Concluding Remarks at the National Conference of the CPC
(March 31, 1955)

Source: Xuanji, V, pp. 143-156. Other Chinese Texts: Wansui (1967a), p. 10
(excerpts); Buyi, p. 29 (excerpt). Available English Translation: SW, V, pp.
158-171,

Minor discrepancies in wording exist among these various versions, The National
Conference of the CPC was held at Beijing from March 21 to March 31, 1955. The
First Five-Year Plan was introduced at this conference, the handling of the affair of
the Gao Gany-Rao Shashi anti-Party clique’ was discussed, and cemral and local
Control commitiees were established. (See text Mar, 21, 1955, notes 1, 2, and 6.) For
Jurther details on this conference see K. Lieberthal (1976), pp. 68-69.

Comrades:

You have all spoken. Let me say a few words on the following topics; an
Evaluation of this conference, the five-year plan, the question of Gao [Gang]
and Rao [Shushi], the current situation, and the Eighth Congress.
|. An Evaluation of This Conference

The overwhelming majority of the commudes believe that this present conference has been a very good one and that this has once again been 4 conference of rectification since the Yanan period rectification.” At this conference
Yemocracy has been promoted and criticism and self-criticism have been

nched, enabling us to understand each other better, become more unified in
“r thinking, and arrive at a common understanding, We already had a com-
MOn understanding to begin with, but on several problems we still held differit opinions. Through this conference our understanding has become unified.
On this basis, on the foundation of this common understanding of ideology,
Politics, and many policies. our Party can be more securely united. As Com-


332. / MAO ZEDONG

rade [Zhou] Enlai sald, if we say that |r was the Seventh (Panty) Cony
and the rectification within the entire Party in the areas of j¢ op
politics for a period before that Congress that established the four ied a
pur Party's unified thinking, that it was on this foundation that We ag achia
the victory of the democratic revolution against imperialism, feudufighy,
bureaucratic capitalism.’ then [we can say] that this present conte !
enable us to achieve victory in [building) Socialism,
This conference proves that the [political] level in our Party Jy
greatly raised. Not only has there been a great step forward since the ee:
the Seventh [Party] Congress ten years ago, but even since the time o
ond Plenum of the Central Committee i in 1949 or the Third Plenum
there bas been a great step forward.” This is a good situation: this conte
proves that we are making progress. ‘
We are entering an era, a new historical period, in which what
take, what we now think about, and what we probe into are socialist in
alization, socialist transformation, and the modernization of national de
and, moreover, an cra in which we must begin to dig into (the siudy
nuclear energy. The depth to which comrades in our Party have dug into!
jobs] differs from person to person, and the same applies to those c conrad
present today. Like doctors, some can operate, others cannot. In giving |
tions, Some can give intravenous injections, some cannot and can Only &
hypodermic injections. See doctors dod even ioe: Wo deta thing be
the skin, and only deal with things on the surface of the skin,
comnides have not yet dug into [their jobs}, the majority of our comrg
digging, and it looks as if many people have dug into them and have &
some sense of expertise. At this conference, too, we have been abh
observe such a situation. This is an extremely good thing. This is be
what we are faced with now are new problems: socialist ind tr lia 1
socialist transformation, new [policies of| national defense, and new Us
the various other areas. To dig into [problems] appropriate eee -
tions and to become experts; this is our responsibility. Therefore Wee
catry out education among those people who are unable to dig in, Wie
floating on the surface, so that they can all become experts.
The struggle against the Cao Gang-Rao Shushi anti-Party allie
enable our Party to take a bip step forward.
We must carry out propaganda among the five million intellectual
and outside the Party and among the cadres of the various levels. so NE
will acquire [an understanding of] dialectical materialism and oppe v
ism. We will form a strong theoretical corps; this is something We gf
need; this, too, 15 a very good thing.
We must make plans to organize such a strong theoretical corps, oN
several million people study the theoretical foundations of Marxist, @
dialectical materialism and historical materialism, and oppose all
idealism and mechanical materialism. We now have many cadres vba 4
doing theoretical work, but we have not organized a theoretical corps. P®

http: //d
jy not yet 4 strong one. Without this corps, the Cause of our entire Party, the
goctalist industrialization of our country, the socialist transformation, the
qudemization of national defense, and the atomic cnergy research cannot
ove forward; nor can the [related] problems be resolved. Therefore, | would
yavise our comrades to study philosophy. Quite a few people are uninterested
in philosophy; they do not have the habit of studying philosophy. They can
gart with reading pamphlets and short articles and acquire an interest through
hose things. Then they can read things seventy, eighty thousand characters in
jength, and later go on to read books several hundred thousand characters
jong. There are a number of subjects in Marxism: Marxist philosophy, Marxst economics, Marxist socialism — the theory of class struggle; but the basic
thing is Marxist philosophy. Unless this thing is studied and understood, we
will not have a common language or a common method among us; we could
urgue back and forth, but things still would not be clear. But if we have dialecical materialist thought, we will save ourselves a lot of trouble and commit
many fewer mistakes.

3. Concerning the First Five-Year Plan‘

Our comrades feel that when we were discussing the five-year plan most of
the speeches made by the comrades were very good and satisfactory to everybody. Some were particularly good, ones that penetrated the problem and conwyed a sense of expertise. However, some of the speeches made by the
\comrades from the] various departments at the Center were poorer in content
und were lacking in analysis and criticism. Some of the speeches made by
comrades from the localities were also somewhat poorer and lacking in analyjis und criticism, There is another situation; in their speeches some comrades,
in dealing with the problem of serious waste and other mistakes, only exposed
the situations but did not show how to deal with them, Some comrades are dissatistied with these speeches. | believe there is reason for such dissatisfaction.

| hope that all the provincial [Party] committee secretaries, municipal
[Party] committee secretaries, (special) district [Party] committee secretanes
and comrades in positions of responsibility in the departments at the Center
Will stir themselves to exert their utmost effort to turn themselves into experts
Prolicient in political and economic work on the basis of the raising of their
level of Marxism-Leninism. On the one hand, we must do political and ideological work well; on the other hand, we must carry out economic
“Onttruction well. With regard to economic construction, we really must
Midy and understand it,

At this conference the localities have asked the Center to solve many prob-

| Wetive steps should be taken to quickly solve those for which the Center

already set forth guidelines, As for the other problems, the secretanat [of

Conference] should consult with the comrades who raised the issues to
Work out solutions and report them to the Center for approval.

The various departments at the Center have also asked for the cooperation
OF the localities on quite a few matters. The enterprises established by the

aftments of the Center in the various localities ought to solicit the superyvi-


$34. | MAO ZEDONG

sion and assistance of the local Party committees, especially in thy
political and ideological work, The local Party Committees have the
bility of helping the enterprises founded by the Center in the Ig
accomplish their tasks. Therefore, not only do the localities make de
the Center, but the Center also makes demands on the localities, aa
various departments of the Center and the local Party committees g
gle mind and effort and divide up the work and cooperate can the Fi
Year Plan be fully and satisfactorily accomplished,
3. Conceming the Gao Gang-Rao Shushi Anti-Party Alliance’
The first point: Some people ask: Is there, after all, such an ne
perhaps it is not really an alliance, but rather two separate indep ende
doms, two go-it-aloners? Some comrades say that they have not
uments, and that if they were an alliance, they should have had an ag
of some sort and with the agreement there would be documents, Ip
Were no written agreements; we were not able to discover iy
[however] that Gao Gang and Rao Shushi did form an alliance,
can we see this? It can be seen, first, in the joint activities =! heer
Rao Shushi at the time of the Conference on Finance and E
second, from the collaboration between Rao Shushi and Zhang 3
carrying out anti-Party activities ut the time of the nip
tion Work;"" and third. from Rao Shushi’s own words. Rao Sh
“From now on the Center's Organization Department ved
Feng’ as its core.” The Organization Department had Rao S
director, and [then] Guo Feng, Gao Gang's confidant, was m d
Now isn’t that just fine! What solid unity! Fourth, we can see it from
that Gao Gang and Rao Shushi distributed everywhere a slate ¢
for the Political Bureau, privately put together by An Ziwen. oar Ziwe
given a disciplinary warning for this." Gao Gang, Rao Shushi,
ple distributed this List of names to everybody who attended the Co
Organization Work and (o each of the southern provinces. What wits!
motive for distributing this thing everywhere’? Fifth, [we can ste}
Gao Gang’s expression to me on two occasions of his [desire to}
Shushi and Rao Shushi's insistence on protecting Gao Gang to the
Gao Gang told me that Rao Sbushi was in big trouble and 7
him out, {said to him, why are you speaking on Rao Shushi's bel
Beijing, so is Rao Shushi; why should he want you to represent hi
come directly to me [himself]? Even if he were in Tibet he could s¢
gram, but he is in Beijing! He has Jegs, doesn't he? The second time ¥
the day before Gao Gang was exposed. Gao Gang was still exp si
desire to protect Rao Shushi. To the very last, Rao Shushi wanted to PP
Gao Gang; he wanted to redress the injustice against Gao Gang. At ) aL
ing of the Central Committee at which Gao Gang was exposed,”” a)
there were two Headquarters in Beijing; one was a headquarters led by %
we blew a yung wind and set a yang fire." The other was a headquarte™®
manded by someone else; it blew a yin wind, set 4 yin fire, and wat

h


JANUARY — MARCH 195$ / 535

pcan stream. After all, should government come from one source, or should it
,ome from many sources? From the many things mentioned above, it can be
get that they [Gao and Rao} had an unti-Party alliance and were not two unrejated independent kingdoms" or “go-it-aloners.”

As for the doubts that some comrades have because there are no written

~oments, and the question that it may not have been an alliance, this would
he 10 equate anti-Party alliances formed by conspirators with other usual open
god formal political and economic alliances, and to see them as similar things.
These people were engaging in a conspiracy! Do you need a written agreement When you are forming 4 conspiracy’ If you say that it was not an alliance
pecause it did not have any written agreements, then how about the intemal
jstucture] of cach of the two anti-Party cliques of Gao Gang and Rao Shushi?
Gao Gang did not have any agreements with Zhang Xiushan, Zhang Mingyuan, Zhao Dezun, Ma Hong, and Guo Feng either. We haven't seen their
wrilten agreements either. Then, does that also negate [the existence of) this
anti-Party clique of theirs? Then again, we haven't seen any pact between Rao
Shushi and people like Xiang Ming and Yang Pan." Therefore, the idea that
you cannot consider something an alliance if you have not found a written
agreement for it is wrong.

The second point: What attitude should be adopted by comrades who have
been influenced by Gao and Rao and by those who were able to avoid their
influence? Among those who have been influenced, some were more deeply
influenced and some less so. Some have been influenced generally and have
merely been brushed by their wings. A few comrades have been more deeply
influenced; they have talked with them about many questions, and were active
down below, doing propaganda for them. These two [groups] are different.
Nevertheless, at this conference, regardless of whether the influence on them
Wax slight or deep, most of these comrades have already indicated their atti-
Wdes. Some gave a very clear expression (of their attitudes] and were wel-
Somed by the entire audience. Others were adequate and were welcomed by
the majority of the comradés, but there were still some shortcomings (in what
they said). Some did not make an adequate expression [of their attitudes] and
have made supplementary [remarks] today, Some delivered speeches that
Were on the whole quite good, but were not quite right in certain parts. No
Matter how they did it, these types of people all have already made some
*Xpression fof their attitudes]. We ought to welcome them One and all; after
all. they have each made some sort of a statement! There were also some indi-
Viduals who requested to speak but who were pot given the floor because of
the lack of time: they can submit a written report to the [Party] Center. The

lem with those who have not yet spoken is not a serious one. They were
brushed by [the conspirators’) wings; they know something but did not

Out about it. As for those who spoke, aren't there some who still retain 4

Nil? Therefore, we have now decided that all speeches and reports, whether
they concern the Five-Yeur Plan or the problem of the Gao-Rao anti-Party alli-

"¢. Can be taken buck and revised. Pay attention 10 cach word, phrase, and


$36 | MAO ZEDONG

sentence, and within five days revise all those parts (hit are incomple4,
incorrect. We must not grub people's litte queues” just bevause they dig
give a correct account of themselves at this Conference, and then gay
difficult for them to acquit themselves in the future. You can make pe
and only the revised final draft will count.
With regard to these comrades, we should adopt this type of attir
is, hoping that they will correct their mistakes. We must not only of
should also help. That is to say, we must not only observe to see whet i
not they change, but must also help them to make the change. People »
help. Even though the lotus flower is pretty, it needs green leaves [0 enhay
its beauty." A fence has to be propped up by three stakes; a stouthe
needs the help of three other people. It's not good for people to go jt
help is always needed, especially with problems of this nature. Obsery ay
necessary; observe to see if they change or not; but merely ward ne ps
sive; We must also help them. We welcome the reform of all those w
influenced [by Gao and Rao], no matter whether deeply or slightly in
we must not only observe, but must also help. This is the positive anit ~~
we must take toward comrades who have made mistakes. ‘
Comrades who have not been influenced must not be arrogant and
iake serious precautions fo guard against [this] disease. This isan extn
important matter. Some of the comrades we mentioned above
duped, some others have been more deeply entrapped, but because t
committed a mistake their vipilance may have been heightened sa
will not commit mistakes of this sort again in the future, After
Once, One becomes immune; getting a vaccination has a preventive ef
Nevertheless, nothing can be guaranteed; it's still possible to catch wnat
rept it would be best to have another vaccination in three or ff
me, that is, to hold a meeting like this one. whch =e in
cennak and should be very cautious to avoid committing mistake:
Gao Gang and Rao Shushi not touch people like these? There are ¥:
sibilities. The first is thut they are people whom they [Gao and Rac
ered enemies; naturally, therefore, they did not go among them [0
dize [their cause]. The second type ure those they looked down:
considered (o be people of no major consequence. They thought that
not necessary to propagandize among these people then [and] that later, ™
“the major affair of state was settled,” [these people] would naturally
to their side, The third type are people they did not dare touch.
probably had stronger immunity, and one look told [Gao and Rao}
were not [people whom they could easily influence), Althe
comrades were not considered to be their enemies, nor were they pe
major consequence, [Gao and Rao] did not dare touch (them). The fe
afe those whom they did not have time [to reach]. It ok time ever MY Pre
epidemic to spread, Ef it had not been exposed for another year, il ould
hurd to say where some people would stand. Therefore let us not tay,
nowes, Jor says “Look, weren't You Contaminated all over? | ani € .

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JANUARY —- MARCH 1955 / 537

jad not been exposed, | art sure that in another year many people would have
peer Influenced.

{ think that what we've just said are precisely the things to which both those
comrades who have been influenced by Gao and Rao, us well as those who
pave Not been influenced by them, should pay attention.

The third point: Over issues of principle, we should always carefully keep
our distance from the comrades whose arguments and activities are in violayor Of the Party's principles. [f what they say and what they do do not
conform to the Party’s principles and are unacceptable to us, then, with regard
(o these questions and under these conditions, we should not identify ourselves Wilh themi, With regard to other questions on which they do conform to
ihe Party's principles, such as the Five-Year Plan, the resolution and the
report on the Gao-Rao anti-Party alliance, various correct policies, and the
correct internal Party rules and regulations — [with regard to] these arguments
and activities we should of course actively support them and identify
ourselves with them. However, we should keep those who do not conform to
(he Party’s principles a1 a distance, which is to say we should draw the distinejjons clearly and repulse them at once. You must not fail to keep a distance
|belween yourselves and these people) just because they are old friends, old
bosses, old subordinates, old colleagues, old schoolmates, or because they are
front your native village. In this Gao-Rao anti-Party affair, us well as in twoline struggles within the Party in the past, we've often had the experience in
which people found it difficult to speak [frankly] and could not maintain’a dislwhve because they felt that the [personal] relationship was too longstanding
und too deep, and so they did not repulse them or draw clear distinctions,
Consequently they were trapped more and more deeply, und they got tangled
up with those “ghosts” [who violate Party principles). Therefore we should
make our attitudes public and should adhere to the principles.

The fourth point: Some comrades say, “We know some bad things about
Gao and Rao, but we can't see that they have a conspiracy.” | say that there
are two types of situarions. One type is where people heard Gao Gang and
Rao Shushi say many things that were in violation of the Party's principles, or
Ven [some cases] in which Gao Gang and Rao Shushi discussed some matters
of anti-Purty activity with them, In these cases [our comrades) should have
been able to see (that there was a conspiracy). The other type [of situation) is
Where people knew some bad things in general about thent but did not recog-
Wize (the existence of] the conspiracy. This is understandable because [the
“ispiracy} was difficult to see. Even the Party Center did not discover their
ONI-Panty conspirucy until 1953. It was through [the events ut) the Finance
‘nd Economy Work Conference, the Conference on Organizational Work and
the various problems prior to the Finance and Economic Conference that one
‘Ould see that they were abnormal, At the time of the Finance and Economy
Work Conference their abnormal activities were discovered, and each time
\\hey did something abnormal] they were rebuffed. Therefore they later
“immed completely to secret activities. We didn't discover this conspiracy,
these conspirators, and the conspiratorial cliques until the autumn and gs
of 1953. For a long time, we didn’) see that Gao Gang and Rao Shy, shi
bad people. Such things have happened before, During the Jingws,
period,” there were a few traitors whom we never thought 4
become traitors, | believe every one of you must have had this & Se
We should derive a [lesson from this) experience, which is thar w
not become confused by false appearances. Some of our comrades ape 7
confitsed by false appearances, Contradictions exist between the apne. 7
and the essence of all things. People can understand the essence of » 4
only through the analysis and study of its appearance. That is why ther
need for science. Otherwise, if we could see by intuition the essence ofa '
al a glance, what would be the purpose of science’? What would
purpose of studying? It is precisely because there is a sein
appearance and essence that we need to study. However, there is a di
between a false appearance and appearances in general because [the former)
a false appearance, Therefore we should derive a [lesson om i
ence, which is that, as far as possible, we must not be confused me
appearances,
The fifth point: The danger of haying an arrogant attitude. Don’t play
hero. Things are achieved by the majority, The role of the mirnority is lit
We ought to recognize the role played by the minority, that is, the rm
leaders and the cadres. Yet this role is not that tremendous: the “nid
role is still that of the masses! The correct relationship beeween sie : —
the masses is such that while we cannot do without the cadres, th
accomplished by the broad masses; the cadres have a leadership ro ¢, but
role ought not to be exaggerated. Will things be terrible without ye
proves, and all sorts of facts prove, that things would still be all “a
you, Would things be in terrible shape, for instance, without Gao G
Rao Shushi? Wouldn't things be all right anyway? Without better
Zhang Guotw, without Chen Duxiu,” wouldn't things have t ! a "y
just the same? These were all bad people, Confucius is long. gone’
China has a Communist Party, it's at least slightly more capable than Co
cius, isn’t it? We can see therefore that without Confucius things can t
even better! As for you good people, things can be done even wil
Will the earth stop rotating without you? The earth will rotate just f
the cause will continue just the same, and perhaps would continue eve
There are two types of people, One type are people of long standit
Party]. Many of us here today are people with a lot of seniority, Anom
is newborn strength. These are young people, Of these two types.
the greater hope? Comrade [Zhou] Enlai also spoke about this subi
Of course, it isthe newborn Srength that fas greater hope. SOOM
ure arrogant because they are old revolutionaries; this is very inappme
By comparison, if we were to permit people to tike pride in themse?"*
the young people who would have cause to be proud. Those people over
over fifty, should have gained more experience us they have grown OF®

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JANUARY = MARCH 1955 / 539

sherefore should be even more modest. We should let the young people see
yhat we truly do have experience. [Let them say,| “These older folks really do
juve experience; don't look down on them. See, they are so modest.” But if
you are forty, fifty years old, and you become arrogant because you have
,ccurnulated a lot of experience, then isn’t it a bit unseemly? The young people will say, “Your experience means nothing; you are just like a kid.” It’s «
jittle more reasonable for kids to have a bit of a feeling of pride. But for
elderly people with so much experience to still be arrogant and to strut with
their tails so high in the air is truly unnecessary. The saying goes: “Behave
yourself and tuck your tail tightly [between your legs).” Human beings do not
really have tails; why should we tuck our tails tightly? It is like a dog, who
sometimes cocks its tail and sometimes has its tail between its legs. Generally
speaking, after it has been beaten with a stick a few times it will clench its tail
tightly between its legs; if it's made some achievements its tail will be cocked.
| hope that all our comrades, especially ald comrades, will not cock their tails,
but rather tuck their tails firmly, refrain from being arrogant, refrain from
being impatient, and always maintain a modest and energetic spirit.”

The sixth point: Refrain from being “Left,” and refrain from being Right.
Some people say, “It's better to be ‘Left’ than to be Right.” Many comrades
also say this. In fact many people may say in their hearts, “It's better to be
Right than ‘Left’ ,” but they just don’t say it aloud. Only honest people would
say it aloud. There are two kinds of opinions. What is “Left”? Running ahead
of the times and running ahead of the present circumstances, being an adventurist in Orientation, policy, and action, and engaging in undisciplined
struggle on questions that are being struggled over and on controversial matters is “Left.” This is not good. To be Right is to lag behind the times and
behind the present circumstances and to lack the spirit of struggle. This is no
good either. In our Party there are not only people who like to be “Left,” but
also quite a few people who like to be Right or right-of-center. All these are
ho good, We must struggle on both fronts and oppose both “Left” and Right.

I'll say only this much about the question of the Gao Gang—-Rao Shushi
anti-Party alliance.

4. On the Current Situation

How are things with these three situations: the international situation, the
domestic situation, and the situation within the Party? Is the bright side domiant or is the dark side dominant? It should be affirmed that no matter whether
"1s the international situation, the domestic situation, or the situation within
the Party, it is the bright side that is dominant and the dark side that is at a dis-
4dvantage. The same is true in this assembly hall of ours, Don't think that
things are black just because many people made self-criticisms here. These
“Omrades emphasized their shortcomings and mistakes and did not talk about
their strengths; they didn’t tell us which year they joined the revolution, or
Where they had won a victory, or where they had made some achievements in
their work, If we look at nothing but their self-criticism then things are black,
Actually this is only one side, and for many comrades only the secondary


S40 | MAO ZEDONG

side. This 1s different from [the cases of) Gao Gang, Ruo Shushi, .
five “tiger” generals, Zhang, Zhang, Zhao, Ma, Guo.” The estiny tig be:
the bright side is dominant does not apply in their cases, In Gao oe
is the bright side at all dominant in any area? With him a
skies are. dark and the earth is black; there is no sunshine or any p
But things ure different with our comrades; there is some slight darknee
these things can be cleaned out, so let's use soap to clean them 4 few im
times.

Why do we suggest that preparations be made for dealing With «y
emergencies, with @ counterrevolutionary restoration and a repetition of
Gao-Rao affair? This simply means that [we have to] consider ie? Uy
worst possible {angle} so that we'll never be at a disadvantage, N
what kind of work we are doing, we should think in terms of and ¢
the worst possibilities. [These possibilities] are none other thar
contingencies as: the imperialists launching a new world war; Chi
Kat-shek coming back to reign in Beijing; or an incident such as the Gug- Ry
anti-Party alliance repeating itself; and, what is more, not just one, but ten,
# hundred [of these things can happen]. Nevertheless, even if there are
many [bad things], we will have nothing to fear if we are prepared befo
hand. If you have ten [bad things], that's only five pairs; that's no big: prog
lem; we've anticipated it all. The atom bombs and the hydrogen bombs whit
the imperialists use to scare us are not all that tenifying ellie
thing on carth there's something else to beat it back. Uf you read F
bang you would know that.“ There's no “magic weapon” that canpdl
defeated. Many “magic weapons” have already been defeated. elie
that as long as we rely on the people, there will be no “magic Weape
earth that cannot be defeated.
The Center has decided to convene the Eighth Party Congress d
second half of 1956." There will be three items on the agenda} (yh
report of the Central Committee, (2) the revision of the Party Constit --
(3) the election of a new Central Committee. We must complete the W
electing delegates and preparing the documents [for the Congress} by July
next year. We hope that within a lite more than one year’s time, Our
all areas, in the economy, In culture and education, in the military, 9
Party, in politics and ideology, in the mass organizations, in the un
front” and in minority nationality work, will take a big step »

Let me take this opportunity to talk a little about problems in 1
nationality work. We must oppose Han chauvinism.” Don’t believe
just the Han people who have helped the minority nationalities, the a
nationalities have also helped the Han people greatly. Some conde
always basting that we helped you [the minority nationalities)
the fact that we couldn't do without the minority nationalities, Who
fifty to sixty per cent of the territory in our country? Is it the Han pe .
other peoples? Fifty to sixty per cent of the territory ts inhabited by thee i

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JANUARY ~ MARCH 1955 / S41

xy outionalities. Products from these places are very abundant, and there are
jpundant precious [natural resources}. At the moment, we are giving very litile help to the minority nationalities, and in sonic areas we stil! haven't helped
ipem at all. The minority nationalities, on the other hand, have helped the Har

ple. There are some minority nationalities (hat needed our help before they
could help us. Politically, the minority nationalities have given the Han
people great help. Their joining the great family of the Chinese nation is itsel!
» help to the Han people politically. The minority nutionalities have united
with the Han people; [consequently] the people of the entire country are glatl,
Therefore, in terms of politics, economics, and national defense, the minority
nationalities have rendered great help w the entire country and to the entire
Chinese nation. The idea that only the Han people have helped the minority
qationalities while the minority nationalities have not helped the Han people
and the point of view that makes one very proud of oneself just because one
has given a bit of help to the minority nationalities are wrong.

By saying that we want to take a great step forward in all areas of our work
during this coming year we mean that we will correct the shortcomings and
mistakes that already have been exposed. Let's not make a lot of promises at
this conference and them have the same number of shortcomings and mistakes
untouched by the time we hold the “Eighth Congress” next year. By
struggling to hold the “Eighth Congress” we mean to rectify our shortcomings
and mistakes; for instance, extravagance and waste and such things as the big
roots fin architecture] should be earnestly and responsibly corrected. Let us
not make promises here and then, as soon as we get home, just stretch our legs
and go to sleep.

Some people suggest that such conferences ought to be held once 8 year or
once every two years, so that there can rautual supervision among comrades, |
think the idea merits consideration. Who will supervise people like us’
Mutual supervision is a good method. That will promote greater and faster
progress in Party and state affairs. This will mean rapid progress and not slow
progress. The Party has not held a Congress for ten years. Of course, it was
right for us not to have held any during the first five years, because the country
Was in great turmoil, a great armed conflict was going on at that time, and also
because the “Seventh Congress” was [already] held. During the last five
yeary, we could have held a Congress but we didn’t. There was some good in
Hot holding it then too, in that we waited until the Gao-Rao problem was
Cleaned up before we held [the Congress}; otherwise they would have used the

Eighth Congress” to serve theif purposes. At the same time, our Five-Year
Plan has gotten on track, und the general line for the period of transition has
heen proposed. And through this conference we have made everybody more
“hified ideologically and have prepared the conditions for holding the Eighth
Party Congress. At the Eighth Party Congress, we do not have to have everybody make a self-examination, but we still have to make public criticisms and
*elf-criticisms of the shoricomings and mistakes in our work, We can't do
Without observing this tenet of Marxism,
Criticism must be sharp. I feel that some of the criticisms made tb
were not that sharp, [it was] always as if they were afraid of offending je
If you ure not sharp, und the thrust does not hit home, the person will nop
the pain and will not take notice. We must identify the person and th Pi
ment involved by name. If you do not do things well, I won't be satisfied v
it, and if | offend you, | offend you, and that’s that. To be afraid of off
people is nothing more than being afraid of losing votes and being af
having difficult relations in one’s work with one's co-workers. Will [gy oe
you don't yote for me? Nothing of the sort. Actually, relations
smoother iF you speak out and put the problem clearly on the table. D, fen.
ish away the sharp angles. Why does a bull have two homs? A bull has y
horns because it has to fight. One purpose is for defense and another pup
is for offence. [have often asked comrades, “Have you grown any “home!
your head” You comrades can feel your heads and see. As 1 sce it,
comrades have grown “hors,” some have grown “horns” but they an
very sharp, and some other comrades have not grown “horns” ar all. [ th
that it’s better to grow two “hors,” because that conforms to M. i.
There's @ tenet in Marxism called criticism and self-criticism. .

Therefore, holding conferences regularly to carry out criticism and lt .
icism is a good method for our comrades to supervise each other and to)
mote the rapid progress of the affairs of the Party and state. 1 propose thi
comrades of the provincial and municipal [Party] committees think at
and see whether or not you can do the same. Aren't you [speaking of} en wl
ing the Center’ | think this is one thing that you can emulate. ,

Finally, I ask you, comrades, and the comrades of the entire Party, (6 [a
attention to this:

Struggle to convene the Bighth Party Congress in 1956!

Struggle to victoriously accomplish the First Five-Year Plan!

Notes

|, The Gao Gang-Rao Shushi affair refers to the expulsion of Guo Gang, former c
and chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Northeast China Bureau, and Haq Shue
political commissar Heading the Party Organization Bureadli and chairman of the Adnpmistnitt
Committee of the East China Bureau, from the Party for anti-Purty activities. Gao i
With attempting to turn the Northeast info an “independent Kingdom” while Rao was chair
being hiv chief ally, especially after his transfor to the Party Center in 1953. There is can —
evidence ts suggest also that Gao's purge was linked to his connections with the Soviet

2 See text June 30, 1953, note 9, and text Aug. 12, 1953, pote 24,
summary of the Congress, see J. Harrison (1972), pp. 357-342.

4, See text June £5, 1953, mote 2, and teat July 9, 1957, note 53

S. This refers to the Seevnd and Third Plenunr of the Seventh Central Conminiee of t= *
See teat June 6, 1950(2), nove |, und fox Apr 25, 1956, now 15.

6 See test Feb_ 10, 1953, ote 2, a

7, Gao Gang (1905-1954) was one of the earliest CPC members in Shaanxi Provisee
played hey mole in developing ihe Shaanei-Gansu-Ninusia Border Region, which sve

http:

G =i
‘
sts0's hase of operations after the Long March in 1935- Go became the senior CPC afficial in
sfonchurta in the late 1940s and early 1950s. ty 1952 he wits # Political Bureau member and the
_parraan of the State Planning commission.

a0 Shuishi (1903-7) was the political commissar of the New Fourth Army in 1943, the fire
patty secretary of the CPC East China Bureau and the Shanghai Municipal Committec in 1951
soi, tn 1952, the director of the CPC's Ongunizational Department.

4 this National Conference of the CPC, Gan and Rao were accused of having formed an antipany clique at the National Conference on Finaace and Economic Work in the summer of 1953
jnd at the Conference on Organizational Work of the Central Committee in Seplember 1953. This
«fjque allegedly inflated the role of Gao Gang in the Northeast; advocated the appointment of Goo
Feng, 4 protégé of Gao Gang, wo the directorship of the Organization Department of the Central
Committee; and circulated a memberuhip list of the Political Bureau, secretly made up by An
Ziwen, in an attempr to control the Political Bureau. Furthermore, Gao and Rao were charged
wub lobbying for Gao te become first Panty secretary, vice-chairman of the PRC. and premicr of
ihe State Council when Mao was on inspection tours outside the capital. Another change was that
the two had instigated a group of peuple lo write a joint Setter asking Mao Wo relinquish power.
oth were expelled from the Party in 1955; Gao Gang js reported to have committed suicide 1m
(954, Rao Shushi has not heen beard of For more details on the life of Gas and Rao, see D.
icin and A. Clark, eds. (1971) 1, pp. 430-436, 408-411, respectively.

& The National Conference on Financial and Economic Work was convened by the CPC Central Committes, June 13-August 11, 1953, and set forth the "General Line on the Transition to
§ocjalism.” For a-synopsis of this meeting see K, Licberthal (1976). pp, 59-60; see also text Jane
15, 1953,

9, Zhang, like Gao Gang, was a native of Shaanxi Province, and graduated from the Party
midile schoo! at Yanan, In the early 1950s be held several posts in the Northeast administration
then under Gao's direction. In 1955 be was second secnstury of the Northeastern Bureau of the
Central Committee of the CPC. For more biographical information oo Zhang, see Zhonggong
renming lu, p. 528.
was presided over by An Ziwen. See K. Licberthal (1976), pp. 53-54.

‘I Guo, o native of Jiangst, participated tn the oecupation of the Northeast under the command
of Gao Gang tn 1947 and returned to the regien tn 195) a director of the Nurtbeast People's
Adnuritsirative Affairs Office.
1950 i 1952, when his duties were suspended. He returned to the post in carly 1954 and served
untl) September 1954. See ales text Aug. 12, 1953, note 10. For more biographical information
‘On An, see D, Klein and A, Clark, eds, (1970), L. pp. 3-5.
14, ‘The terms yamg wind and yang fire are used by Mac (0 reter io an active of creative role as
Oppwed to a passive role, wtich would be described w= yire, Yin and yung are the two polar forces
in traditional Chinese cosmology: supposedly. yung represents the male, light, positive force
While vir represents the female, dark, passive force:

15, Here Moo is using the term. “independent kinudom” (dull wanggwo) in a slightly different
Sende Trom the normal meaning of the phrase, For the latter, see text Oct. 11, 1955(1), mote 51
See als toxt Apr, 1956, now 16.
Rao and Gav, Xiang Ming was deputy governor of Shandong Province from 1951 to 1953, and
Steond secretary of the Party's Shandong sub-bureau Yang was chicf of the Bureau of Public
Security of Shangbai Zhang Mingyusn was general secretary of the Administrative Council of
the Northeast Reople's Government and, from January (953 to Sepember 1954, vice-chairman of
that Administrative Council. He was third depaty secretary of the Northeast Bureau of the Central
Contmitice of the CPC. Zhao Dezun wies director of the Rural Work Department af the Northeast
Bureau and chairnan of the People's Government of Hetlengjiang Province. Ma Hang was dep-
Criticism must be sharp. { feel that some of the criticisms made 4h
were not that sharp, [it was] always as if they were afraid of offending - :
lf you are not sharp, and the thrust does not hit home, the person will ye 6
the pain and will not take notice, We must ides the perton ee
ment involved by name. If you do not do things well, J won't be s:
it, and if T offend you, | offend you, and that’s that. To be afraid of of
people is nothing more than being afraid of losing votes and being ah
having difficult relations in one's work with one's co-workers, Will I gu
you don"t vote for me? Nothing of the son. Actually, relations, wil il
smoother if you speak out and put the problem clearly on the table. Dor
ish away the sharp angles, Why does a bull have two horns? A bull hag
homs because it has to fight. One purpose is for defense and another purpe
is for offence. I have often asked comrades, “Have you grown any "home" ¢
your head?” You comrades can feel your heads and see. As | see if, gg
comrades have grown “homs,” some have grown “homs” but they are
very sharp, and some other comrades have not grown “hors” “<9 thin
that it's better fo grow two “horns,” because that conforms to -
There’s a tenet in Marxism called criticism and self-criticism,

Therefore, holding conferences regularly to carry out criticism and Nf-cei
me the pid progr of te talor of ie Pury sod as. | OSE
mote the rapid progress of the affairs of the Party and state. | propose th
comrades of the provincial and municipal [Party] committees think abou
and see whether or not you can do the same. Aren't you [speaking of] emul
ing the Center? | think this is one thing that you can emulate.

Finally, | ask you, comrades, and the comrades of the entire Party, i
attention to this:

Struggle to convene the Eighth Party Congress in 1956!

Struggle to victoriously accomplish the First Five-Year Plan!

Notes

|. The Gao Gang-Rao Shushi affair refers to the expulabon of Gao Gang, former vice ar
aod chairman of the Administrative Committee of the Northeast China Bureau, and Rao sh
political cummissar heading the Party Organization Bureau end chairman of the Astoil “
Committee of the East China Bureag, from the Party for anti-Party activities, Gan waa ¢ Nang ,
with atfempting to worn the Northeast into an “independent kingdom" while Rao was charg!
being his chief ally, especially after his transfer to the Party Center in 1953. There is ov
rates cnet tn BE OR eatin Aid GA ek er

2, See text Jane Mi, 1953, note 9, and teat Aug. 12, 1953, note 24,
summary of the Congress, see J. Harrison (1972), pp. 357-362.
Sce teat June 6, 19542), note |, and text Apr, 25, 1956, note 15.

6, See text Feb, (0, 1953, note 2
played 2 key role in developiny the Shaarx|-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, which servee *

http: 'd SU Gall
stuo's hase of operations after the Lang March in 1935. Gag became the senior OPC offictal in
starcuria in the late 1940s and early 1950s. In 1952 he was Political Buread member and ihe
rman of the State Planning commussien
“pao Shushi (1908-7) was the political commissar of the New Fourth Army int 1943, the firw
party secretary of the CPC East China Bureau and the Shanghst Municipal Committee in 1951
iui, i 1982, the director of the CPC's Organizational Department
Acihis National Conferesce of the CPC, Gao and Rae were accused of haying formed an arith
party clique at the National Conference on Finance und Economic Work in the summer of 1953
god al the Conference nt Organizational Work of the Central Committee in September }9S3. This
“jique allegedly inflated the role of Gao Gang in the Northeast; advocated the appointment of Gus
eng. 2 protégé of Gao Gang, 10 the directorship of the Organization Department of the Central

the wo had instigated a group af people to write a joint leticr asking Mato to relinguish power
Both were expelled (rom the Party in 1955; Geo Gang is reponed to have committed suicide int
054, Rao Shushi has not been heard of. For mane details on the life of Gao and Ran, see 1,
Kien and A. Clark, eds. (1971) 1, pp. 430-436, 408-411, respectively.

&. ‘The National Conference on Financial and Economic Work was convened by the CPC Cenwa! Committee, June 13-August II, 1953, and sel forth the “General Line on the Transition to
Socialism.” Bor a synopsis of this meeting see K. Lieberthal (1976). pp. 59-80; see alsu text Jane
15, (953.

9, Zhang. like Gao Gang. was a native of Shaanxi Province, and graduated irom the Party
middle school at Yanan. In ihe early 1950s he held several posts in the Northeast administration
then urider Gans direction. In 1955 he was second secretary of the Northeastem Bureau of the
Central Committice of the CPC. For more biographical information on Zhang, see Zhonggone
renting lw, p. 528.
was presided over by An Ziwen, See K. Lieherthal (1976), pp. 53-54,

ii Guo, a native of Jiangxi, participated in the occupation of the Northeast under the comma
of Gao Gang in 1947 und returned to the region in 195) as director of the Northeast People’s
Administrative Affairs Office,

2 An Ziwen was acting director of the Central Commtitize’s Organization Department from
1950 10 1952, when his duties were susperited, He retumed to the pest in early 1954 und served
Vo! September 1956, See also wext Aug. 12, 1953, note 10. For more biographical information
on An, see D. Kiem-and A. Clark, eds. (19701, 1, pp. 5.

Ls) Mao is here referring to the Fourth Plenum of the Seventh Central Committee, held Fetwrutry 6-10, 1954, in Beijing.
Opposed to a passive nile, which would be described as yin. Yin and yan are the twer palar forces
in traditional Chinese cosmology; suppesedly, yang represents the male, light, positive force
While vin tepnisems the female, dark, passive force.
sense from the normal tneuning of the phrase. For the larter; see text Oct, 11, 1955 (1), mote 51.
See also text Apr, 1956, note 16.

6 Both Xiang and Yang were associates of Rao Shushi and were alleged co-conspirators of
Ray and Gao. Xiang Ming was deputy governor of Shandong Province from 195! to 1953, and
second secretary of the Purty"s Shandong sub-burean. Yang was chief of the Bureay of Public
Security of Shanghai. Zhang Mingyuan was general secretary of the Administrative Cosacil of
the Nurtheast People's Gavernment and, from January 1953 to Seplember 1954, vice-chairman of
that Administrative Council. He was third deputy secretary of the Northeast Bureau of the Central
Committee of the CPC. Zhao Dezun was director of the Raral Work Department of the Northeast
Burray and chairman of the People’s Government of Heifongjiang Province. Ma Hong was dep-


$44. / MAO ZEDONG

uly Secretary general of the Northeast Bureau and a member of the Suute Planning Co
together with Zhang Xiushan and Guo Feng, were all associates of Gao Gang.
17, The queue, or braid, refers to the populur mandated hasstyle for males in the Qing dy
deriving from 3 Manchu custom. At the tum of the century, in a spirit of anti-Qing
many Han Chinese cat off their queves. The retention of the queve around and after the Bey.
tion of 191) thus became 4 sign of a reactionary. loyalist frame of mind. To grab sq
queve was therefore to attack their outdated mode of thinking.
18, This aphorism, in whose ongmal version the lotus is replaced by the peony. ts derived:
the L100) Aw of the classical novel Hongloumeng, and was spoken by Mao's favorite ¢ e™,
this novel, Wang Xifeng. Mav provides a further, more claborate explanution of how -
this adage in the article “"Dangne: tuaniic de bianzheng fongfa’” (The Dialectical Maes ‘
Forge « Unity Within the Party), sec fext Nov. 18. 1957
the fall of 1927. Mao and his troops were joined there by Zho De an his followers in the an
of 1928. Mao und Zw formally founded the CPC's Red Army at Jinggangshan 9 1928,
the beginning of 1929 they had been driven into southern Jiangxi by the KMT). It w pe,
1930 that the Communists established the Jiangxi Soviet with its capital at Ruijin. Fe
commentaries on this periad sce SW, |, pp. 63-104.

20. See text Aug. 12. 1953, note 23.

21. See teat June 14, 1954, note 13
famous warriors in the service of the Kingdom of Shu-Han in the Three Kingstomes pe
Chinese history (ca. 220-285 A.D. ), and their exploits were dramatically described Ln th
novel San euo yany! (Romance of the Three Kingdoms). These original five tiger genen
Guan Yu. Zhung Fei, Zio Yun, Huang Zhong, and Ma Chao. Cher got Sa
emerged at later perinds of Chinese history (such as during the mid-Song dynasty), co
feed the charisriaa of the term. Here if is chyious thar Mao was playing om the fern, per
et spent ef ie fx Sri es Dek oe oe i
“five tigers? ;
23. See texi Jan. 28, 1955¢2), note 4,
and Xivow fi (Journey to the West), is one of the three great novels of the early Ming
was originally compiled by Xu Zhanglin and was later revised by Li Yuncheng. tar
combat between the Zhou dynasty’s (841-221 B,C.) founder, King Wo, and the jeer po
emperor, King Zhou, in Which the former represented the (oeces cf pond anid the feller ie
of evil, King Wu became the first Zhou emperor while his companion in arm, Jiang TH
(Duke Jiang), achieved deification, together with a myriad heroes of the carmpaign ~ hence |
title of the novel. The reference here is also to the many fabao, or magic weapens,” that ihe te
oes possessed and employed. i
25. See text Aug. 20, 1956, owle 1.

26. See text June 14, 1954, note |, and text April 1956, note 17

--- Notes

5. Struggle to Victoriously Convene the Bighth Party Congress

3. Held in April 1945 in Yanan, although it had originally been scheduled for 193% F2

10. The First National Conference on Organizational Work was held March-April 1951 and

12. An Ziwen was acting director of the Central Committee's Organization Department from

13. Mao is here referring to the Fourth Pleourm of the Seventh Central Committee, held Retyruay 6-10, 1954, in Beijing,

16. Both Niang and Yang were associates of Rao Shushi and were alleged co-conspimiurs of

3. Held in April (945 in Yanan, although it had originally been scheduled for 193%, F

4. Sec text June 15, 1953, note 2. and text July 9, 1957, note 53

5. This refers to the Second and Thind Plenum of the Seventh Central Conmnities of the GF

7. Guo Gang (1905-1954) was one of the earliest CPC imembers in Shaanxi Provinet #

10. The First National Conference on Organizational Work was held March-April 195) and

14. ‘The terms yang wind and yang fire are used by Mao to refer to an active or creative role ms

15. Here Mae ts using the term “independent kingdom” (dali wangguo) in a slightly different

19. Jinggangstan was the mountainous region in western Jiangxi to which Mao withdrew

22. The term *‘five tiger generals”' (we hu shang) emerged out of the folklore rel

24. Fengshen thuan (The Apotheosis of Heroes), together with Shuihw chuan (Water