November 25, 1920 On a trip to Pingxiang
Letter to Luo Aojie252 (November 25,1920)
Dear Elder Brother Zhanglong,
I hope you have already received the letter I sent you yesterday. Rereading your
letter of July 25,1 realize that I did not really respond to any of your questions in
my previous letter. I am truly sorry! My responses are broadly as follows. Although
I am not opposed to piecemeal solutions, I’m not in favor of the kind of solution
that “treats the head when the head aches and treats the foot when the foot hurts,”
without any guiding principles. When I suggested that the Hunanese should pay no
attention to outside affairs but only concentrate on putting their own province in order,
I meant two things: (1) China is so vast. Each province differs greatly from the others
in sentiments, interests, and the level of popular wisdom. One simply does not know
where to begin to put things right. Both Kang [Youwei] and Liang [Qichao]’s reform,
and Sun [Yatsen] and Huang [Xing]’s revolution (although each had its own merits
which deserve separate discussion) tried to work things out solely from within this
big organization, but both failed. The urgent task, then, is to change course and start
from the smaller organization, on the provincial level. The Hunanese should make their
province the leader of the whole country. Once each smaller provincial organization
is sound, there is no reason to fear that the overall national organization will not be
sound as well. (2) Hunan’s geography and the nature of its people have great potential.
If they are mixed up in the nationwide organization, their particular strengths will be
undermined, and they will be restrained from further progress. Granted independence
and autonomy, Hunan can draw up a rather progressive method (i.e., a Hunanese
constitution). Internally, the rivers and mountains of Hunan will shine with stately
splendor; externally, we shall join hands with the enlightened peoples of the world to
work together toward great global reform. Other provinces throughout the country may
then be stimulated to progress. Therefore, I advocate directly that Hunan should be an
independent state, completely autonomous, neither suffering the slightest interference
by outside forces, nor burdened by an ineffectual “China.” This is actually a necessary
step toward a total solution, not like those solutions that some people call piecemeal
solutions, which are, in
fact, halfhearted. Since I did not spell out this idea completely in my last letter, I
want to add this here.
Indeed, it is important to have what you call “good and powerful morale.” The bad
atmosphere in China has penetrated all too deeply, and is all too thick. We really must
create a powerful new atmosphere, for only thus can we change it around. To create
such an atmosphere naturally requires a group of hardworking and resolute “people,”
252 On Luo Zhanglong, bom Luo Aojie, see the note to Mao’s poem dedicated to him written in the
spring of 1918.

but even more than that, it requires an “ism” that everyone holds in common. Without
an ism, the atmosphere cannot be created. I think our Study Society should not merely
be a gathering of people, bound by sentiment; it must become a group of people bound
together by an ism. An ism is like a banner, only when it is raised will the people have
something to hope for and know in what direction to go. What do you think?
The Report on the Society’s Affairs only records the official business of the Society; it
does not carry commentaries or essays. I have not begun editing it yet. It is probably
sufficient to publish it quarterly. As for the correspondence of members, it will be
published in a separate collection, which will be a special forum for members to debate
and discuss various issues.253 If you have any items of such correspondence, either old
or new, please send them to me.
The Xiang River [Review] has not come out yet. The reason is that I have been
very busy, and also that I fear I could not do it well. I am still debating whether to
publish it or not.
My work at the primary school attached [to First Normal School] in the south
of the city this term, plus some other responsibilities, have left me with very little
time for self-cultivation. Reading your words, “Time has quickly gone by and cannot
be retrieved,” and “my thoughts and learning have gradually ossified,” etc., made me
shiver.254 When I first returned to Hunan, I was determined to spend one hour reading
newspapers and two hours reading books every day, but have not been able to practice
this. After this busy winter, I definitely hope to fulfill this requirement in the new year.
I have some plans about the sequence in which I should pursue my studies, which I
will tell you later.
Speaking of education in Hunan, truly it makes me want to cry, but no tears come to
my eyes.255 I have only two hopes for education in Hunan: (1) I hope that every single
one of the evil educators still living will die off. This, of course, cannot be realized. (2)
I hope that the students themselves will have self-determination. This is my only hope.
No wonder it is said, “Hunan students are quite naive” (Shen Zhongjiu’s words256). No
one has ever fed them with any thoughts,
nor has it ever occurred to them that they could develop their own. Why would
they be anything other than naive? Please write often.
Your younger brother,
Zedong
November 25, 1920
253 See below, the announcement regarding this publication.
254 These words were written by Luo in his letter to Mao of July 25,1920.
255 An idiom conveying a feeling of helplessness.
256 Shen Zhongjiu was a teacher at First Normal School.