I Do Not Agree with the Formulation of Mao
Zedongism
(August 15, 1948)
Comrade Wu Yuzhang:1
We received your telegram of August 13th.2 The formulation is very inappropriate. There is no such thing as Mao Zedongism at present, and consequently we
cannot refer to Mao Zedongism. It is not the case that we should “study primarily
Mao Zedongism,” but rather, we should call on students to study the theories of
Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin, and the experience of the Chinese Revolution.
These “experiences of the Chinese Revolution” include some small pamphlets
based on the theories of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin composed by Chinese
Communists (including Mao Zedong), and all kinds of documents laying down
the lines and policies issued by the Central Committee of the Party. In addition,
some comrades have juxtaposed my name with those of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and
Stalin in periodicals, and have spoken of “Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao
Zedong.” This is also incorrect. Both your formulation and these latter statements
do not correspond to reality. They are harmful and not beneficial. We must resolutely oppose such formulations.
Mao Zedong
Our source for this text is Mao Zedong wenji, Vol. 5, pp. 123–24, where it is reproduced
from Mao’s handwritten manuscript. It also appears in Mao Zedong shuxin xuanji, pp.
303–4.
1.  Wu Yuzhang was president of Huabei University.
2.  Wu Yuzhang sent a telegram to Zhou Enlai on August 13, 1948, in which he said that
at the opening ceremony for Huabei University he wanted to propose, “We should mainly
study Mao Zedongism … Change ‘Mao Zedong Thought’ to ‘Mao Zedongism.’” As to
“whether this was appropriate,” he asked Zhou Enlai to “discuss it with the Chairman and
Comrade Liu Shaoqi, and then offer instructions.”
DOI:  10.4324/9781315719436-140