Comments on Reports Regarding Commentary on “Water Margin” [1]
(August and September 1975)
Agreed.
[1]
1. Circulate the Chairman’s instructions among the members of the Political Bureau based in Beijing; additionally distribute copies to the Publishing Bureau, People’s Daily, Red Flag magazine, Guangming Daily, as well as to Xie Jingzhi of the Great Criticism Group of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee and the Writing Group of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee, attaching this report.
2. Convene officials from the Publishing Bureau and the People’s Literature Publishing House to convey and implement the Chairman’s directives, ensuring that three editions are printed with Lu Xun’s commentary included.
Publish passages from Lu Xun’s critique of “Water Margin” in Red Flag magazine, and either commission or reprint related critical articles. The People’s Daily and Guangming Daily should each draw up a corresponding plan.
On August 18, Yao Wenyuan forwarded one copy each of the discussions and preliminary plans from the People’s Daily and Guangming Daily to Mao Zedong for review. After reading them, Mao wrote: “Agreed.” The second part of this document is Mao’s comment on the draft editorial titled “Initiate Commentary on ‘Water Margin’” submitted by Yao Wenyuan for approval on September 2. In his submission, Yao noted: “The People’s Daily intends to publish a short editorial quoting one passage of the Chairman’s remarks. It is now being presented for your approval.” This editorial appeared in the September 4, 1975 issue of the People’s Daily.

Comments on Yao Wenyuan’s Reports Concerning the Launch of Commentary on “Water Margin”
Forward these to Deng Xiaoping and Zhang Chunqiao for their review. In this way, there will be no need to issue internal directives.
Return to Comrade Yao Wenyuan.
August 1975: Mao Zedong met with Prince Sihanouk.
Mao Zedong
September 2nd
[1]
On August 27, 1975, Mao Zedong met with Cambodian Prime Minister Prince Sihanouk.

--- Notes

This document consists of two parts. The first is a note by Mao Zedong responding to a report submitted by Yao Wenyuan, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, to Mao on August 14, 1975. In the report, Yao Wenyuan stated that after receiving the Chairman’s comments on “Water Margin,” he considered the issue highly significant. From the perspective of advancing Marxist literary criticism, it was deemed necessary to launch commentary and discussion on “Water Margin,” criticizing the conciliatory views on class struggle within Water Margin studies. Such efforts were seen as positively contributing to the struggle against revisionism and safeguarding socialism. To carry out the task set forth by the Chairman, Yao proposed the following measures:

Deng Xiaoping was then Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council. Zhang Chunqiao was also mentioned.