A Set of Annotations on Literary and Artistic Work
(July to November 1975)
This film has no major flaws; it is recommended for release. We should not demand perfection and find fault everywhere. Moreover, the ten charges leveled against it are excessive and detrimental to adjusting the Party’s literary and artistic policies.
Mao Zedong
July 25, 1975
This letter (No. 21) was additionally sent to the Ministry of Culture and to the unit where the sender works.
[1]
To be circulated among all members of the Politburo.
[If
Agreed.
A Set of Annotations on Literary and Artistic Work
August 29, 1975
Mao Zedong
September 19
[1]
Four
This document is useful; please keep it temporarily.
Ill
Five
To be circulated among all central officials based in Beijing.
[l]
A Set of Annotations on Literary and Artistic Work
/'\
I approve Comrade Zhou Haiying’s views. Please circulate his letter within the Politburo, discuss it, reach a decision, and implement it immediately.
Ill
Inside
Mouth
East
One
Ze
Month
Mao
One
Seventeen
To be circulated among all members of the Politburo. I agree with his proposal to write volumes two and three of the novel “Li Zicheng.”
[ l]
Five volumes.
Ill
The manuscript of Mao Zedong’s annotation on the film “The Entrepreneurship.”
Mao Zedong
November 2
[ 1]
Archival photo
1975: Mao Zedong meets with guests.
1975: Mao Zedong meets with international friends.

1975: Mao Zedong meets with international friends.

--- Notes

Article 1 is Mao Zedong’s annotation on a letter from Zhang Tianmin, screenwriter at the Changchun Film Studio and author of the film “The Entrepreneurship”; Article 2 is an annotation on letters from Xie Tieshun, director of the film “Hai Xia,” and Qian Jiang, its cinematographer; Article 3 is an annotation on a letter from Xie Geliguang, a teacher at Houjia School in Mingshui Commune, Zhangqiu County, Shandong Province; Article 4 is an annotation on a big-character poster by Li Chunguang, a young teacher in the Composition Theory Department of the Music College of the Central No. 5–7 Academy of Arts; Article 5 is an annotation on a letter from Qian Yunling, wife of Xian Xinghai; Article 6 is an annotation on a letter from Zhou Haiying, son of Lu Xun; and Article 7 is an annotation on a letter from Yao Xueyin, author of the novel “Li Zicheng.”
[2]
On July 18, 1975, Zhang Tianmin wrote separate letters to Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, expressing his disagreement with the so-called “Ten Points” issued by Jiang Qing and the Party Core Group of the Ministry of Culture, which criticized the feature film “The Entrepreneurship” as having “serious political and artistic errors.” He suggested that the film be re-released. After reading the letter, Mao Zedong penned this annotation.
On January 5, 1976, the People’s Daily published the main content of this annotation in its front-page “Quotations from Chairman Mao” column.


The film “Hai Xia” was adapted from Li Ruqing’s novel “Island Female Militia” and completed filming in early 1975. At that time, the Ministry of Culture, which oversaw cinema, raised dozens of objections, demanding that the production team review their creative thinking. On June 15, 1975, after revisions, the film was resubmitted to the Ministry for review but continued to face difficulties. In response, Xie Tieshun, director of the Beijing Film Studio, and Qian Jiang, the cinematographer, wrote to Mao Zedong on July 25, stating: “After ‘Hai Xia’ was revised, everyone in the studio generally believed it had improved compared with the original version. However, because we retained two points of our own opinion, the Ministry decided to screen it exactly as it was before—before the first review—and to discard all the newly edited scenes. The reason given was that if it were modified, it would be difficult to criticize.” On July 29, after reading their letter, Mao Zedong wrote this annotation. Following Mao’s instructions, the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee reviewed the film and decided to release the version revised by the creators. The General Office of the CPC Central Committee circulated this letter along with Mao’s annotation as Document No. 183 of 1975.
[2]
In a letter dated July 20, 1975, addressed to the editorial department of Red Flag magazine, Xie Geliguang noted that with various literary and artistic publications being resumed or newly launched one after another, the revival of Poetry Journal had become something eagerly anticipated by the general public. On September 19, Zhang Chunqiao, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, forwarded this letter to Mao Zedong. Mao’s annotation was written directly on Zhang Chunqiao’s report.


On August 2 and 4, 1975, Li Chunguang spoke three times at meetings in the Composition Theory Department of the Music College of the Central No. 5–7 Academy of Arts, discussing Mao Zedong’s annotation on the film “The Entrepreneurship.” After the meetings, he compiled his remarks into a written statement and posted it as a big-character poster titled “Remarks at the Study Session” on August 8. The poster sharply criticized the then-heads of the Ministry of Culture for fabricating “ten charges” to stifle “The Entrepreneurship” and subsequently ignoring Mao Zedong’s annotation regarding the film. It argued that “without criticizing the ‘ten charges,’ it is impossible to truly understand the Chairman’s annotation,” and strongly refuted those charges. In the poster, Li also raised issues concerning the emancipation of cadres and the implementation of policy; he criticized the Ministry’s leaders for focusing solely on “so-called great discoveries” in theoretical research while neglecting Marxism, Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, and even Lu Xun’s ideas. Furthermore, he pointed out their failure to properly manage publications and creative work, their tendency to blame others rather than engage in self-criticism, and their suppression of dissenting opinions. After seeing a copy of this big-character poster, Deng Liqun, one of the heads of the State Council’s Research Office, prepared a brief report of about two to three hundred words and, together with the copy, submitted it to Hu Qiaomu, the chief official of the State Council’s Research Office, who in turn forwarded it to Deng Xiaoping, Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council. Deng Xiaoping then passed the poster on to Mao Zedong, who read it and wrote this annotation.
[2]
On September 27, 1975, Qian Yunling, wife of Xian Xinghai, wrote to Mao Zedong: “October 30 this year marks the 30th anniversary of Xinghai’s passing. Since liberation, we have solemnly commemorated the 10th and 20th anniversaries of his death, as well as the 20th and 30th anniversaries of Nie Er’s death. However, on July 17 this year, when the 40th anniversary of Nie Er’s death was observed with a memorial meeting held by citizens of Fujisawa, Japan, no corresponding commemoration took place domestically. I hope that this year we can stage performances, broadcast recordings, and publish Xinghai’s ‘Yellow River Chorus’ and other works, hold gatherings, or issue articles to mark the occasion.”


On October 28, 1975, Zhou Haiying, son of Lu Xun, wrote to Mao Zedong: “Publishing a relatively complete and accurate collection of Lu Xun’s letters has long been my mother’s wish. Although it has now been more than seven years since her passing, there is still no news regarding the publication of such a collection. I sincerely hope that the manuscript of these letters can be handed over to the State Administration of Cultural Heritage for preservation and safekeeping, so that two things may be accomplished: first, the Administration could undertake the full reproduction and publication of the letters for researchers; and second, the Publishing House could compile and print a relatively complete and accurate edition of Lu Xun’s letters—including his correspondence with Japanese friends—for the general public. ” In the letter, he also requested that Mao Zedong instruct the Publishing House to organize personnel to “edit and publish a more refined new annotated complete works of Lu Xun (including letters and diaries),” and offered his views and suggestions on advancing Lu Xun studies.
On November 1, after reviewing the letter, Mao Zedong wrote this annotation. Shortly thereafter, the State Publishing House formulated plans to immediately begin publishing “The Complete Letters of Lu Xun,” encompassing all extant letters; to release 26 single-volume annotated editions of Lu Xun’s works by the end of 1977; and to complete fifteen volumes of an annotated “Complete Works of Lu Xun” (which would officially consist of sixteen volumes) by the end of 1980.
On December 5, Mao Zedong and the Party Central Committee approved reports from the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the State Publishing House detailing how to implement Mao Zedong’s instructions.


On October 19, 1975, Yao Xueyin wrote to Mao Zedong, requesting assistance in resolving the publication issue of his lengthy historical novel “Li Zicheng.” On October 23, Hu Qiaomu forwarded Yao’s letter to Mao Zedong. Mao’s annotation was written directly on Hu Qiaomu’s report.