Comrade Tao Zhu [1]: Too many posters and slogans is a cumbersome philosophy. We need
to greatly streamline them. A dozen or so of each will suffice, and the total should not
exceed thirty. If there are more, no one will remember them, and they will not be
considered a single thing. Please discuss further and print and submit them. [2]
Mao Zedong



September 10
Comrade Tao Zhu: It is much easier. I wonder if it has been sent to the Central Cultural
Revolution Group for discussion? If not, please send it to them for discussion. [3]
Mao Zedong
September 12
Comrade Lin Biao [4] read it and return it to Comrade Tao Zhu.
Mao Zedong
Afternoon, September 14
PS Everything should be considered carefully; it is not appropriate to make hasty decisions.
For all major issues, we should seek the opinions of a wide range of comrades. Please note
this to Tao, Zhou, and Renzhong [5]. Reducing the number of slogans from 100 to 23 is a
good idea and a lesson for us.
Mao. [6]
Agreed [7].
Agreed [8].

[1] Tao Zhu was then a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC
Central Committee, Executive Secretary of the Central Secretariat, Advisor to the Central
Cultural Revolution Group, and Minister of the Central Propaganda Department.
[2] This comment was written on a draft of the Central Committee's notice, submitted by Tao
Zhu for review on September 10, 1966, regarding the methods for hanging and carrying
portraits, as well as posters and slogans for National Day 1966. In addition to proposing
three regulations for hanging and carrying portraits on National Day, the draft also listed 60
posters and 40 slogans, for a total of 100. During his review, Mao Zedong made significant
deletions to the slogans.
[3] This comment was written on the revised draft of the notice submitted by Tao Zhu for
review on September 11, 1966. The revised posters and slogans together totalled 30.



[4] Lin Biao was re-elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of
the CPC Central Committee at the 11th Plenary Session of the 8th CPC Central Committee
and was soon named Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee.
[5] Tao refers to Tao Zhu. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Ren Zhong is Wang Renzhong, then
Deputy Head of the Cultural Revolution Group of the CPC Central Committee and First
Secretary of the Central South Bureau.
[6] This comment was written on a revised draft of the notice submitted by Tao Zhu for
review on September 14, 1966. In his report for review, Tao Zhu wrote: "Following
instructions, I have sent this to the Cultural Revolution Group for discussion. I have revised it
once more and am sending it to Chen for review again." The title of this revised draft was
changed to "Notice on the Methods and Slogans for Hanging and Carrying Portraits for
National Day 1966," and the slogans were condensed to 23.
[7] This comment was written on the revised draft of the notice submitted by Tao Zhu for
examination at 2:00 a.m. on September 15, 1966. This draft for examination included
additional revisions to some of the 23 slogans.
[8] This comment was written on a revised draft of the notice submitted by Tao Zhu for
review on September 16, 1966. This draft included the slogans "Work with all your strength,
strive for excellence, and build socialism quickly, efficiently, and economically" and
"Consolidate the dictatorship of the proletariat! Strengthen the worker-peasant alliance."
The final draft consisted of 25 items. On September 17, the CCP Central Committee
distributed this notice down to the county and regiment levels.