Modifications and Letter Regarding the "Resolution of the Zhengzhou Conference on Certain Issues Concerning People's Communes" [I]
(November 10 and 12, 1958)

**Resolution of the Zhengzhou Conference on Certain Issues Concerning People's Communes**
(This document, after being approved by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, is to be issued to Party committees and Party organizations at all levels for earnest implementation. Before implementation, it must be fully discussed. November 10, 1958)

The conference discussed: (1) Socialism and communism, and what it means to complete the building of socialism; (2) The issue of communes; (3) The issue of urban communes; (4) The need to focus on agriculture; (5) Working methods; (6) Several specific policy issues.

**(1) Socialism and Communism, and What It Means to Complete the Building of Socialism**
After discussion, the following five points have been summarized:

1. What we call socialism is the first stage of communism. In this stage, the task of the entire Party and the entire people is to complete the building of socialism. The concentrated expression of completing socialist construction is the realization of comprehensive socialist ownership by the whole people. We already have an incomplete form of ownership by the whole people, which includes state-run industries, large forest lands, river courses, territorial waters, state-run reservoirs, lakes, ponds, state-run farms, forestry centers, livestock farms, and other various state-run enterprises. This is still only a part of ownership by the whole people, not comprehensive ownership by the whole people. The task during the transition period, i.e., the socialist period, is to realize comprehensive socialist ownership by the whole people.

2. The large-scale socialist collective ownership currently existing in the form of people's communes, which can also be called small-scale ownership by the whole people, must gradually develop into comprehensive ownership by the whole people. This sector encompasses several hundred million people, mainly peasants, as well as handicraft workers. They were originally individual small and medium-sized producers. Through several steps and over a period of six years from 1953 to 1956 [sic, likely 1958], they have developed to the current stage of people's communes. Their collective nature has gradually increased. It is possible to begin developing towards ownership by the whole people; for example, the emergence of county-run industries now carries elements of development towards ownership by the whole people. But it is not yet ownership by the whole people; it can be called county ownership by the people, i.e., so-called small-scale ownership by the whole people. Labor and products within the county that can be allocated by the county belong to this system.

3. The meaning of comprehensive socialist ownership by the whole people is: (a) The means of social production are owned by the whole people; (b) Therefore, social products (not only products serving as means of production but also products serving as means of subsistence) are also owned by the whole people. In the current stage of the transition period, besides the means of production and products of state-run enterprises and other state-run undertakings, which have already become owned by the whole people, the means of production of the people's communes (land, forests, water pools, seeds, fertilizers, livestock, farm tools, agricultural machinery, industrial factories and mines) and their products should gradually increase the component of ownership by the whole people. That is, gradually increase the part of the means of production that is owned by the whole people and gradually increase the part of products that can be allocated by the state, producing according to state plans and allocating according to state plans.

Modifications and Letter Regarding the "Resolution of the Zhengzhou Conference on Certain Issues Concerning People's Communes"

4. To realize allocation and gradually increase the proportion of allocated goods, there must be abundant means of production, and the variety and quantity of products must be increased according to the state plan and the needs of the communes. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously develop the production of the means of production and the production of consumer goods, and continuously raise the production levels of these two departments.

5. To enable the people's communes to possess abundant means of production, it is necessary to realize the industrialization of the communes and the mechanization and electrification of agriculture (i.e., agricultural factory farming).

**(2) The Issue of Communes**, including the nature of communes, the system issue, the distribution issue, the relations among ownership by the whole people, collectives, and individuals, the issue of work and rest schedules, the food issue, and the heating issue.

1. On the nature of communes:
The commune is the basic unit of China's socialist social structure, integrating industry, agriculture, commerce, education, and military affairs. At the present stage, the commune is also an organization of grassroots political power. The commune is a product of China's socio-economic development and a product of the Great Leap Forward of 1958. The commune is the best form for realizing two transitions. These two transitions are: one, the transition from the current stage of socialism to the completed stage—i.e., the transition from socialist collective ownership to ownership by the whole people; the other, the transition from socialist ownership by the whole people to communist ownership by the whole people. The commune is the basic unit of the future communist social structure.

2. On the system of communes:
Currently, there are three forms: First, one county, one commune; second, one county with several communes and a county-level joint organization; third, one county with several communes without a county-level joint organization. It is generally agreed that the organizational form with a county-level joint organization is better. The model of one county, one commune can continue to be tested. The form of one county with several communes but no county-level joint organization is undesirable. All levels within the commune should have a certain degree of power and flexibility to give play to the initiative of each level. All communes in various localities shall uniformly bear the local place name. In labor allocation: first, the production responsibility system must be implemented and consolidated. Second, the distribution of labor among various production departments (agriculture department, industry department, transportation department) must be rational, and labor organization must be appropriate. County-level trade union organizations shall be abolished. The organization of county-level women's federations shall remain unchanged for the time being.

3. On the issue of distribution:
Within the period of the Second Five-Year Plan, by 1960 or possibly slightly later, rural people's communes should achieve an annual per capita distribution of 150 to 200 yuan. Furthermore, the proportion of products allocated by the state should be gradually increased. Strive within ten years (by 1967) to achieve a situation where approximately one-half of the commune's net income goes to individuals, approximately one-half goes to commune accumulation, and approximately one-half goes to state allocation. [Note: The sum of these three halves exceeds 100%, likely a textual error or indicative of aspirational targets exceeding total net income, implying calculation based on different bases or future value].

4. On the relationship between collectives and individuals:
The principle of greater collective freedom and lesser individual freedom should be implemented.

5. On the issue of work and rest schedules:
Within the period of the Third Five-Year Plan, realize a schedule of six hours of work, four hours of study, eight hours of sleep, and six hours for meals and recreation. During the three years of arduous struggle, implement twelve hours of work and study in the countryside (generally ten hours of work and two hours of study; during busy farming seasons, twelve hours of work), four hours for meals and rest, and eight hours of sleep. In cities, generally, based on actual conditions, maintain the eight-hour work system as much as possible. Overtime work can be arranged when necessary.

6. Attention must be paid to ensuring the minimum necessary quantity of calories and nutrients in food for each person. To this end, consultation with nutritionists is necessary to make appropriate regulations; negligence is impermissible.

Modifications and Letter Regarding the "Resolution of the Zhengzhou Conference on Certain Issues Concerning People's Communes"

7. Immediately make preparations for winter. Those working outdoors in winter must have adequate dormitories. In the north, the issue of winter heating must be resolved quickly.

**(3) The Issue of Urban Communes**
1. Adopt an active attitude and experiment with people's communes in cities.
2. Proceed step by step; the pace of progress in different places may vary. Large cities should slow down.
3. Urban communes must have a production base. Without a production base, they are very difficult to run well; even if organized, they cannot accomplish significant tasks.
4. In cities, for a certain period, a system should be implemented where wages are primary and supply is supplementary, allowing more flexibility for individuals. For the time being, it is inappropriate to overly disrupt the existing living habits and methods of urban residents.
5. The ownership system (ownership of means of production, ownership of products, and allocation of personnel) and management authority of state-run enterprises and universities cannot be changed. Personnel can join the local commune. A certain amount of funds can be allocated from the factory director's fund, over-quota retained earnings, and trade union fees to pay dues to the commune.
6. Some small and medium-sized locally state-run enterprises can be transferred to lower levels for commune operation, ensuring that profits are handed over to the higher level. The original profits handed over by these enterprises shall be fully guaranteed by the commune. The issue of urban communes is relatively complex. Comrade Ke Qingshi [1] is entrusted with drafting a document for submission to the Wuhan Conference for discussion.
**(4)**
While paying attention to grasping industry, attention must also be paid to grasping agriculture. The key to agriculture in 1959 is the summer harvest. The first secretaries of the Party committees of all provinces, cities, and autonomous regions must take responsibility and, during the four months of December 1958 and January, February, and March [sic – likely January, February, March] 1959, dedicate necessary time to grasping agriculture to ensure that agriculture in the summer and throughout 1959 continues to achieve great victories. Strive for triple victories in industry, agriculture, and ideology. This slogan proposed by comrades from Shanxi Province is excellent and should be promoted nationwide.

**(5) Working Methods**
1. In people's communes, because the degree of collectivization of mass life is higher, the impact of cadre work style on the masses' lives is greater. Special attention must be paid to adhering to the mass line working method. Simplistic administrative command methods must not be used to handle issues concerning the vital interests of the broad masses. Phenomena such as beating, scolding, binding, or arbitrarily punishing the masses under the pretext of organizing military-style organization must be strictly prohibited and corrected. The method of handling contradictions among the people as if they were contradictions between the enemy and ourselves, using so-called "great debates" or "debating you a bit"—meaning fixing you a bit—to coerce the masses into submission, must be strictly prohibited and corrected.
2. An honest attitude must be adopted towards achievements and shortcomings in work. False reporting of achievements and concealment of shortcomings must be opposed. Whether it concerns figures in industry, agriculture, culture, education, health, or any other field, and whether for internal or external consumption, to superiors or subordinates, the actual numbers should be reported as they are. Say good if it is good, say bad if it is bad. Currently, there is a tendency to report fewer achievements as more and to fear mentioning shortcomings, which is extremely harmful. An education campaign must be conducted among all cadres to thoroughly overcome this unhealthy atmosphere.

Modifications and Letter Regarding the "Resolution of the Zhengzhou Conference on Certain Issues Concerning People's Communes"

**(6) Several Specific Policy Issues**
1. The standard of living for the bourgeoisie, bourgeois intellectuals, and democratic personages should not be changed. Fixed interest payments [from past capitalist enterprises] are not to be declared abolished; whether to continue receiving them can be left to their own discretion. Those willing to participate in labor are welcome; those unwilling should not be forced.
2. The issue of cadre treatment has wide implications and must be handled prudently. When switching to the supply system, the principle is that the salaries of high-wage earners at the top should be reduced somewhat, while the rest should basically be maintained, with some increases and some decreases. The salaries of cadres working in rural areas should be slightly reduced, taking into account the peasants' standard of living, but should not be reduced too much. When necessary, their salaries can be paid by the state, not covered by commune expenditures.
3. The total wage bill for workers cannot be reduced. The portion reduced due to measures such as abolishing piece-rate wages should be compensated and slightly increased.

Comrade Xiaoping [1]:
I have thought it over. Regarding that draft Resolution on Certain Issues Concerning People's Communes, it would be better to wait a bit (about two weeks or so) and bring it to the Wuchang Conference [2] for further discussion to gain the approval of more comrades (it's possible good suggestions may be raised, and some revisions might need to be made, who knows), and then issue it as a formal document. This does not hinder provincial comrades from acting according to...
[1] Xiaoping, i.e., Deng Xiaoping, then General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
[2] Refers to the upcoming Enlarged Meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to be held in Wuchang. This meeting took place from November 21 to 27, 1958.

The draft they brought was immediately disseminated, discussed, and implemented among cadres. Whether this is the case, please discuss and decide with the comrades in Beijing. Since that is so, the Zhengzhou Conference is a meeting to prepare documents for the Wuchang Conference, and therefore no communiqué should be issued.

Mao Zedong
7 a.m., November 12

To the First Secretaries of Provincial Party Committees, Municipal Party Committees directly under the Central Government, and Autonomous Region Party Committees, and to Comrades in Charge of Various Cooperative Regions:

After the comrades who attended the Zhengzhou Conference left, I gave it some further thought. The draft resolution on some issues concerning the people's communes produced at the Zhengzhou Conference would be more appropriate to solicit the opinions of more comrades at the Wuchang Conference before it is published. Since this is a major issue, there may be some good opinions from comrades who did not come to Zhengzhou; one can never be sure. For this reason, the original plan should be changed: the Political Bureau of the Central Committee will not approve it for the time being but will refer it to the Wuchang Conference for another round of discussion. How should you handle this matter? You may, within the next few days, seek opinions from leading comrades at the provincial and prefectural levels, as well as from select county-level comrades. Bring these opinions to Wuchang for further study. This will cause very little delay—no more than ten days—and will not impede major affairs. Certain parts of the resolution that require immediate implementation can be put into effect by you right away, just as agreed upon during the Zhengzhou Conference, unchanged. If you find the above acceptable, please act accordingly. I have separately reported this to the Central Committee.

Mao Zedong
November 12, 1958, in Zhengzhou

--- Notes

[1] The original title of this document was "Summary of the Zhengzhou Conference." Mao Zedong changed it to "Resolution of the Zhengzhou Conference on Certain Issues Concerning People's Communes." The "Resolution on Certain Issues Concerning People's Communes," adopted by the Sixth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on December 10, 1958, was redrafted based on this document.

[1] Ke Qingshi, then Secretary of the Shanghai Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.