CHINA 1911 76 Now Playing The Battle for

CHINA: 1911 -76

Now Playing … The Battle for the Soul of China The Struggle Between the Nationalists and the Communists (1911 – 1949) Featuring: Chiang Kai-Shek: Nationalist leader Starring: Mao Zedong: Communist leader

China’s Last Emperor In 1908, the Dowager Empress Cixi died. Shortly beforehand she had appointed her three-year old nephew Puyi as emperor. Three years later, the 1911 Nationalist Revolution was launched, and Puyi was forced to yield power to the new Nationalist government. The Life of Puyi In 1931 Puyi became puppet emperor of Japanese “Manchukuo”. After the Communist victory Puyi was struggled against as a war criminal. He died of unknown causes in 1967

The Nationalist Revolution In 1911, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the “Father of Modern China” led the Nationalist Revolution that ended 4, 000 years of dynastic rule. Sun’s goal was to replace the monarchy with a progressive Western style government and modern industry. The decades before the revolution had witnessed a call for an end to the Confucian examination system and modern reforms. Sun’s revolution was organized around the “Three People’s Principles” Nationalism (unity of the nation) Democracy (division of government) Livelihood (progressive industry and education)

Challenges faced by the New Republic (1911 -49) While 1911– 1949 is often referred to as the Republican, Nationalist, or Guomindang (GMD) period, Sun and his successor – Chiang Kai-Shek, were forced to contend with the power of warlords, and the communists led by Mao Zedong. Worse still, Japan occupied much of China during WWII thus further fragmenting the nation.

Founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) / Rift with the Nationalists The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) was founded in 1921. Their goal was to establish a classless society, whereby society’s resources were shared equally. From the beginning there was friction between Nationalists led by Chiang Kai. Shek and the Communists led by Mao Zedong. From 1926 -28 their armies allied during the Northern Expedition to defeat the warlords in. But in time, mutual distrust led to renewed hostilities between the groups.

Capitalism – economic system that promotes competition within the market place. Characterized by private ownership of property and emergence of different social classes. Communism – economic system that seeks to share the resources of society equally. Characterized by the absence of private property, and state ownership of major industries.

The Long March 1934 -36 Due to a series of “extermination campaigns”, by 1934, Chiang Kai. Shek had eliminated all of the Communist strongholds but the Jiangxi region of southeastern China. Aware of an impending attack, the Red Army broke west and later north to the city of Yanan on an epic journey that changed the course of China’s history. For two years the Red Army – led by Mao Zedong - evaded pursuing Nationalists (KMT), encountered minority peoples and overcame harsh landscapes. Some 100, 000 began the journey, less than 10, 000 survived

Japan Occupies China In 1931 Japan took Manchuria. They installed the last Qing emperor, Puyi as “puppet emperor”. In 1937, Japan moved southward, taking Beijing and Kaifeng. For defensive purposes, Chiang ordered the destruction of the Yellow River levees, which killed thousands. Japan launched aerial bombardments of Shanghai and executions and assaults at Nanjing. Chiang and his Nationalist army withdrew inland to Chongqing. The Red Army continued to use Yanan as a base. The U. S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 ended Japan’s war effort.

The Chinese Civil War 194649 After Japan’s surrender, China’s Nationalist (KMT) and Communist forces resumed their struggle. The U. S. which had supported the Nationalists tried to broker a peace agreement. The Communists solidified control in the northeast and later the rest of China. On Oct. 1, 1949 Chiang Kai. Shek’s Nationalist government and soldiers fled to Taiwan.

To Live (“Huozhe”) Directed by Fifth Generation filmmaker Zhang Yimou, and produced by Shanghai Film Studio in 1994. The film is based on the novel To Live by Hua Yu. Initially banned by Chinese State Administration of Radio, Film and Television. The film debuted at the 1994 New York Film Festival, and took awards at the Cannes Film Festival that year. Characters Fugui (Ge You) – Father and Gambler Jiazhen (Gong Li) - Wife of Fugui Fengxia - daughter Youqing - son Chunsheng – Fugui’s friend/ troupe partner Long’er – man Fugui loses family home to Mr. Niu – village cadre Wang Erxi – soon to be son-in-law

“Liberation” On Oct. 2, 1949 Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic of China. Why does the PRC refer to as “liberation”?

Land Economic Reform Upon victory, the PRC began the process of land redistribution, whereby land was taken from landlords and redistributed to peasants. Some 2 million landlords were killed in the process. Eventually, all land was collectivized and nationalized. (See Morton, p. 206) Question – Why might early PRC policies have been met with approval?

Old Ways of Thinking Mao’s vision of a new China went beyond economic change. He sought social change as well. Social reforms introduced by the new government included attacks on the “Four Olds” – Old ideas, old habits, old customs and old ways of thinking. Question: Why might Confucianism or Buddhism have come under attack?

“Holding Up Half the Sky” Mao had always maintained the women were the equal of men. In 1950, the Party approved the Marriage and Reform law which banned arranged marriages, allowed women to divorce and inherit property. The PRC also took major steps to abolish prostitution and opium usage.

Reconstitution of the Motherland The years of Nationalist rule had seen the awakening of nationalism in Tibet and Xinjiang. The PLA invaded Xinjiang (East Turkestan) in 1949, and “liberated” Tibet in 1950, adding both regions to the new PRC.

The Korean War From 1950 -53 a see-saw battle was fought over the Korean peninsula between South Korean and American soldiers on one side and North Korean and Communist Chinese forces on the other side. The entrance of Chinese PLA forces changed the dynamic in east Asia, and quieted speculation about the fortitude of the People’s Republic of China. After a see-saw battle, the Korean peninsula was divided at the 38 th parallel and remains so today.

Ongoing Campaigns In time, Mao’s rule was characterized by a wave of political campaigns. Some such as the Three Anti’s (corruption, waste and bureaucracy), and the Five Anti’s (bribery, tax default, stealing state property, cheating and benefiting from state secrets) were purported to rectify corruptive practices lingering from the Nationalist period. In 1956 Mao launched the Hundred Flowers Movement. Confident in the successes of the young PRC, he initially welcomed criticisms of the government. Soon however, hundreds of intellectuals who had spoke out were persecuted. The post- Hundred Flowers crackdown became known as the Anti-Rightist campaign.

Language as a Tool The communists drew upon a new vocabulary: comrades, motherland, masses, struggle sessions, selfcriticisms. Labeling and categorizing took on high value. While the designation of one as “peasant” or “revolutionary” could reap rewards, classification as a reactionary, counterrevolutionary, intellectual, rightist, landlord, feudal minded, foreign imperialist or foreign collaborator could lead to ruin. Also damaging was the bloodline theory of guilt – to be related to an “enemy”.

The Great Leap Forward 1958 -61 The Masses Can Do Anything After a successful five year plan from 195358 that saw vast improvements in agricultural output, Mao and the Party launched The Great Leap Forward in 1958. Its goal was for China to modernize its agricultural system and to match the steel production of Britain and the U. S. Implementation strategies included the replacement of small farms with people’s communes (communal farms, kitchens) under the direction of a district cadre and the creation of “backyard furnaces”. Poor planning unrealistic expectations led to as many as 30 million deaths. Afterwards, Mao was forced to yield much power. (Morton p. 213)

Comeback of Mao lost some power after the Great Leap Forward, but a personality cult – coordinated by Lin Biao and Mao’s wife Jiang Qing - grew around him in the early 1960’s. Members of the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) and children were required to study the Little Red Book, or “Quotations of Chairman Mao”, compiled by Lin Biao who Mao eventually appointed as defense minister.

The Cultural Revolution “To Rebel Is Justified” “Revolution is not a dinner party” “The Tall Tree is Crushed by the Wind” Quotations by Chairman Mao From 1966 -76 Mao and supporters launched the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Initially, the campaign was intended to rid China of counterrevolutionary elements, particularly artists and intellectuals. In time it turned into an unrestrained campaign that led to attacks on countless individuals from all walks of life for the pettiest of crimes. Young Red Guards carried out attack after attack, and millions were subjected to struggle sessions, self-criticisms and forced labor. Ultimately Mao’s main political rivals were targeted. (Good account in Morton, p. 216)

“The Lost Generation” During the Cultural Revolution education was severely disrupted. Manual work was held more important, and the works of Chairman Mao were deemed all that was necessary for education. From 1966 -70 all universities were closed. Millions of students were sent to the countryside to receive “peasant education”. In 1973, a college-entrance exam was reinstituted, mainly for students with Party connections. (See Spence p. 603)

The “Opening of China” In 1971 the UN General Assembly voted to take “China’s seat” from Taiwan and give it to the PRC. This swap was followed by “ping pong diplomacy” between the U. S. and China and U. S. President Nixon’s famous 1972 visit to China. Mutual distrust of the USSR, and badly needed oil drilling technology were motivating factors in the normalization of relations. In 1978, the U. S. formally recognized the PRC.