Instructions of the Central Committee on
Land Reform in the Newly Liberated Areas1
(February 15, 1948)
One, do not be too impatient; we should decide the process of land reform2 based
on the circumstances, the political consciousness of the masses, and the strength of
the leading forces.3 Do not attempt to complete land reform within a few months;
rather, prepare to complete land reform in all areas within two to three years. This
point is also true for the old Liberated Areas and the semi-old Liberated Areas.
Two, land reform in the Newly Liberated Areas should be divided into two
stages. The first stage is attacking landlords while neutralizing rich peasants. This
stage should be divided into two steps:4 attack the big landlords first, and then
attack the other landlords. There should be differences in the treatment of the
local tyrants and the treatment of those who are not local tyrants, and differences
also for big, middle, and small landlords. The second stage is to equally divide the
land, including the land owned by the rich peasants.5 But there should be differences in treatment between the treatment for the rich peasants and the treatment
for the landlords. The overall scope of those being attacked should generally not
surpass 8 percent of the households and 10 percent of the total population. In differentiating the treatment and the overall scope,6 the same is also true in the semiold Liberated Areas. The work in the old Liberated Areas is generally limited to
evening and leveling out, as normally such kinds of issues do not occur.

Three, first organize poor peasant leagues, and then after a few months, organize peasant associations. Strictly prohibit landlords7 from infiltrating the associations8 and the poor peasant leagues. The enthusiasts9 should form the backbone
of the leadership of the peasant associations, but we must attract a portion of
enthusiastic middle peasants to participate in the committees within the peasant
associations. During the land reform struggle, we must attract the participation of
middle peasants and look after their interests.
Four, do not take action all at once and across the board. Rather, we should
first select strong cadres to lead the work in certain locations, gain experience, and
then gradually extend it, advancing forward more broadly.10 This is true across all
strategic areas, and it is also true within individual counties. This should be true
both for the old Liberated Areas and for the semi-old Liberated Areas.
Five, distinguish between consolidated Liberated Areas and guerrilla areas.
In consolidated areas, carry out land reform step by step. In guerrilla areas, only
carry out propaganda work, covert organizational work, and division and distribution of a certain amount of floating assets. To prevent the enemy from viciously
persecuting the masses, do not form public mass organizations and do not implement land reform.
Six, reactionary armed organizations of landlords11 must be annihilated and
cannot be used.
Seven, reactionary elements must be suppressed, but we must strictly forbid
arbitrary killings. The fewer people who are killed the better. Except for battle and emergency situations, the death penalty should not be authorized in the
districts and townships. It12 must be investigated and officially approved by a
committee organized at the county level. The right to try and punish cases of
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Notes

Our source for this text is Zhonggong Xiayi xianwei dangshi zhengbian bangongshi,
ed., Xiayixian dangshi wenxian ziliao xuanbian (Minzhu geming shiqi) (1987), pp. 185–86.
The document was originally printed in Gongzuo tongxun published by the Propaganda
Departments of the three Prefectural Party Committees in Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu. A
revised version was published in Xuanji (1960), pp. 1281–82.
1.  Instructions of the Central Committee on Land Reform in the Newly Liberated
Areas → Main Points in Land Reform in the Newly Liberated Areas
13.  the Party committee at the military sub	district level. → the district Party committee level.

--- Notes

# Instructions of the Central Committee on Land Reform in the Newly Liberated Areas
# Date: 1948-02-15
# Source: en:MRP


2.  the process of land reform→ the pace of advancing land reform work

3.  leading forces. → leading cadres.

4.  divided into two steps: → further divided into a few steps:

5.  including the land owned by the rich peasants. → including the land rented out by
the rich peasants and their surplus land.

6.  the overall scope, → the overall scope of attack,
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719436-85

7.  landlords → landlords and rich peasants

8.  associations → peasant associations

9.  The enthusiasts → The enthusiasts among the poor peasant leagues

10.  advancing forward more broadly. → advancing forward like a wave.

11.  reactionary armed organizations of landlords → reactionary armed organizations
of landlords and special operative organizations

12.  It → The death penalty cases

political suspects belongs to the committees of the Party committee at the military
subdistrict level.13 This point is appropriate for both the old Liberated Areas and
the semi-old Liberated Areas.
Eight, we should make use of those local revolutionary intellectuals and semiintellectuals who come from landlord or rich peasant families and14 support land
reform to participate in the work of establishing the base areas. However, we
should intensify their education and prevent them from dominating authority or hindering land reform. In general, it is not advisable to have them handle affairs
in their native districts or townships. Put emphasis on employing intellectuals and
semi-intellectuals from peasant families.
Nine, pay strict attention to protecting industry and commerce. Plan and prepare the economy and finances for the long term. Prevent waste within the army
and within the district and village governments.


14.  and → but