Mao Zedong’s Comment on Zhao Puchu’s\[1\]
Sanqu\[2\] “Three Laments for a Certain Gentleman”
(January 31, 1965)

Very good. Agree to publish in tomorrow’s newspaper. Send to Comrade Yao Zhen\[4\] for handling.

Mao Zedong
January 31

1. Lament for West Ni (November 1963);
2. Lament for East Ni (May 1964);
3. Lament for Himself (November 1964).
It was published in *Renmin Ribao* on February 1, 1965. “A Certain Gentleman” refers to Khrushchev, “West Ni” to Kennedy, and “East Ni” to Nehru.

--- Notes

\[1\] Zhao Puchu, then Vice President and Secretary-General of the Buddhist Association of China and Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Committee for the Defence of World Peace.


\[2\] The sanqu “Three Laments for a Certain Gentleman” written by Zhao Puchu refers to:

\[3\] This comment was written on a report submitted to Mao Zedong on January 31, 1965, by Kang Sheng, Secretary of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Deputy Head of the Central Cultural and Education Group, concerning the publication of Zhao Puchu’s “Three Laments for a Certain Gentleman.” The report stated that the proof sheets of Zhao Puchu’s sanqu “Three Laments for a Certain Gentleman” had been prepared. If deemed appropriate, it was proposed to publish it in the newspaper the following day. It requested that the matter be referred to Comrade Yao Zhen for handling that evening.


\[4\] Yao Zhen, then Deputy Director of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee.