The Guomindang moves to seize Soviet assets in Manchuria. Also, subscribe to the new substack at https://peopleshistoryofideas.substack.com/.

Further reading:
Bruce A. Elleman and Stephen Kotkin, eds., Manchurian Railways and the Opening of China
Michael M. Walker, The 1929 Sino-Soviet War

Some names from this episode:
Li Lisan, Chairman of Central Committee Propaganda Department
Chen Duxiu, Co-founder of the Chinese Communist Party
Li Dazhao, Co-founder of the Chinese Communist Party
Lev Karakhan, Soviet deputy commissioner for foreign affairs in 1919 and acting commissioner in 1929
Zhang Zuolin, Manchurian warlord killed by Japan in 1928
Zhang Xueliang, Manchurian warlord, son of Zhang Zuolin
Martemyan Nikitich Ryutin, Bolshevik leader of Harbin soviet in 1917

Episode artwork: Flag of the Chinese Eastern Railway

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Mao discusses problems in party organization and how to fix them.

Further reading:
Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930
Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
“On the Revolutionary “Three-in-One” Combination”

Episode artwork: May 1967 poster “Resolutely Protect the Policy of the Revolutionary Three-in-One Combination”

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We continue our textual analysis of the Gutian Resolution.

Further reading:
Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930
Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
Mao Zedong, “On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party”
“Bury the Slave Mentality Advocated by China’s Khrushchov” in Peking Review (April 14, 1967)

Some names from this episode:
Liu Shaoqi, top level Communist Party leader attacked as China’s Khrushchev during the Cultural Revolution
Zhou Enlai, head of the Organization Department of the Central Committee
Li Lisan, leading Communist
Qu Qiubai, top leader of Communist Party from the summer of 1927 until the Sixth Congress
Huang Chao, salt merchant who led a rebellion from 875-884
Li Chuang (Li Zicheng), bandit leader who seized Beijing in 1644 and was later defeated by the Manchus
Hong Xiuquan, leader of the Taiping Revolution and claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ
Chen Yi, member of Front Committee of Fourth Red Army

Episode artwork: Gutian village

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On the importance of the Resolution, and a beginning discussion of the actual text.

Further reading:
Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930
Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
Mao Zedong, “On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party”

Episode artwork: Photo of the Gutian Congress

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We look at two letters written by Mao on November 28, 1929, and introduce our discussion of “On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party” and the other parts of the Gutian Resolution.

Further reading:
Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930
Mao Zedong, “On Correcting Mistaken Ideas in the Party”
Abimael Guzmán, “Report of the Meeting of the Central Leadership with the Cangallo-Fajardo Regional Committee”
Peking Review (Feb. 3, 1967)

Some names from this episode:
Li Lisan, Chairman of Central Committee Propaganda Department
Yang Kaihui, Mao’s first wife
Mao Anying, Mao’s first son
Chen Yi, member of Front Committee of Fourth Red Army
Chen Duxiu, former general secretary of the Communist Party
Mao Zemin, Mao’s brother
Xie Hanqiu, observer from the Fujian Provincial Committee
Liu Heting, Guomindang military commander
Jin Handing, Guomindang military commander
Zhang Zhen, Guomindang military commander

Episode artwork: He Kongde’s Gutian Meeting poster

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The Communists take the fortified city of Shanghang in southwestern Fujian.

Further reading and watching:
Agnes Smedley, The Great Road: The Life and Times of Chu Teh [Zhu De]
The Battle for Dien Bien Phu
Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930

Some names from this episode:
Lin Biao, commander of the first column of the Fourth Red Army
Lu Hanmin, Guomindang militarist
Liu Angong, special envoy sent by Party Center to the Fourth Red Army

Episode artwork: Aerial view of modern Shanghang

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The Central Committee turns out to support centralized leadership. Also, the Comintern publishes Mao’s obituary.

Further reading:
Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930
Joseph Fewsmith, Forging Leninism in China: Mao and the Remaking of the Chinese Communist Party, 1927–1934
Mao Zedong nianpu, 1893-1937 (毛泽东年谱)
Chen Jian, Zhou Enlai: A Life
Zhou Enlai, Selected Works of Zhou Enlai, vol. 1

Some names from this episode:
Chen Yi, replaced Mao as secretary of the Front Committee
Xiang Zhongfa, General secretary of the CP
Zhou Enlai, head of the Organization Department of the Central Committee
Li Lisan, Leading Communist
Liu Angong, special envoy sent by Party Center to the Fourth Red Army

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The line struggle continues and does not go Mao’s way. Plus, comments on the historiography.

Further reading:
Pang Xianzhi and Jin Chongji, Mao Zedong: A Biography, vol. 1: 1893-1949
Stuart Schram, ed., Mao’s Road to Power, vol. 3: From the Jinggangshan to the Establishment of the Jiangxi Soviets, July 1927-December 1930
Joseph Fewsmith, Forging Leninism in China: Mao and the Remaking of the Chinese Communist Party, 1927–1934
Mao Zedong nianpu, 1893-1937 (毛泽东年谱)
Chen Jian, Zhou Enlai: A Life

Some names from this episode:
Liu Angong, special envoy sent by Party Center to the Fourth Red Army
Lin Biao, commander of the first column of the Fourth Red Army
Chen Yi, replaced Mao as secretary of the Front Committee
Zhou Enlai, head of the Organization Department of the Central Committee
Jiang Hua, secretary general of the political department of the Fourth Red Army

Episode artwork: photo of Jiang Hua

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