Comments on Zhou Enlai’s Speech Draft for the Fifth Session of the First National People’s Congress〔1〕 (February 8, 1958) To the Premier: There are a few textual revisions on pages three and twelve. [2] — Mao Zedong, February 8 Based on the manuscript printout. Notes [1] Refers to Zhou Enlai’s speech draft prepared for delivery at the Fifth Session of the First National People’s Congress, convened on February 10, 1958, entitled “The Current International Situation and Our Country’s Foreign Policy.” It was published in the People’s Daily on February 11, 1958. [2] On page three of Zhou Enlai’s speech draft, Mao Zedong changed the phrase “a little more time” to “a bit more time” in the sentence: “The Chinese people also strive to catch up with and surpass Britain in the output of steel and other important industrial products within fifteen years or a bit more time.” On page twelve, Zhou Enlai’s speech stated: “Among foreign guests visiting China from Asian and African countries, Japanese friends still constitute the largest group. China has also sent many important delegations to Japan for visits and study. The Chinese people express their deep gratitude to the Japanese people and organizations for their hospitality and assistance extended to various Chinese delegations.” Mao Zedong deleted the words “and study” as well as the word “deeply” from this sentence.

Letter to Liu Shaoqi Concerning Whether Ancient Officials Were Prohibited from Bringing Their Families Along (February 10, 1958) Comrade Shaoqi: Previously, while reading anecdotal notes or other poetic commentaries, I came across accounts concerning He Zhizhang. Today, I happened to glance through the Complete Tang Poetry Discussions, which provides a more detailed account of He’s life and may be worth a look. When he resigned from his post in Chang’an and returned to Kuaiji (present-day Shaoxing) at the age of eighty-six, his wife had likely already passed away. His son had been appointed as the Sima of Kuaiji, and he too might have been in his sixties or seventies. As for the line “Children see me but do not recognize me,”[1] I believe these children were not He’s own offspring, but rather his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or even fourth-generation descendants—though there would certainly have been other local children as well. He Zhizhang served for several decades in Chang’an as Palace Guest and in other high-ranking positions, enjoying a relationship with Emperor Xuanzong that combined official duties with personal friendship. He once recommended Li Bai[2] to the emperor, indicating a mutual rapport between them. Having spent so many years in Chang’an, it is unlikely that he did not have family members accompanying him. This is my view. It is possible that his wife died during his middle years, leaving him to live alone thereafter. Being a follower of Daoism, he might have chosen to renounce worldly ties, including family. However, for someone over ninety years old like Qi Baishi,[3] it seems inconceivable that he would have lived without any relatives nearby. A poet and calligrapher—his cursive script of the Classic of Filial Piety still survives today—he was a man of broad-mindedness, far from being a puritanical figure. Throughout the entire history of the Tang dynasty, there is no record of officials being forbidden to bring their families along; nor is there any such evidence in Chinese history generally. Therefore, one poem titled “Leaving Home in Youth” cannot serve as sufficient proof to conclude that ancient officials were indeed barred from having their families with them. Ever since our last conversation on this matter, I have felt that this conclusion is somewhat questionable. I urge you to reconsider it again. Perhaps you are right, and my own thinking is mistaken. Unable to sleep, I occasionally reflect on this issue and have thus written these remarks for your consideration. Mao Zedong, February 10, 1958, 10:00 a.m. After re-examining the Biography of He Zhizhang in the Literary Garden section of the Old Book of Tang (Volume 140 of the Biographies, page 24), I found no mention whatsoever of He ever traveling without his family. In recent years, some editors of literary anthologies have speculated that the “children” referred to in the poem are actually He’s own offspring, but such interpretations are purely conjectural and lack any solid evidence. Printed according to the manuscript. Included in the Selected Letters of Mao Zedong. Notes [1] “Leaving Home in Youth”: This is a line from He Zhizhang’s poem “Occasional Verse upon Returning Home.” The full text reads: “I return home an old man; my accent remains unchanged, though my temples have turned gray. Children see me but do not recognize me, smilingly asking where this traveler comes from.” The poem “Leaving Home in Youth” mentioned in the letter refers to this very piece. [2] Li Bai, a poet of the Tang dynasty. [3] Qi Baishi, a painter who, after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, served as honorary director of the Beijing Academy of Chinese Painting and chairman of the Chinese Artists Association before his death.