Critique of the Article
“Frames? Or Guiding Principles?”
in *Guangming Daily*
(15 February 1961)

A fine article!

[1]
Refers to the article “Frames? Or Guiding Principles?” by He Ming, published on page 3 of *Guangming Daily* on 11 February 1961. The article states:
“When going into reality and among the masses to conduct investigation and research, one must be open-minded and must not set out in advance with a subjectivist frame. Going down with a frame will cause one to look but not see, to listen but not hear, or to see and hear only those circumstances one wishes to see and hear, thus distorting the picture of things. Open-mindedness is extremely important; frames harm people and harm affairs. However, guiding principles and frames are two different things.” The article, drawing on relevant ideas from the Song Jian School and Xunzi in the history of Chinese philosophy, conducts a concrete analysis and then points out: “We must unswervingly use Marxism-Leninism, the works of Mao Zedong, and the Party’s general line as our guide in conducting investigation and research. This is not a frame. This is truth abstracted from reality and verified by reality; it is a ‘telescope,’ a ‘microscope,’ a scalpel for dissecting ‘sparrows.’ But it must also be said in return: do not merely memorize the phrases of Marxism-Leninism and forcibly apply them to objective things. That directly contravenes Marxism-Leninism; that is to say, it is no longer Marxism-Leninism but a frame of one’s own making.” “Frames? Or guiding principles? One must distinguish clearly; do not carry frames, but carry the guiding principles of Marxism-Leninism to conduct investigation and research.”

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Critique of the Article
“Frames? Or Guiding Principles?”
in *Guangming Daily*

Comrade Chen Boda[1]:
Who is He Ming[2]?
During the anti-rightist rectification period in 1957, he wrote a short article[3] which was very good. I spoke with you about it and wanted to meet with him, but it did not happen. Now please arrange for him to come by plane to Guangzhou for a visit. At the same time, please have Ai Siqi, Hu Sheng, Wang Ruoshui, Ren Jiyu[4], and Guan Feng come together. Please attend to the above immediately.

Mao Zedong
Morning, 15 February

[1] Chen Boda, then Director of the Political Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of *Hongqi* magazine, and secretary to Mao Zedong.
[2] He Ming, i.e., Guan Feng, then head of the Philosophy and History Group at *Hongqi* magazine.
[3] Probably refers to the article “Critique of Fei Xiaotong’s ‘The Early Spring Weather of Intellectuals,’” published in *Guangming Daily* on 10 August 1957.
[4] Ai Siqi, then Vice President of the Party School of the CPC Central Committee. Hu Sheng, then Deputy Director of the Political Research Office of the CPC Central Committee and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of *Hongqi* magazine. Wang Ruoshui, then editor at *Renmin Ribao*. Ren Jiyu, then researcher at the Institute of Philosophy, Chinese Academy of Sciences.