Three Reasons and Three Rules[1]

(1947)

The three reasons are: First, during the war period, many comrades sacrificed their lives for the revolution and should be commemorated; holding a birthday celebration for a single person is utterly unreasonable. Second, the troops and the masses have no grain to eat; staging celebratory activities would cause waste and alienate us from the masses. Third, I am only fifty years old, and there are still many days ahead; there is even less need to celebrate my birthday.

The three rules are: First, no hosting of banquets is permitted. Second, no staging of operas is permitted; if there is a theatrical troupe, let them perform for the villagers. Third, no holding of large meetings is permitted.

[1] Shortly after the central authorities moved to Yangjiagou, Mao Zedong’s birthday was approaching. Everyone felt this was a rare opportunity—on the one hand, to take the chance to gather together, and on the other, to let Mao Zedong eat a bit better. After the idea was put forward, it met with Mao Zedong’s refusal. He put forward three reasons and three rules.