Episodes

The Hunan Provincial Committee decides that Mao must obey its authority. Further reading:Stephen Averill, Revolution in the Highlands: China’s … [Read more...] about Episode 89: The Beginning of the Midyear Crisis (June 1928)

In the wake of their military victories in late Spring 1928, the Communists carried out a major land redistribution and a mass recruitment drive. … [Read more...] about Episode 88: Land Revolution and Communist Party Growth: The High Tide of the Jinggangshan Base Area (Summer 1928)

Mao Zedong and Zhu De learn warfare through warfare as they face continuing onslaughts from Guomindang forces. Further reading/watching:Stephen … [Read more...] about Episode 87: Beating Back Suppression Campaigns and Expanding the Jinggangshan Base Area (May to June 1928)

The unification of Mao Zedong’s and Zhu De’s forces. Some discussion of the problems involved in unifying the Communist armed forces. Further … [Read more...] about Episode 86: The Jinggangshan Junction of Forces: Mao Zedong and Zhu De Unite (April to May 1928)

Discussing pay for professional revolutionaries, the role of servants in the lives of Communist leaders, and the Comintern in Shanghai. Further … [Read more...] about Episode 85: The Wages of Revolution: Life Underground in Shanghai in the Late 1920s (Part 3)

How did the Communist Party try to protect itself in Shanghai? We discuss the compartmentalized party organization and the creation of the Special … [Read more...] about Episode 84: Friendship, Compartmentalization, and Assassination Squads: Life Underground in Shanghai in the Late 1920s (Part 2)

The Communist Party Center remained underground in the dangerous city of Shanghai during the late 1920s and early 1930s. Further … [Read more...] about Episode 83: Life Underground in Shanghai in the Late 1920s (Part 1)

The Party Center puts the South Hunan Special Committee in charge of the Jinggangshan, and the contrast between the strategies advocated by Mao and … [Read more...] about Episode 82: Mao’s (Temporary) Expulsion from the Communist Party and the Collapse of the South Hunan Uprising (March and April 1928)

We look at the successful conquest of three cities (and one heart) by Zhu De during the course of the uprising he led in south Hunan at the beginning … [Read more...] about Episode 81: The Southern Hunan Uprising (Early 1928)

Following Zhu De in Shanghai and Germany, finishing up our four-part detour through the early life of Zhu De. Further reading:Agnes … [Read more...] about Episode 80: Studying Marxism and Getting Thrown in Jail: Zhu De in Germany (1922-1926)

As the Army for the Defense of the Republic faces defections from the revolutionary nationalist cause as well as powerful warlord enemies, Zhu De … [Read more...] about Episode 79: Zhu De and The Army for the Defense of the Republic in Sichuan and Yunnan (1916-1922)

Following Zhu De from his time as a teacher of physical training at a modern school, through his time at the Yunnan Military Academy, the Revolution … [Read more...] about Episode 78: From Gym Teacher to General: Zhu De in Revolution and Rebellion (1907-1916)

Taking a look back at the early life of Zhu De, the man who would later be Mao’s main partner in revolution. Further reading:Agnes … [Read more...] about Episode 77: From Poor Peasant to Gym Teacher: The Early Life of Zhu De

The last major armed uprising of 1927, in which the Communists temporarily took over Guangzhou. Further reading:Arif Dirlik, “Narrativizing … [Read more...] about Episode 75: The Guangzhou Commune (December 11-13, 1927)

Some background on the situation in Guangzhou leading up to the uprising. Further reading:Arif Dirlik, “Narrativizing Revolution: The Guangzhou … [Read more...] about Episode 74: Red Canton: Background to the Guangzhou Uprising of December 1927

Using the early November 1927 peasant revolt in Jiangsu province to illustrate features common to the many small Communist-led uprisings at the end of … [Read more...] about Episode 73: ‘Blind Actionism’ in Action: Understanding the Hundreds of Small Revolts Led by Communists at the End of the 1920s in China

The Politburo meets to decide whether the leadership’s overall policy was wrong, or whether all the cadres carrying out the policy are just … [Read more...] about Episode 72: Summing Up Failures, or Playing the Blame Game? The November 1927 Politburo Meeting in Shanghai

We follow the Southern Expeditionary force from Ruijin in Jiangxi province to Shantou in Guangdong. Further reading:Marcia Ristaino, China’s Art of … [Read more...] about Episode 71: Sedan Chairs, Tired Intellectuals, and Indifferent Masses: The Denouement of the Nanchang Uprising/Southern Expedition (August to October 1927)