Comrade Zhou Yang:

I have read the document [2]. It is very well written. The two sections refuting the theory of human nature and on inheriting the legacy are especially good, sweeping down irresistibly from a commanding height and carrying all before them—reading them made my spirits soar. The first two sections [3] are somewhat weaker than the latter part. If they could be rewritten once to match the middle two sections, equally sweeping down irresistibly and full of verve and vitality, that would be even better. There are only a few days left; is there time to revise them? One solution is to postpone the conference to the 25th [4]. What do you think? Please decide at your discretion. This afternoon I would like to talk with you once.

Mao Zedong
July 19, 4:00 AM

[1]
Zhou Yang, then Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, and Vice Chairman of the China Writers Association.

[2]
Refers to the report Zhou Yang was preparing to deliver at the Third National Congress of Literary and Art Workers (revised draft dated July 18, 1960), titled "The Road of Socialist Literature and Art."

[3]
The Third National Congress of Literary and Art Workers opened in Beijing on July 22, 1960, as originally planned.

***

Also, there are some minor points where I have made a few revisions for you [1].

The passage of praise for my poetry [2] is inappropriate; please delete it.

[1]
In addition to the revisions Mao Zedong made to Zhou Yang's report draft shown in the Song typeface parts of sections 3 and 4 of this piece, there are also the following changes:
Page 1: Changed the Chinese people "are creating historical miracles on the industrial, agricultural, and all other fronts" to "are creating great achievements on the industrial, agricultural, and all other fronts"; changed "socialist construction is leaping forward continuously at an unprecedented high speed" to "socialist construction is leaping forward continuously at a high speed"; changed "The Chinese people are rapidly changing the poor, weak, and backward face of their country" to "The Chinese people are step by step changing the poor, weak, and backward face of their country."
Page 13: Changed "thoroughly break the monopoly over literature and art, enabling literature and art to be accepted and utilized by the broadest masses of workers and peasants" to "thoroughly break the monopoly over literature and art by a small minority, enabling literature and art to be accepted and utilized by the broadest masses of workers and peasants."
Page 51: Changed "under the guidance of Mao Zedong Thought, which integrates the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism with the practice of the Chinese revolution" to "under the guidance of Mao Zedong Thought, which integrates the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism with the concrete practice of the Chinese revolution."

[2]
The third part of Zhou Yang's report draft stated: "As a model of the combination of revolutionary realism and revolutionary romanticism, Comrade Mao Zedong's poetry has opened up a new realm in literary and artistic creation previously unattained by predecessors. Comrade Mao Zedong is the greatest leader of the Chinese people and at the same time the greatest poet. His poems profoundly depict the soul-stirring revolutionary course of the Chinese people overcoming formidable hardships and dangers. His poetry is a perfect fusion of revolutionary epic and revolutionary lyric. Majestic poetic talent and magnificent revolutionary spirit are seamlessly integrated. The heroic spirit and optimism of the Chinese people reach a pinnacle in his poems, crystallizing into the newest and most beautiful artistic images. Poetry and person merge into one; Comrade Mao Zedong's poetry is the embodiment of his great personality." When Zhou Yang's report was publicly published in *Renmin Ribao*, this passage was deleted according to Mao Zedong's opinion.

***

The Complete Works of Mao Zedong
Volume 43

III
The current political task of our people is to build our country into a highly industrialized, powerful socialist state at a speed as fast as objectively permissible, and to prepare conditions for the gradual transition to communism in the future.

IV
In the common struggle against imperialism and in defense of world peace, we should closely unite with all patriotic, progressive, and revolutionary literary and art workers throughout the world, especially those in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and form a broad, revolutionary literary and art united front against imperialism and its reactionary allies in various countries.

***


On July 23, 1960, Mao Zedong received delegates to the Third National Congress of Literary and Art Workers.


On July 23, 1960, Mao Zedong met with delegates to the Third National Congress of Literary and Art Workers.


On July 23, 1960, Mao Zedong cordially received delegates attending the Third National Congress of Literary and Art Workers.
On July 24, 1960, Mao Zedong received news photographer Shi Shaohua.


In 1960, Mao Zedong conversed with dramatist Ouyang Yuqian.

In 1960, Mao Zedong shook hands with writer Ba Jin (first from right), Peking opera performing artist Zhou Xinfang (second from right), and others.