People's History of Ideas

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)

How Wang Zuo and Yuan Wencai’s forces were brought into the Red Army, and Mao cemented the loyalty of the locals by marrying the Two-Gunned Girl … [Read more...] about Episode 70: Hearts, Minds, and a Head on a Spike: The Unification of People and Forces in the Jinggangshan

The early progress of the Red Army in expanding Soviet power in the Jinggangshan region. Further reading:Stephen Averill, Revolution in the … [Read more...] about Episode 68: Two Incursions, One Betrayal, and Six Points for Attention: The Red Army in Chaling and Suichuan (October 1927 to January 1928)

Mao forges an alliance with Yuan Wencai and Wang Zuo, and the Revolutionary Army builds its capacity as a political force. Further reading:Stephen … [Read more...] about Episode 67: Alliances, Discipline, and an Army to Serve the People: The Beginning of the Jinggangshan Base Area (October 1927)

How the Chinese revolution came to the Jinggangshan, and how the revolution and counter-revolution developed up until Mao’s arrival in October … [Read more...] about Episode 66: The Early Jinggangshan Revolutionary Movement

The stories of Wang Zuo and Yuan Wencai before they joined up with Mao Zedong. Further reading:Stephen Averill, Revolution in the Highlands: … [Read more...] about Episode 65: Mao’s Bandit Comrades: Wang Zuo and Yuan Wencai

A closer look at the phenomenon of banditry in the Jinggang Mountains, because of the importance that banditry and other forms of collective violence … [Read more...] about Episode 64: Bandits of the Jinggangshan

With particular emphasis on the geographical divisions between valleys and mountainsides, and ethnic divisions between Han and Hakka. Further … [Read more...] about Episode 63: Background on Society and Economy in the Jinggang Mountains

As Mao’s troops arrive in the Jinggangshan region, a revolutionary reorganization of the people’s army is begun. Also, a tangent on Mao’s leadership … [Read more...] about Episode 62: Entering the Jinggangshan: The Sanwan Reorganization of the People’s Army

The first days of Mao Zedong’s long career of armed struggle. Further reading:Marcia Ristaino, China’s Art of Revolution: The Mobilization of … [Read more...] about Episode 61: The Autumn Harvest Uprising in Hunan

Mao doesn’t budge on his military line in the face of pressure from the Party Center, and then gets arrested. Further reading:Marcia … [Read more...] about Episode 60: Planning the Autumn Harvest Uprising in Hunan

The planning and execution of the Autumn Harvest Uprising in southern Hubei province. Further reading:Marcia Ristaino, China’s Art of Revolution: … [Read more...] about Episode 59: The Autumn Harvest Uprising in Hubei