Comment on
“Let a Hundred Flowers Blossom, Let a Hundred Schools of Thought Contend” [1]
(8 June 1956)

Return to Comrade Lu Dingyi. This piece is very good and can be published. I have made a slight revision on page nine; please give it your consideration.

Mao Zedong
8 June

Whether it can be revised in this way, please discuss with Comrades Zhou Yang, Yuan Shuipai, He Qifang, and others.

[1] This comment was written on the letter Comrade Lu Dingyi sent on 7 June 1956 when submitting the draft speech “Let a Hundred Flowers Blossom, Let a Hundred Schools of Thought Contend” for review. The letter stated: “Because two hundred scientists are gathered in Beijing to draft the science plan, Li Fuchun proposed explaining to them the policy of letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend. Comrade Shaoqi designated me to give the talk. After the draft speech was prepared, the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee discussed it twice, and it was subsequently revised according to Comrade Enlai’s opinions. The report was delivered on 26 May at a meeting of two thousand people, and seventy letters were received afterwards. Based on these opinions, further revisions were made, resulting in the present draft. Also enclosed are five letters from Guo Moruo, Mao Dun, He Qifang, Yuan Shuipai, and Hu Jiatian. Regarding the paragraph on Yu Pingbo, Yuan Shuipai and He Qifang raised opinions, and some comrades advocated deleting this paragraph. However, because the influence of this paragraph has been positive, it has been retained.” On 13 June 1956, this speech was published in *Renmin Ribao*.

On 26 May 1956, the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee held a report meeting at the Huairen Hall, where Minister of the Propaganda Department Lu Dingyi delivered the speech “Let a Hundred Flowers Blossom, Let a Hundred Schools of Thought Contend,” further elucidating the “Double Hundred” policy. The image shows Mao Zedong’s written instruction on the letter attached when Lu Dingyi submitted the speech draft, dated 8 June.

Source image
In June 1956, Mao Zedong cordially converses with Zhang Xuesi while receiving delegates to the First Party Congress of the Navy.