Commentary on Correcting the Orientation and Winning Over All Possible Intellectuals (December 22, 1958)

Comrade Lu Dingyi [1]: I suggest that this document [2] be circulated to all party committees, general branches, and branch committees of colleges and universities and scientific research institutions nationwide for reading and discussion, so as to correct the orientation and win over all possible professors, lecturers, teaching assistants, and researchers to serve the proletarian cause of education and the cause of culture and science. What do you think? The party committees and branches of literary and artistic organizations, newspapers, magazines, and publishing houses should also receive it and hold a similar discussion. Please make a decision as you see fit.

Mao Zedong December 22, 1958 Printed according to Selected Letters of Mao Zedong. (With manuscript)

Notes [1] Lu Dingyi was at the time an alternate member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, head of the Central Cultural and Educational Leading Group, and Minister of the Central Propaganda Department.

[2] Refers to the material “The Physics Teaching and Research Section of Tsinghua University Takes a ‘Left’ Rather Than a ‘Right’ Stance Toward Teachers,” which appeared in Issue No. 1 of “Propaganda and Education Dynamics,” compiled and printed by the CPC Central Propaganda Department on December 19, 1958. The material states that recently the general party branch of the Public Teaching and Research Section of Tsinghua University inspected the work of the physics teaching and research section’s party branch and organized party members to discuss the policy toward intellectuals. During the discussion,