The seven points are very good and will be issued as is.
Mao Zedong,
January 26, 1967.
PS. One more point is added regarding the issue of disciplining the children of cadres.
Regarding the issue of attacking leading bodies. In the past, if it was a counter-revolutionary
who attacked, we would investigate; if it was a leftist, we would not investigate. In the
future, attacks by rightists should be resisted, and attacks by leftists should be welcomed.
This document will be issued after discussion and revision. Comrades who came to Beijing
for the meeting, please wait a week before returning.
The eight points you've proposed are excellent and will be issued as is.
Mao Zedong
January 28th
Regarding attacks on military leadership bodies, we must treat them differently. In the past,
if a counter-revolutionary attacked, they would be held accountable; if a leftist attacked,
they would not be held accountable. From now on, attacks will be strictly prohibited.
Premier:
Agreed. Send it as is.
Mao Zedong
February 20
Send it as is.




[1] The draft order of the Central Military Commission, submitted for review by Lin Biao, Vice
Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, on January
25, 1967, consisted of seven articles. On January 26, Mao Zedong wrote a comment during
his review, which is now Part 1. On January 28, the draft order, revised to eight articles based
on Mao's instructions, was sent to Mao again for review. Mao wrote another comment after
reading it, which is now Part 2. Mao also revised Article 5, which was written based on
Mao's January 26th instruction. The revised text is now Part 3. The draft order of the Central
Military Commission, revised by Mao's two instructions, stated: 1. We must firmly support
the genuine proletarian revolutionaries, win over and unite the majority, resolutely oppose
the rightists, and resolutely take dictatorial measures against those counter-revolutionary
organizations and elements with irrefutable evidence. 2. All commanders, fighters, political
workers, service personnel, medical personnel, scientific research personnel, and
confidential personnel must remain at their posts and must not leave their posts without
permission. We must focus on revolution, promote war preparations, promote work, and
promote production. 3. Within the military, units carrying out the Cultural Revolution should
practice free expression, free airing of opinions, big-character posters, and extensive
debates, making full use of the methods of presenting facts and reasoning. Strictly
distinguish between the two types of contradictions. It is not permitted to handle
contradictions among the people using methods similar to those used against the enemy.
Arbitrary arrests without orders, arbitrary house searches and sealing of doors, and corporal
punishment or disguised corporal punishment, such as wearing dunce caps, hanging black
placards, parading through the streets, or being forced to kneel, are not permitted. We must
earnestly promote cultural struggle and resolutely oppose armed struggle. 4. All university
teachers and students, art groups, sports teams, and hospital and military factory workers
who have gone out to organize should promptly return to their respective regions and units
to engage in struggle-criticism-transformation and reclaim the power usurped by a small
group of capitalist roaders in power. They should not remain in Beijing or elsewhere. 5.
Attacks on military leadership organs must be handled separately. In the past, if a counterrevolutionary attacked, they were held accountable; if a leftist attacked, they were not. From
now on, attacks are strictly prohibited. 6. Attacks and collusion with any military internal war
system or confidentiality system are prohibited. All documents, archives, and technical
materials not related to the Cultural Revolution must not be obtained or looted. Materials
related to the Cultural Revolution are temporarily sealed pending further action. 7.
Institutions at the army level and above should carry out the Cultural Revolution in phases
and batches according to regulations. Army, division, regiment, battalion, company, and
special units designated by the Military Commission must adhere to the policy of positive
education to strengthen combat readiness, safeguard national defense, and defend the
Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. 8. Cadres at all levels, especially senior cadres, must
strictly discipline their children with Mao Zedong Thought, educating them to diligently
study Chairman Mao's works, earnestly integrate themselves with the workers and peasants,
learn from them, participate in labour training, transform their world outlook, and strive to



become proletarian revolutionaries. If the children of cadres violate laws and discipline, they
should be educated by the masses; serious cases should be handed over to public security
and judicial authorities. On February 3, Premier Zhou Enlai sent a draft of the CPC Central
Committee's notice forwarding the Central Military Commission's eight directives to Mao
Zedong for review. Mao wrote a comment, which is Part 4 of this article. In the list of
agencies listed in this draft notice as "not allowed to be taken over by personnel from
outside units," Mao added "banks at all levels." On February 22, Zhou Enlai sent a revised
draft of the CPC Central Committee's notice to Mao Zedong for review. Mao wrote a
comment, which is Part 5 of this article. The CPC Central Committee's notice was dated
February 21, 1967. The notice stated that the Central Committee believed the Military
Commission's eight directives were excellent. With the exception of Article 7, regarding the
military's deployment for the Cultural Revolution, all other articles of the order were
applicable to local governments. The notice also provided five specific clarifications and
required all localities to post this notice, along with the Central Military Commission's
orders, at all grassroots units.