--- Notes

I. Origins of Establishment in 1927 This institute was expanded from the Xiang–E–Gan Peasant Movement Training School. To recount its establishment, we must begin with that earlier school. The Xiang–E–Gan Peasant Movement Training School was founded in response to several pressing needs: Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi were newly opened provinces for our Party. Although the reactionary warlords in these three provinces had ostensibly been overthrown, their underlying base of power remained intact, and the foundations of the revolution urgently required cultivation. What, then, constituted the basis of the revolution? It was an organized mass movement. In order to establish democratic political institutions and eradicate feudal forces throughout Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi, it was imperative—and exceedingly important—to broaden and strengthen mass organizations, particularly among the vast peasantry. To meet this revolutionary demand, a cadre of practical workers in the peasant movement needed to be trained to carry out this task. This was the primary rationale behind founding the peasant training school. Moreover, as everyone knows, the peasant question is of paramount importance—a matter affecting three hundred million people. Unless this fundamental issue is resolved, the National Revolution can never succeed. Consequently, the peasant question has become the central problem of the National Revolution. Yet how are we to gather relevant data, analyze and study these issues, and devise solutions? How are we to concretely implement the Party’s policies on agriculture and industry under our own rule? And how are we to lead the peasants, amidst the predatory control of the warlords, to rise up and strike against the enemy? These questions compel us to act, and they cannot be addressed without pooling the wisdom and capabilities of all sectors. Under such urgent circumstances, the Xiang–E–Gan Peasant Movement Training School came into being. As the Central Peasant Movement Training School was subsequently expanded from the Xiang–E–Gan institution, its mission became even more significant. Indeed, the Central Peasant Movement Training School can be regarded as the main base of China’s peasant revolution.

II. Preparatory Process There was widespread recognition across various circles of the need to establish a peasant training school, and Comrade Mao Zedong was the first to propose this initiative. He personally traveled to Jiangxi, Hubei, and Hunan, urging the provincial party committees to jointly organize such a school in Wuchang, a suggestion that was readily endorsed by all three. It was decided that Hunan would send 150 students, Jiangxi 150, and Hubei 100; funding would be shared, with each student costing 80 yuan, requiring Hunan and Jiangxi to contribute 12,000 yuan each, while Hubei would bear 16,000 yuan. At the proposal of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee, a preparatory office for the Xiang–E–Gan Peasant Movement Training School was established to oversee the preparations. A total of eight preparatory members were appointed, one from each of the three provinces: Mao Zedong, Chen Kewen, and Zhou Yili from Hunan; Zhang Meixuan, Chen Yinlin, and Li Hanjun from Hubei; and Gong Shinong and Wang Lixi from Jiangxi. The preparatory office was inaugurated on January 16th and located within the Hubei Provincial Peasant Association. At the outset, only one person was stationed there to handle administrative tasks, with no premises or teaching equipment available. The sole source of funds was a contribution of 10,000 yuan from Hunan, and with the opening of the term just over a month away, the preparatory work faced immense difficulties. Five meetings were held. First, a suitable site had to be secured. Wuhan was crowded with government offices, many schools were occupied, and given the large number of students anticipated, finding an appropriate location proved extremely challenging. After several attempts, the current building was finally selected; however, it had previously housed troops and was severely damaged, necessitating extensive repairs and renovations. Second, all necessary facilities and equipment were procured: lecture tables, beds, dining tables, and other supplies were newly acquired. Third, student recruitment was undertaken, with examination standards set. Students from Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi were to be selected exclusively by their respective provincial party committees. Additionally, to promote the development of the national peasant movement, an additional 100 students were admitted from Anhui, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Henan, Zhili, and Shaanxi, also nominated by their respective provincial party organizations. Fourth, the curriculum was formulated, and instructors were appointed. The attached syllabus includes the following subjects: Three Principles of the People, History of the Nationalist Party, the Party Manifesto and Resolutions, Imperialism, A History of Social Evolution in China, The History of the Chinese National Revolutionary Movement, An Outline of Revolutionary Movements in Various Countries, The Political and Economic Situation in China, Six Aspects of World Politics and Economics, Basic Economic Knowledge, Resolutions and Declarations of the Hunan Provincial Peasant Congress, Resolutions and Declarations of the Hunan Provincial Peasant Congress, Basic Agricultural Knowledge, Peasant Organization and Propaganda, Peasant Self-Defense, General Political Knowledge, Legal Knowledge, The Chinese Labor Movement, The Peasant Question, Theory and Strategy of the Peasant Movement, The Chinese Peasant Movement and Its Trends, Conditions of Peasant Movements in Various Countries, Rural Autonomy, Rural Education, Rural Cooperatives, Peasant Surveys, Statistics, and Reporting, Revolutionary Songs, Revolutionary Paintings, Military Training (drill instruction), with one hour of drill conducted daily and six hours of instruction provided weekly. Just as preparations were nearing completion, news arrived from Nanchang that the school was being canceled, and the Jiangxi students indicated they would not be coming. Despite this setback, work continued unabated. Meanwhile, the Central Executive Committee had already begun operating in Wuhan and deemed the establishment of the peasant training school essential. At its seventy-sixth session, it resolved to expand the Xiang–E–Gan Peasant Movement Training School into the Central Peasant Movement Training School of the Nationalist Party of China, placing it under the administration of the Central Executive Committee. Thus, the Party’s nationwide network of peasant training schools evolved from the original Xiang–E–Gan institution. However, the number of students sent by Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi, as well as their respective financial contributions, remained unchanged. An additional 300 or so places were allocated to students from Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Shandong, and Zhili, bringing the total enrollment to over 900. The overall budget for regular operations increased to more than 96,000 yuan.

III. Organizational Structure The school’s organizational structure comprises the following components: Party Secretary, Medical Officer, Accountant, Administrative Director, Administrative Committee, Administrative Office, General Affairs Clerk, Administrative Clerk, Party Affairs Clerk, Training Committee, Training Office, Training Director, Guidance Officer, Special Training Team, Three Regional Teams. The Teaching Department of the Central Peasant Movement Training School consists of individual teachers, administrative staff, and heads of teaching sections, along with instructors and support personnel. Currently, there are four classes, each corresponding to a team. Three classes are based at the Ruifengchuan campus in April, Building 352; the remaining class is housed at Huayuanshan and serves as a special training group, primarily composed of armed peasants from northern regions such as Henan and Shandong. Graduation is scheduled for January.