Directive on Printing and Distributing Four Letters Concerning Hunan Work
(June 1, 1961)

The four letters concerning Hunan work [1] are printed and distributed for study by all comrades of the working conference [2]. The problems of Hunan [3] are largely the same in all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, and have universality, so they are worthy of everyone's attention.

Mao Zedong
June 1, 1961

[1] Refers to Mao Zedong's letter to Wang Dongxing on April 11, 1961, regarding inviting Wang Renzhong and Wang Yanchun to Hunan to help resolve some problems existing in rural work; Zhang Pinghua's letter to Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, et al. on April 14, 1961, regarding problems in Hunan's rural work; Wang Renzhong's letter to Mao Zedong on May 10, 1961, regarding the situation of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee's three-level cadre meeting; Liu Shaoqi's letter to Mao Zedong on May 11, 1961, regarding the situation of conducting investigation and research in Hunan. Liu Shaoqi's letter reported on some situations he investigated in the Tianhua Brigade of the Fulin Commune in Changsha and the Tanzi Chong Brigade of the Huaminglou Commune in Ningxiang County, and raised specific opinions on issues such as the housing of commune members, the issue of refunds and compensation, the consolidation of state, collective, and individual ownership, the establishment of public security police stations and circuit courts in some villages, and the family members of organs, cadres, military officers, and workers in the countryside.

[2] Refers to the Central Committee Working Conference of the Chinese Communist Party held in Beijing from May 21 to June 12, 1961.

[3] See Mao Zedong's letter to Wang Dongxing on April 11, 1961. The letter mentioned the problems existing in Hunan's rural work: "(1) The twelve articles of policy have not been earnestly and resolutely implemented. In some counties, the masses have not been truly mobilized, there is no vigorous atmosphere, and there is a trend of not daring to speak; (2) From October of last winter to now, a full half year, the 'five winds' have not been universally rectified. In a considerable number of areas, political power has not yet been seized from the hands of the enemy. Seeing things late and grasping them slowly, so that as the busy spring plowing approaches, the Party has not yet gained the initiative in many areas."