Distribute this.

[1] This directive issued by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on
January 26, 1971, pointed out that in order to further improve the distribution work of rural
people's communes, the following issues must be effectively resolved: 1. Correctly handle
the relationship between collective accumulation and member distribution; 2. Carefully
manage grain distribution; 3. Adhere to the socialist principle of "from each according to his
ability, to each according to his work"; 4. Carefully implement the principle of running the
commune frugally and promote the spirit of self-reliance and hard work; 5. Effectively solve
the problem of households with overspending; 6. Implement the principle of "taking grain as
the key link and pursuing all-round development."



















Inscription on a Folding Fan [1]
Four-Character Poem19
(1971)

Each pursues his own aspirations [2]
Each takes his own path.
Separate from the mundane and the sage,
Separate from cause and effect.

[1] In 1971, on the eve of the Lin Biao group's defection, Zhou Enlai reported to Mao Zedong
in writing about the unusual situation of Lin Biao's group preparing to defect. After reading
the materials, Mao Zedong pondered for a long time and wrote a four-character poem on a
white silk folding fan.
[2] Each pursues his own ambition. "The Biography of Boyi" in "Records of the Grand
Historian" says: "Those with different paths cannot make plans together, but each follows his
own ambition."













19 The poem was written in four lines, with four characters per line.



A Playful Adaptation of Li Panlong’s [1] "Thinking of Ming Qing"
To the tune of Seven Character Jue Ju
(1971)

From Yuzhang, I gaze westwards at the colourful clouds of Ba [2].
The Yangtze River flows ninefold, the mountains stretch long [3].
Lying high, I need not peer into the stone mirror20, [4].
The autumn wind rages on the traitor's face [5].

[1] Li Panlong (1514-1570) was a native of Licheng, Shandong (now Jinan City). His courtesy
name was Yulin and his pseudonym was Cangming. He was a Jinshi in the 23rd year of Jiajing
(1544). He inherited the legacy of the "Seven Masters" such as Li Mengyang and He
Jingming, and advocated the restoration of the past. Together with Xie Zhen, Liang Youyu,
Zong Chen, Wang Shizhen, Xu Zhongxing, and Wu Guolun, he was called the leader of the
"Seven Masters". He wrote "Cangming Collection".
[2] Yuzhang is an ancient place name. It is located at the boundary between Huainan and
Jiangbei. In the Han Dynasty, the name was moved to Jiangnan and a county was
established, which was under the jurisdiction of Yangzhou. The jurisdiction was equivalent to
the present Jiangxi Province. After the Sui Dynasty conquered the Chen Dynasty, it was
changed to a county and belonged to Hongzhou. The jurisdiction gradually shrank, so the
seat of government was in the present Nanchang City. Therefore, it is used to refer to Jiangxi
or Nanchang. "Among the Colourful Clouds" is a poem by Li Bai of the Tang Dynasty, "Early
Departure from Baidi City": "I left Baidi in the morning among the colourful clouds."
[3] “Ninefold” refers to a section of the Yangtze River north of Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province.
The river here has nine tributaries, hence the reference. Jiudie (“Ninefold”) Mountain, one
of the scenic spots in Lushan, Jiangxi Province, is also known as Jiudieping, and here refers to
Lushan Mountain. Li Panlong's poem "Nine branches Yangtze River Nine folds Mountain"
means looking far into the direction of Jiangxi, imagining the nine branches of the Yangtze

20 The year after the "September 13" incident, Mao Zedong met with Zhou Shizhao, an old classmate of Hunan
First Normal School, in Zhongnanhai. In their last conversation, the two talked about poetry again, especially
when talking about Lin Biao, Mao Zedong immediately read the Ming Dynasty poet Li Panlong's poem. The
three characters "peering into the stone mirror" are from Li Bai's "Lushan Ballad Sends Lu Shiyu Xuzhou"
sentence "Idle peeking at the stone mirror to clear my heart". Mao Zedong still had a glimmer of hope for Lin
Biao about what happened at Lushan, hoping that Lin Biao could review his errors, but Lin Biao was stubborn
and did not follow Mao Zedong's intentions, so he was out of control. When Mao Zedong read the last
sentence of Li Bai’s poem, he casually changed "attendant" to "traitor", and said that it was most appropriate
to give this poem to Lin Biao.



River and the nine folds of Lushan Mountain, expressing his nostalgia for Wu Guolun. Mao
Zedong here refers to Lushan Mountain in Jiangxi Province.
[4] Lying with a high pillow and a righteous heart, refers to a secluded life without official
duties. Shijing, a bright and clear rock that can reflect one's reflection.
[5] Mao Zedong was saying that Lin Biao should just lie down and sleep soundly, not looking
in the mirror, because his plot to usurp the leadership of the Party and the state at the
Lushan Conference had been exposed. In the bleak autumn wind, his face, filled with rage
and shame, must have been unsightly, a sharp satire on Lin Biao's traitorous face.
























A Parody of Du Fu's "Reminiscence of Ancient Sites" No. 3 [1]
Seven-Character Poem21
(1971)

Numerous mountains and valleys converge at Jingmen [2],
Lin Biao grew up in a village long ago [3].
Once he left the Purple Palace, he was even more distant [4].
Only the green tomb remains, facing the twilight for a long time [5].

[1] Du Fu (712-770), a great realist poet of the Tang Dynasty, was known by his courtesy
name Zimei and styled himself Shaoling Ye Lao. He was a native of Gong County. He was
later revered as the "Poet Sage". His poems show the historical process of the Tang
Dynasty's rise and fall and reflect the vast social life, and are known as "Poetic History". "Ode
to Ancient Relics" (No. 3) is one of his famous works. Mao Zedong changed the "Ming Fei" in
Du Fu's poem to "Lin Biao".
[2] Jingmen is the name of a mountain. It is located northwest of Yidu County, Hubei
Province.
[3] Lin Biao (1907-1971), a native of Huanggang, Hubei. On September 13, 1971, he fled in a
plane and died in a plane crash in the Wulankhan region of Mongolia.
[4] Purple Palace, the residence of the emperor. In the poem "Hate Fu" by Jiang Yan of the
Southern Liang Dynasty, it is written: "When the Ming Fei left, I looked up to the sky and
sighed. The Purple Palace was a little far away, and the mountains and rivers were endless."
In the "Book of the Later Han Dynasty: Biography of Yuan An", it is written: "Now that the
northern desert has been pacified, it is appropriate to order the Southern Chanyu to return
to the northern court and lead the surrendered people."
[5] Qingzhong, also known as the green tomb of Zhaojun, is located on the alluvial plain on
the south bank of the Dahei River, 9 kilometres south of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. From a
distance, the tomb's surface appears dark and murky, leading to its identification as a
Qingzhong tomb.



21 The poem is four lines long; each line comprises seven characters.



Reading "A Dream of Red Mansions"
Seven-Character Verse
 (1971)

The masterpiece, "A Dream of Red Mansions”, has been passed down through the ages,
reflecting feudalism and denouncing princes.
Since ancient times, loyal ministers have often been followed by rebellious sons,
but only Baoyu and Daiyu22 have found their place in the divine land23.
















22 Mao Zedong regarded the 18th Century novel “A Dream of Red Mansions” as a realistic portrayal of the
decline of a feudal aristocratic family. He regarded Jia Baoyu, the son of a wealthy family as a representative of
the crumbling feudal elite, a youth disillusioned with his class and its values. Arrangements are made for him to
marry a cousin, Xue Baochai, but he really loves another cousin, Li Daiyu, who shares his love of music and
poetry. She is presented as tragic figure crushed by feudal oppression.
23 In ancient times, the central regions of what came to be called the Middle Kingdom, was known as
Shenzhou, or the Divine Land.



1971: Writings and Speeches
Mao Zedong
Contents
Title
Date
Page
Number
Introduction

Comments on Jiang Qing's speech at the North China
Conference
January
Comments on the Jinan Military Region Political Department's
Report on the Study and Implementation of Mao Zedong's
Directive "The Army Must Be Cautious"
January 8
Comments on Zhou Enlai's speech outline at the North China
Conference
January
Comments on Zhang Xiulong’s Letter
January
Regarding the Criticism of Chen and the Rectification
Movement The emphasis is on the criticism of Chen
February 19
Comments on the Military Commission Office's Report on the
Study and Discussion of Chairman Mao's Instruction on "Focus
on Criticizing Chen"
February
Comments on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Report on the
Issue of Americans Visiting China
February
A Correct Interpretation of the Nanchang Uprising and the
Joining of the Zhu-Mao Armies
February
Comments on the Military Commission Working Group's report
on Mao Zedong's criticism of Chen and the rectification
movement
March 1
Comments on the two draft documents submitted for review
by the Chinese Party and Government Delegation to Vietnam
March
Comments on the draft of the article "Long Live the Victory of
the Proletarian Dictatorship" by the editorial departments of
two newspapers and one magazine
March 15
Comments on the press release regarding the successful launch
of the "Shijian-1" scientific experimental satellite
March 16
Comments on the Letters of Self-Criticism by Huang Yongsheng,
Qiu Huizuo, and Li Zuopeng
March 24
Telegram from Mao Zedong and Others Congratulating the
Peoples of the Three Indochinese Countries on Their Great
Victory in the War of Resistance Against U.S. Aggression and
National Salvation
March 29
Comments on the Meeting to Criticize Chen and Report on the
Rectification Movement
April
Comments on the Self-Criticisms of Huang, Wu, Ye, Li, and Qiu
April 11
Comments on Li Desheng’s report
April 24



Comments on Zhou Enlai’s Report on the Meeting on Criticizing
Chen and Rectifying the Work Style
April
Comments on the Outline of Zhou Enlai's Speech at the
Meeting on Criticizing Chen and Rectifying the Work Style
April
Comments on Zhou Enlai's Letter and Submission
May
Report of the meeting with the Romanian Party and
Government delegation led by Nicolae Ceausescu
June 3
Telegram from Mao Zedong and Others Congratulating the
10th Anniversary of the Signing of the Sino-DPRK Treaty of
Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance
July 10
Telegram from Mao Zedong and Others Congratulating
Romania on the 27th Anniversary of its Liberation
August 22
Comments on the Central Committee's Draft Directive on
Classification of Class Composition in Ethnic Minority Areas of
Xinjiang and Yunnan
August 24
Inspection (poem)
August
Comments on the Central Committee's forwarding of the
Minutes of the National Conference on Education Work
August
Comments on the Central Committee's forwarding of the
"Minutes of the Guangzhou Military Region's Three Supports
and Two Militaries Political and Ideological Work Symposium"
August
Minutes of Conversations with Officials During Field
Inspections and Along the Way
August -
September
Conversation with Hua Guofeng and Wang Dongxing in Wuhan
August 25
Conversations with Hua Guofeng, Bu Zhanya, and Wang
Dongxing in Changsha (Excerpt)
August 27
Conversation with Liu Xingyuan, Ding Sheng, Wei Guoqing, and
Wang Dongxing in Changsha
August 28
Conversation in Changsha with Liu Xingyuan, Ding Sheng, Wei
Guoqing, Hua Guofeng, Bu Zhanya, and Wang Dongxing
August 30
5 9
Conversation with Xu Shiyou, Han Xianchu, Cheng Shiqing, and
Wang Dongxing in Nanchang
August 31
Conversation with Nan Ping, Xiong Yingtang, Chen Liyun, and
Wang Dongxing in Hangzhou
September 3
Conversation with Li Desheng, Ji Dengkui, Wu De, Wu Zhong,
and Wang Dongxing in Fengtai
September 12 70
Telegram from Mao Zedong and Others Congratulating the
Democratic Republic of Vietnam on its 26th Anniversary
September 1
Message of Condolence from Mao Zedong and Others to
Northern Vietnam for the Severe Flooding
September 2
Telegram from Mao Zedong and Others Congratulating the
23rd Anniversary of the Founding of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea
September 8
Comments on Zhou Enlai's Report on the Convening of the
Third Plenary Session of the Ninth Central Committee
September



Comments on the Central Committee's Draft Notice on Lin
Biao's Treason, Escape, and Self-Destruction
September
Comments on the Central Committee's Draft Notice Regarding
Huang Yongsheng and Others' Resignation and Reflection
September
Comments on the Draft Notice on the Establishment of the
Central Special Task Force
October
Comments on the Central Committee's Draft Notice on the
Dissolution of the Military Commission's Working Group
October
Conversations after the restoration of the United Nations seat
October 26
and
November 8
Excerpts from a Conversation with Participants at the Chengdu
Regional Symposium
November 14
Comments on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Report on the
Farewell Plan for the Delegation to the 26th UN General
Assembly
November
Comments on the Chinese delegation's written speech upon
arrival at New York Airport
November
Comments on the Speech by the Head of the Chinese
Delegation to the United Nations General Assembly
November
Telegram from Mao Zedong and Others Congratulating the
27th Anniversary of the Liberation of Albania
November 28
Comments on the Central Committee's Draft Notice on the
Dissemination and Discussion of "The Struggle to Smash the
Counter-Revolutionary Coup of the Lin and Chen Anti-Party
Group (Material 1)"
December
Telegram from Mao Zedong and Others Congratulating the
National Liberation Front of South Vietnam on its 11th
Anniversary
December 19
Comments on the Central Committee's Draft Directive on the
Distribution of Rural People's Communes
December
Inscription on a Folding Fan (poem)
1971
A Playful Adaptation of Li Panlong’s "Thinking of Ming Qing"
(poem)
1971
A Parody of Du Fu's "Reminiscence of Ancient Sites" No. 3
(poem)
1971
Reading "A Dream of Red Mansions" (poem)
1971