Letter to Eighth Maternal Uncle, Seventh Maternal Aunt, Eighth Maternal Aunt,[1] and Others

(July 5, 1922)

Eighth Maternal Uncle, Seventh Maternal Aunt, Eighth Maternal Aunt, and all elder cousins and sisters-in-law, for your kind attention:

Runlian[2] went to the countryside and brought a letter. I wonder if it has been received? The weather is gradually turning hot. Are all my uncles and aunts, elder cousins and sisters-in-law well? Your nephew has been living at home this year studying, not working outside. Fortunately, my health is still good, and I am quite happy every day. Zemin, Zetan, Shulan, Xiangui, Zejian, and Kaihui[3] are all well; please do not trouble yourselves with concern for them. Duanren[4] is going to the countryside; I have entrusted him to bring this letter. I will write more on another occasion. With respectful wishes for your great peace and health!

Your Nephew, Zedong

July 5th

[1] Eighth Maternal Uncle refers to Wen Zhengying. Seventh Maternal Aunt refers to Wen née Zhao (1854–1924), a native of Xiangxiang, Hunan, a peasant. Eighth Maternal Aunt refers to Wen née Zhao (1855–1937), a native of Xiangxiang, Hunan, a peasant.

[2] Runlian refers to Mao Zemin.

[3] Zetan refers to Mao Zetan (1905–1935), Mao Zedong's third younger brother. At that time, he was studying in Changsha. He joined the Communist Party of China in 1923. He served as Secretary of the Central County Committee of Yong(feng), Ji(an), and Tai(he), Secretary-General of the Central Soviet Area Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and Commander of the Red Army Independent Division, among other posts. After the main force of the Red Army embarked on the Long March, he remained in the Central Soviet Area to persist in guerrilla warfare. He died in April 1935 in Ruijin, Jiangxi. Shulan refers to Wang Shulan (1896–1964), a native of Xiangxiang, Hunan, the wife of Mao Zemin. At that time, she was living in Changsha with Mao Zemin. She joined the Communist Party of China in 1926 and long served as a liaison for local CPC organizations. After the founding of New China, she worked in reception at Mao Zedong's former residence in Shaoshan. Xiangui refers to Zhao Xiangui (1905–1932), a native of Xiangshao Village, Daping Township, Shaoshan City, Hunan, the first wife of Mao Zetan. At that time, she was studying in Changsha. She joined the Communist Party of China in 1923. In 1925, she went to study at Sun Yat-sen University in Moscow, Soviet Union, and returned to China in 1927. In 1932, she was killed by Kuomintang secret agents in Jinan. Zejian refers to Mao Zejian (1905–1929), a native of Shaoyuan Village, Shaoshan Township, Shaoshan City, Hunan, Mao Zedong's paternal cousin, raised from childhood by Mao Zedong's parents. At that time, she was studying in Changsha. She joined the Communist Party of China in 1923. She served as a member of the Women's Movement Committee of the CPC Hengshan County Committee in Hunan, and as the leader of the peasant guerrilla detachments in Xiatang, Aoshan, and other areas of Leiyang County. In the summer of 1928, she was arrested in Leiyang and was killed by the Kuomintang Hengshan County Government in August 1929. Kaihui refers to Yang Kaihui (1901–1930), a native of Bancang, Changsha County, Hunan, Mao Zedong's wife. She joined the Communist Party of China in 1921. She was responsible for confidential and liaison work in the CPC Xiang District Committee. From 1923 to 1927, she accompanied Mao Zedong in Shanghai, Shaoshan, Guangzhou, Wuhan, and other places, engaging in the workers' movement, peasant movement, and women's movement. After the failure of the Great Revolution, she remained in the Bancang area of Changsha County to persist in the Party's underground struggle. In November 1930, she was killed in Changsha by the warlord He Jian.

[4] Duanren refers to Wen Duanren (1901–1932), a native of Tangjiatuo, Daping Village, Daping Township, Shaoshan City, Hunan (then part of Xiangxiang), Mao Zedong's cousin's son. At that time, he was studying at the Primary School Attached to the First Provincial Normal School of Hunan.

In July 1922, the Second National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in Shanghai. The picture shows the site of the congress.