Letter to Yang Zhongjian[1]

(September 29, 1921)

Mr. Zhongjian:

A few days ago, I received a circular and learned that you have been elected director of the Executive Department. Today, I received your letter instructing me to fill out the membership application form. I have now completed it as requested and am enclosing it along with a small photograph. As for the introducer, Mr. Wang Guangqi[2] gathered five people on my behalf; I can only remember three of them now, and the other two I will have to ask Mr. Wang to find out. For future correspondence, please send it to the Cultural Book Society[3] on Chaozong Street, Changsha.

Respectfully,
Zedong

September 29

[1] Yang Zhongjian (1897–1979), a native of Huaxian, Shaanxi Province, was a paleontologist. At the time, he served as director of the Executive Department of the Young China Association.

[2] Wang Guangqi (1892–1936), a native of Wenjiang, Sichuan Province, was one of the founders of the Young China Association. He once served as the first director of its Executive Department.

[3] The Cultural Book Society was a progressive bookstore founded by Mao Zedong and others in Changsha to disseminate new ideas, new culture, and Marxism. It was shut down by the Kuomintang reactionaries after the "May 21 Incident" in 1927.