barry York, C21st Left, 2020, 9 pages.

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