**I. Resolution of the Zhengzhou Conference on Certain Issues Concerning the People's Communes**
(After approval by the Political Bureau of the Central Committee, this document is to be issued to Party committees and Party organizations at all levels for earnest implementation. Full discussion must be held before implementation. November 10, 1958)
The conference discussed:
(1) Socialism and Communism, and what constitutes the building of socialism;
(2) The issue of communes;
(3) The issue of urban communes;
(4) The need to focus on agriculture;
(5) Work methods;
(6) Several specific policy issues.

(1) Socialism and Communism, and what constitutes the building of socialism
After discussion, the following five points were 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, ownership by the whole people. We already have a form of ownership by the whole people that is not comprehensive—this includes state-operated industries, large forest lands, river courses, territorial waters, state-operated reservoirs, lakes, ponds, state-operated farms, forestry centers, pasturelands, and other various state-operated enterprises. This is still only partial 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 considered small-scale ownership by the whole people, must gradually develop into comprehensive ownership by the whole people. This sector encompasses several hundred million people, primarily peasants, as well as handicraft workers. They were originally individual small and medium-scale producers, who, through several steps over the six years from 1953 to 1956¹⁹⁵⁸, developed to the current stage of people's communes. Their collective nature has gradually increased. It is now possible to begin developing toward ownership by the whole people; for example, the emergence of county-run industries carries elements of developing toward ownership by the whole people. However, it is not yet ownership by the whole people; it can be called county-level ownership by the people, i.e., what is termed small-scale ownership by the whole people. Labor and products within the entire county that can be allocated by the county belong to this system.
3. The meaning of comprehensive socialist ownership by the whole people is: (i) The means of social production are owned by the whole people; (ii) Consequently, social products (not only products of the means of production but also products of the 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-operated enterprises and other state-operated enterprises which have already become owned by the whole people, the means of production (land, forests, water pools, seeds, fertilizers, livestock, farm tools, agricultural machinery, industrial plants and mines) and products of the people's communes should gradually increase the component of ownership by the whole people—that is, gradually increase the portion of the means of production that is owned by the whole people and gradually increase the portion of products that can be allocated by the state, according to production based on the state plan and allocation based on the state plan.
4. To enable allocation and gradually increase the proportion of allocation, it is necessary to have abundant means of production; it is necessary to increase the variety and quantity of products according to the state plan and the needs of the communes. Therefore, it is essential to continuously develop the production of the means of production and the production of consumer goods, and to continuously raise the production levels of these two major sectors.
5. To equip the people's communes with abundant means of production, it is necessary to achieve the industrialization of communes and the factory-style operation of agriculture (i.e., mechanization and electrification).

(2) The issue of communes, including the nature of communes, the system issue, the distribution issue, the relationship between ownership by the whole people, collectives, and individuals, the work and rest schedule issue, the food issue, and the heating issue.
1. On the issue of the nature of communes: The commune is the basic unit of our country's socialist social structure, integrating industry, agriculture, commerce, education, and military affairs. At the present stage, the commune is simultaneously an organization of basic-level political power. The commune is a product of our country's social and economic development, a product of the Great Leap Forward of 1958. The commune is the best form for achieving two transitions. These two transitions are: one, the transition from the current stage of socialism to the completion 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 issue of the commune system: Currently, there are three forms: first, one commune per county; second, several communes per county with a county-level federation of communes; third, several communes per county without a county-level federation of communes. Everyone believes that the organizational form having a county-level federation of communes is relatively good. The model of one commune per county can continue to be tested. The form of several communes per county without a county-level federation is not good. All levels within the commune should have certain powers and flexibility to bring the initiative of all levels into play. All local communes must uniformly adopt place names. In labor allocation: First, the production responsibility system must be implemented and consolidated. Second, the distribution of labor among various production departments (agricultural department, industrial department, transportation department) must be rational, and labor organizations must be appropriate. County-level trade union organizations are to be abolished. The organization of county-level women's federations remains unchanged for the time being.
3. On the issue of distribution: Within the Second Five-Year Plan period, by 1960, or within a slightly longer timeframe, ensure that every person in the rural people's communes can receive an annual distribution of 150 to 200 yuan. And gradually increase the proportion of products allocated by the state. Strive, within ten years (by 1967), to reach a point where about one-third of the commune's net income goes to individuals, about one-third goes to commune accumulation, and about one-third goes to state allocation.
4. On the issue of the relationship between the collective and the individual: The principle of larger collective freedom and smaller individual freedom should be implemented.
5. On the issue of work and rest schedules: Within the Third Five-Year Plan period, achieve six hours of work, four hours of study, eight hours of sleep, and six hours for meals and recreation. During the three years of intense struggle, implement twelve hours of work and study in rural areas (generally ten hours of work, 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, the eight-hour workday should be maintained as much as possible; overtime may be added when necessary.
6. We must pay attention to the minimum necessary quantity of calories and nutrients in food essential for each person. To this end, we must consult with nutritionists and make appropriate regulations. We must not be negligent.
7. Make immediate preparations for winter. Anyone working outdoors in winter must have adequate dormitories. The northern regions must quickly solve the problem of winter heating.

(3) The issue of urban communes
1. Adopt a positive attitude; try out people's communes in cities.
2. Proceed step by step; the pace can vary between different localities. Large cities should proceed more slowly.
3. Urban communes must have a production base. Without a production base, they are difficult to run well; even if organized, they cannot accomplish major tasks.
4. In cities, for a period, a system primarily based on wages supplemented by supply should be implemented, allowing individuals more flexibility. For the time being, it is not appropriate to excessively alter the existing living habits and methods of urban residents.
5. The ownership (ownership of the means of production, ownership of products, allocation of personnel) and management authority of state-operated enterprises and universities cannot be changed. Personnel can join local communes. A certain amount of funds can be allocated from the director's fund, surplus commissions, and trade union expenses to pay to the commune.
6. Some small and medium-sized local state-operated enterprises can be transferred to communes for operation, ensuring that the original profits turned over to the state are now contractually paid by the communes.
(4) While focusing on industry, we must also pay attention to agriculture. The key to agriculture in 1959 is the summer harvest. The first secretaries of the Party committees of all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions must take responsibility during the four months of December 1958 and January, February, and March 1959, spending necessary time on agriculture to ensure that agriculture continues to achieve great victories in the summer and throughout 1959. The slogan of the comrades in Shanxi Province—"Strive for victory in industry, agriculture, and ideology"—is a very good one and should be promoted nationwide.

(5) Work methods
1. In the people's communes, as the degree of collectivization in the masses' lives is higher, the impact of cadres' work styles on the masses' lives is greater. Special attention must be paid to adhering to the mass line work method. It is not permissible to use simplistic administrative command methods to handle issues affecting the vital interests of the broad masses. Phenomena such as beating, verbally abusing, binding, or arbitrarily punishing the masses under the pretext of the slogan of organizing for militarization must be strictly prohibited and corrected. Phenomena such as using methods for handling contradictions between the enemy and ourselves to handle contradictions among the people, and using so-called "great debates" or "debating you"—meaning fixing you—to coerce the masses into submission must be strictly prohibited and corrected.
2. Regarding achievements and shortcomings in work, we must adopt an honest attitude. False reporting of achievements and concealment of shortcomings are opposed. Whether dealing with figures in industry, agriculture, culture, education, health, or any other sector, and whether internally, externally, to superiors, or to subordinates, report the actual figures. Say good when it is good, and bad when it is bad. There is currently a tendency to report fewer achievements as more and fear mentioning shortcomings; this is extremely harmful. An education campaign must be conducted among all cadres to thoroughly overcome this unhealthy trend.

(6) Several specific policy issues
1. The living standards of the bourgeoisie, bourgeois intellectuals, and democratic personages should not be altered. The fixed-rate interest will not be announced as abolished; leave it to their own discretion whether to accept it. Those willing to participate in labor are welcome; those unwilling should not be forced.
2. The issue of cadre benefits has wide implications and must be handled prudently. When transitioning to the supply system, the principle is that the high salaries at the top should be reduced somewhat, while the rest are basically maintained, with some rising and some falling. The salaries of cadres working in rural areas must be considered in light of the peasants' living standards and slightly reduced, but the reduction should not be too great. If necessary, their salaries can be paid by the state rather than funded by the commune.
3. The total wage bill for workers cannot be reduced. Any portion reduced due to measures like abolishing piece-rate wages must be compensated for, and wages should even be slightly increased.

*Based on a revision manuscript in Mao Zedong's hand.*

**II.**
Mao Zedong
7:00 AM, November 12
*Based on the original manuscript.*

**III.**
Comrades, First Secretaries of the Provincial Party Committees, Directly-Administered Municipality Party Committees, and Autonomous Region Party Committees, and Comrades in Charge of the Various Cooperation Regions:
After the comrades attending the Zhengzhou meeting left Zhengzhou, I thought about it again. It seems more appropriate for the Zhengzhou Conference’s Resolution (Draft) on Certain Issues Concerning the People's Communes to seek the opinions of more comrades at the Wuchang Conference before being issued. Because this is a major issue, it's possible that comrades who did not come to Zhengzhou might have some good opinions—hard to say. Therefore, changing the original plan: the Political Bureau of the Central Committee will not approve it for now; it will be referred to the Wuchang Conference for another discussion. How should you handle this matter? You can, in these next few days, solicit the opinions of leading comrades at the provincial and prefectural levels, and a few at the county level, and then bring these opinions to Wuchang for study. Doing this won't cause much delay—just about ten-plus days, which won't hold up major affairs. For parts of the resolution that need immediate implementation, you can implement them immediately, just as agreed upon during the Zhengzhou Conference; no change there. If the above is deemed workable, please proceed accordingly. A separate report has been made to the Central Committee.

Mao Zedong
[Day] [Month] [Year], Zhengzhou
*Based on the original transcription preserved by the Central Archives.*

**Notes**
1. The original title of this document was "Minutes of the Zhengzhou Conference," which Mao Zedong changed to "Resolution of the Zhengzhou Conference on Certain Issues Concerning the People's Communes." The "Resolution on Certain Issues Concerning the 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 re-drafted on the basis of this document. Refer to pp. [---] [Note: Page numbers omitted as per source text instruction, content retained.] of this volume.
2. Ke Qingshi, then Secretary of the Shanghai Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
3. Xiaoping, i.e., Deng Xiaoping, then General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee.
4. Refers to the forthcoming 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.

Instructions to the Confidential Secretariat of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee on the Report Regarding What Was Seen and Heard During Labor in Xushui County (November 10, 1958)

1
To be delivered immediately to Comrades Lin Tie and Zhang Chengxian[1]:
This document[2] describes the situation in Xushui County, covering both strengths and weaknesses. Please study it. Such situations may exist in more than one commune.

Mao Zedong
November 10, 10 p.m.
Based on the manuscript.

2
You may take this document back with you; I no longer need it.

Based on Mao Zedong's manuscript.

**Notes**
[1] Lin Tie was then First Secretary of the CPC Hebei Provincial Committee. Zhang Chengxian was then a Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Hebei Provincial Committee.
[2] Refers to the report submitted to Mao Zedong on October 18, 1958, by the Confidential Secretariat of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, detailing what was seen and heard during labor in Xushui County, Hebei Province. The report states: In mid-September this year, a group of comrades from the Confidential Secretariat of the General Office went to Qiansuoying Village, Shangzhuang People’s Commune, Xushui County, to take part in autumn harvest and wheat planting labor. This time, they fully shared meals, accommodations, and work with the local people, receiving a very positive response. What was observed and heard during the labor is reported below.
"Poor and blank, with soaring morale and full of hope and confidence for tomorrow"—this is a defining characteristic of the people here. This region frequently suffered from floods and droughts in the past, and the people lived in great hardship. From last winter to this spring, under the leadership of the county Party committee, the people of the entire county vigorously carried out water conservancy projects, achieving irrigation systems resembling "stars scattered across the sky and clusters of grapes," significantly improving their living standards.
Labor here is organized entirely along military lines into companies and battalions, with work conducted in a militarized, combat-readiness manner and strict discipline enforced. To carry out the autumn harvest and wheat planting with concentrated effort, a field combat unit was organized, which ate and camped in the fields, serving as a shock force in labor. The village also established a cafeteria, a kindergarten, a retirement home for the elderly, a sewing group, a laundry group, a club, a crude chemical fertilizer factory, a supply and marketing department, a grain processing factory, and more. A supply system was implemented, which received the support of commune members. Since the commune was established, all private plots, houses, and scattered fruit trees have been placed under commune ownership, thoroughly cutting off the tail of the private ownership system. Combined with the tempering of large-scale labor cooperation, the peasants' ideological awareness has undergone a dramatic leap.
We also observed some problems during labor, mainly: (1) Currently, the cultivation areas of each battalion (i.e., the original villages) remain the same as before the commune was established, are very dispersed, and contain many interlocking plots between communes, which is inconvenient for farming and organizing labor cooperation. It is suggested that the farmland of each commune be redistributed, breaking the boundaries of the original small co-ops to adapt to the needs of the new forms of labor. (2) Subjective thinking and commandism still exist in some localized areas. Because some cadres have a low level of political and ideological understanding, they stress only militarization and discipline while neglecting ideological work among commune members. When assigning production tasks, they issue simple orders and rarely consult with commune members on matters. Especially when dealing with issues like insufficient enthusiasm for labor or backward thinking, they often resort to crude and simplistic methods. (3) Some exaggerated or false phenomena exist. According to commune cadres, because the county assigns tasks in a hasty and excessive manner, lower-level cadres feel excessive pressure, and thus instances of false reporting in work are quite numerous. The pre-harvest grain yield estimates by the county and individual communes are also mostly higher than actual yields. (4) The issue of raising chickens and ducks. After the commune was established, private plots no longer exist, and meals are all taken in the cafeteria, so individuals no longer raise chickens or ducks, yet no collective raising has been organized here. If this continues, there will be no chicken, duck, or eggs to eat. The elderly at the retirement home should be organized to collectively raise chickens and ducks to solve this problem. (5) Several slogans worth examining. At the National Day celebration rally of Shangzhuang Commune, the commune Party committee secretary put forward these slogans in his report: "Build socialism by 1960, build communism by 1963," and "By then, you will have whatever you want to eat, wear, or possess." We feel that announcing such slogans at a general meeting of commune members is somewhat problematic, because some slogans are not grounded in reality, and some are imprecisely phrased. Proclaiming them now, only to fail to realize them in time, would have a negative impact on the masses. In the past, this county had announced that it would strive to become a culturally advanced county by September 1958, yet there are still many illiterates now, meaning it was not actually achieved.

--- Notes

**Revisions and Correspondence on the "Resolution of the Zhengzhou Conference on Certain Issues Concerning the People's Communes"¹ (November 10 and 12, 1958)**


The issue of urban communes is relatively complex. Comrade Ke Qingshi² is entrusted with drafting a document to be submitted for discussion at the Wuchang Conference.


Comrade Xiaoping³:
Upon further reflection regarding that Resolution (Draft) on Certain Issues Concerning the People's Communes, it might be better to wait a little while (about two weeks or so), bring it to the Wuchang Conference⁴ to discuss it further, get the agreement of more comrades (some good opinions might be raised, requiring some revisions—it's hard to say), and then issue it as a formal document. This does not hinder the comrades from the various provinces from immediately transmitting, discussing, and implementing it among cadres according to the draft they take back. Whether this is advisable, please discuss and decide with the comrades in Beijing. Since this is the case, the Zhengzhou Conference becomes a meeting to prepare documents for the Wuchang Conference; therefore, no communiqué should be issued.