Excerpts from Comrade Jin Xunhua’s Diary
(July–August 1969)
July 1
Today is the 48th anniversary of the birth of our great, glorious, and correct Communist Party of China.
This is the result of Chairman Mao’s education.
Party, oh Party! Your Red Guards will always follow you forward! I am determined to work hard in the vast rural areas to transform the objective world while also transforming my own worldview, so that I can join the great, glorious, and correct Communist Party of China as soon as possible in thought and organization, closely follow the great leader Chairman Mao, and strive to fight for communism worldwide throughout my life!
Here, I once again express my determination to the Party: to strictly demand myself by the standards of a Communist Party member, act according to the spirit of the new Party constitution, and strive to join the Communist Party of China as soon as possible.
Long live the Communist Party of China!
Long live the great leader Chairman Mao! Long live forever!
July 2
Today’s labor was bundling grain straw. My hands were really useless; after bundling only a few bundles, they started to bleed. I wanted to rest, but then I recalled Chairman Mao’s teaching: “Educated youth must go to the countryside to receive re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants; this is very necessary.” My hands bleed, but why don’t the hands of the poor and lower-middle peasants bleed? This shows that my hands and my thoughts have long been detached from the workers and peasants, detached from labor, and infected with revisionist poison. I must undergo long-term training among the workers and peasants. The nearby poor and lower-middle peasants saw this and patiently taught me hand by hand. Following Chairman Mao’s instructions, I honestly accepted the poor and lower-middle peasants as my teachers, and soon I learned; the more I worked, the stronger I felt. This shows that we educated youth must receive re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants in the three great revolutionary movements, transform the wavering and vacillating petty-bourgeois intellectual nature, and carry the revolution through to the end.
July 3
One person red, a little red; everyone red, a whole red. This sentence expresses that a revolutionary must unite the broad revolutionary masses to carry out the revolution. One person red, a little red is useless; the revolution will not succeed. A single flower blooming is not spring; when hundreds of flowers bloom, spring fills the garden.
A revolutionary, a youth of the Mao Zedong era, must be one branch among the hundred flowers, a member of communism. I will demand more of myself and unite with many comrades to advance together.
July 4
I am now beginning to feel the sharpness and intensity of rural class struggle… I, a Red Guard of Chairman Mao, have made all preparations to strike the reactionary forces head-on with the invincible Mao Zedong Thought, even if it means sacrifice, which I am willing to make. I will fight hard to consolidate the dictatorship of the proletariat! Fight! Fight! Fight!
July 5
Today I want to talk about some views on hoeing the fields.
Hoeing is tiring if you work nonstop for several hours; indeed, it is tiring. But if you don’t feel tired, you can slack off. It depends on a person’s attitude toward labor and their understanding of receiving re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants. Having the determination to accept re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants is only the beginning of fulfilling the conditions set by Chairman Mao for revolutionary successors; to be a reliable revolutionary successor, one must resolve to fear neither hardship nor death. Only in this way can one be a reliable revolutionary successor of the proletariat and the poor and lower-middle peasants.
July 6
The struggle between the proletarian “public” and the bourgeois “private” exists every moment.
The battlefield of the mind: if proletarian thought does not occupy it, bourgeois thought will. There is no room for compromise here. I will use the invincible Mao Zedong Thought to occupy my mind, continuously “struggle against selfishness and criticize revisionism,” and keep advancing.
July 7
Today I hoed weeds. I originally thought that after reading so many years, what difficulty could there be in weeding? Remove the weeds and leave the corn seedlings; leaving one more seedling means one more grain harvested. The poor and lower-middle peasants pointed out to me: if you weed like this, there will be no good harvest this year. At that time, I still thought I was right! Little did I know that leaving too many would hinder growth, and the harvest would definitely be small. Later, I suddenly realized. This shows that what I learned before was theory detached from practice; I must earnestly accept re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants, transform my thinking, and link theory with practice.
July 8
The atmosphere of tension has grown stronger recently. I have resolved that once the invaders’ gunfire sounds, I am ready to fight on the anti-imperialist and anti-revisionist battlefield and accept the Party’s test on the battlefield.
July 10
I am the new generation of Chinese youth, a Red Guard of Chairman Mao trained through three years of the proletarian cultural revolution. I have resolved to come to the borderlands of the motherland to oppose imperialism and revisionism, seriously accept re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants, and carry the socialist revolution through to the end!
July 11
Yesterday, a comrade wrote to tell me that a report about me and several other middle school Red Guard Committee members was published in the Shanghai newspapers. I don’t know how it was published, but I have this feeling: this is not my personal achievement; it is the result of Chairman Mao’s education, the victory of Mao Zedong Thought. I will definitely follow Chairman Mao’s words: “Be modest, prudent, guard against arrogance and rashness,” and always move forward.
Forward! Red Guards of Chairman Mao!
July 14
Last night, something very infuriating happened: two guys dared to insult the poor and lower-middle peasants. This shows that in their heads, they have forgotten the motherland, the future of humanity, and even the purpose of coming to the countryside. We must thoroughly criticize such people’s erroneous thoughts. While criticizing erroneous thoughts, we must unite them—criticize—unite, preventing actions that are too “left” or too right. Only in this way can we unite as one and jointly oppose the enemy.
July 16
Today, due to rain, there was no work. I took the opportunity to study two works by Chairman Mao: “Analysis of the Classes in Chinese Society” and the preface and postscript of “Rural Investigations.” Through study, I realized that only by distinguishing friend from foe can we better strike the enemy and unite friends; this is the primary issue of the revolution. Therefore, we must understand the class situation in the countryside. When we come to the countryside, we must conduct thorough investigations to have the right to speak. Without thorough investigation, making reckless remarks will not be accepted by the broad masses of poor and lower-middle peasants in the brigade. As Chairman Mao said, “When you get off the vehicle, you start babbling and giving opinions, criticizing this and blaming that; such people are doomed to fail.” I will honestly accept the poor and lower-middle peasants as my teachers and strive to be a person who does not fail.
July 17
Yesterday was the third anniversary of the great leader Chairman Mao’s swim in the Yangtze River. The great leader Chairman Mao is so healthy; this is the greatest happiness for the Chinese and revolutionary people worldwide. Let us shout a thousand and ten thousand times: Long live Chairman Mao! Wishing Chairman Mao longevity without bounds! Under the leadership of the great leader Chairman Mao and the guidance of Mao Zedong Thought, facing the new wave of world revolution and the great storms of international and domestic class struggle, let us bravely advance! Following Chairman Mao means victory!
In the afternoon, I felt stomach pain. I originally did not want to work, but considering the current tight production and shortage of manpower, if I did not work, it would not be good. After labor, the stomach pain eased. This shows that for us youth, especially educated youth, labor can relieve some illnesses. We can transform our thoughts while also curing some physical weaknesses. I am determined to transform my physique while diligently transforming my thoughts.
July 18
I studied an article by a People’s Daily commentator and the heroic deeds of Communist warrior Yang Shuicai, who fears neither hardship nor death, and felt deeply moved. Communist Party member Yang Shuicai’s noble qualities of wholeheartedly serving the public and the revolution deeply inspire and encourage me to keep moving forward. Comrade Yang Shuicai deserves to be called a communist warrior and is an excellent role model for me. I learn from Comrade Yang Shuicai to care for the people more than oneself, to be ruthless toward class enemies, to dare to teach the sun and moon to change the sky, and most importantly, to be infinitely loyal to Chairman Mao, truly living and dying for Chairman Mao. I learn from Comrade Yang Shuicai to seriously accept re-education from the poor and lower-middle peasants in the vast countryside, fear neither hardship nor death, dedicate myself to the countryside, and serve the countryside. This is my determination; comrades, please supervise me in daily struggles.
July 19
The class enemies in the ×× brigade are still very arrogant. Educated youth coming to the countryside must participate in the three great revolutionary struggles in the countryside, primarily class struggle. Vice Chairman Lin told us in the Ninth National Congress report: “If class enemies stir up trouble again, mobilize the masses to defeat them once more.” Therefore, we should rely on the poor and lower-middle peasants, mobilize the masses, and suppress the enemies’ arrogance. We educated youth should always hold high the great red banner of Mao Zedong Thought, never forget class struggle, and never forget the dictatorship of the proletariat.
July 20
Today at noon, I went swimming in the river. When I reached the riverbank and saw the rapid current, I wondered whether to go in or not. Going in, the current was really frightening. At that moment, I recalled Chairman Mao’s teaching: “Strong winds and big waves are not to be feared. Human society develops through strong winds and big waves.” The rapid current can train a person’s courage and intelligence. I jumped in and swam dozens of meters.
Facts prove that as long as a person has strong revolutionary will and is good at learning, any rapid current can be overcome. Chinese youth armed with Mao Zedong Thought will always closely follow the great leader Chairman Mao and can overcome any rapid current or dangerous shoal.
It rained and I did not work, staying indoors all day.
July 22
After two months of labor, I have developed a habit: not working is extremely depressing; not working is harder than anything else. I feel that struggling with the land is endlessly joyful.
July 23
The poor and lower-middle peasants are our best teachers for re-education; they are most loyal to Chairman Mao. The editorials of the two central newspapers and one journal conveyed Chairman Mao’s latest instructions on rectifying Party organizations. With loyalty to Chairman Mao, we went door to door to deliver Chairman Mao’s latest instructions to the poor and lower-middle peasants. It was already very late when we arrived at the home of Song Daniu, a representative of the county accumulation committee. Song Daniu was already asleep, but upon hearing the latest instructions from Chairman Mao, she immediately got up respectfully received them, woke up her whole family, lit a small kerosene lamp, and started studying immediately. Seeing this scene, we were truly moved; how loyal the poor and lower-middle peasants are to Chairman Mao! Thinking back, I was worried when I left that the poor and lower-middle peasants might not accept the instructions so late. Isn’t this a good contrast? This shows that my feelings are still insufficient; I must earnestly accept the poor and lower-middle peasants as teachers in this vast rural world, undergo a complete transformation, and become a reliable successor to the proletarian revolutionary cause!
July 24
The barrel of a gun is the pillar of political power. I will arm myself with Mao Zedong Thought, actively and diligently fight to defend Chairman Mao, bravely fight for Chairman Mao’s revolutionary line in life, and gloriously sacrifice to defend Chairman Mao in death.
July 25
Recently, everyone wants me to participate in performing arts programs. I am really troubled. Propagating Mao Zedong Thought is my duty, but I do not know how to act. What to do with this contradiction? I studied Chairman Mao’s works and figured it out. Once the mind is clear, learning becomes easier, and I quickly grasped some skills of performing arts. I should use art as a weapon to propagate Mao Zedong Thought and serve the poor and lower-middle peasants well. This is also something educated youth should do when coming to the countryside.
July 26
Whenever I do something, I think about whether it meets the people’s needs.
Whenever I say a word, I think about whether it accords with Chairman Mao’s thought.
Whenever I take a step, I see whether I am walking on Chairman Mao’s revolutionary path.
July 28
Be strict with myself, and even more lenient with comrades!
The small achievements I have made are the result of being nurtured by Chairman Mao’s great thought. I am a correspondent and must vigorously publicize the heroic deeds around me, learn from the unsung heroes nearby, honestly and willingly be the people’s ox, and diligently serve the poor and lower-middle peasants for a lifetime.
July 29
I studied the first few paragraphs of Chairman Mao’s brilliant work “Report on an Investigation of the Peasant Movement in Hunan” and had these insights: Chairman Mao gave such a high evaluation of the peasant movement! Thinking about my nearly two months in the countryside, how do I view the poor and lower-middle peasants? Old thoughts still linger in my mind; sometimes I even think I am an “official” sent to the countryside. If this thinking develops, I will climb over the poor and lower-middle peasants and “issue orders.” I must use Chairman Mao’s thought to severely criticize these poisons, criticize deeply and thoroughly, and establish the thought taught by Chairman Mao in “Report on an Investigation of the Peasant Movement in Hunan”: “This leadership by poor peasants is extremely necessary. Without poor peasants, there is no revolution. To deny them is to deny the revolution. To strike them is to strike the revolution.” In the countryside, to carry out the revolution, we must rely on the poor and lower-middle peasants; otherwise, the revolution cannot succeed.
August 1
On the “August 1” Army Day, the editorials of the two central newspapers and one journal titled “The People’s Army is Invincible” conveyed the voice of our great leader Chairman Mao: “I approve of the slogan, ‘Fear neither hardship nor death.’”… I used to think I had made great contributions in the proletarian cultural revolution, or at least had suffered hardships, or at least was tired. This thinking was quite stubborn in my mind. Although I criticized it several times, the poison was not well cleared. Chairman Mao’s latest instructions struck me like a heavy bomb. This “three hardships” thinking is incompatible with Chairman Mao’s teachings and must be severely criticized to establish the proletarian optimistic attitude of “fear neither hardship nor death,” so that I can strive to run fast on the road of revolutionization.
After studying Chairman Mao’s latest instructions, I realized that every task must be done carefully, especially ideological work with people. Carelessness can cause irreparable losses to the revolution and the Party.
August 4
Class enemies are unwilling to accept their defeat. When class enemies see our war readiness, they are very afraid. The more afraid the enemy is, the more we must advocate it. We must strengthen war preparedness, be on high alert, and strike the social imperialist wolf with ambition.
August 5
Today is the third anniversary of the publication of our great leader Chairman Mao’s “Bombard the Headquarters (My Big-character Poster).” This big-character poster sounded the battle horn for attacking the reactionary bourgeois line. In three years, what great changes have occurred! The broad working class and poor and lower-middle peasants, revolutionary cadres, and Red Guards, inspired by Chairman Mao’s big-character poster, have exposed the biggest capitalist roader Liu Shaoqi and his agents across the country, uprooted the time bomb buried beside Chairman Mao, and made the wheels of history continue rolling forward.
Through the intense proletarian cultural revolution and repeated struggles and practice, I deeply realize the great truth that following Chairman Mao is victory, and loyalty to Chairman Mao is strength. I will follow the path pointed out by Chairman Mao to the end, all the way to communism.
August 6
In the evening, we held a revolutionary big criticism meeting and severely criticized Liu Shaoqi’s “theory of the extinguishment of class struggle.” The vivid reality of class struggle tells us that class struggle has not ended. The devils and monsters in the ×× brigade are always dreaming of counterattacks. The historical counter-revolutionary ×× came out at midnight to sabotage, and after being caught by the militia, dared to threaten the people with suicide. Class enemies are alive and their hearts are not dead; they always want to regain their lost paradise. We should remember Chairman Mao’s great teaching: “Never forget class struggle.” Using Mao Zedong Thought, the sharpest weapon, we must severely criticize Liu Shaoqi’s “theory of the extinguishment of class struggle” and launch fierce attacks on class enemies. Especially at this moment when international and domestic class struggles are very intense, we must be vigilant, strengthen war preparedness, and crush all new conspiracies of international and domestic class enemies.
August 7
Last night, the meeting was halfway through when it suddenly rained. We immediately stopped the meeting, woke the on-duty militia, and went to save the mud bricks on the farm. Many people, great strength, put all the mud bricks inside the house. After labor, I felt very happy. This can be said to be a vivid example of re-education by the poor and lower-middle peasants!
August 10
In the morning, one person bundled wheat. In the afternoon, it seemed easier to “carry the bundle,” but after working, I felt that bundling wheat was still more comfortable. This shows that if the mind is not occupied by Chairman Mao’s thought, bourgeois thought will inevitably occupy it, leading to shirking and avoiding ideological transformation. I will persist in studying and arm my mind with Mao Zedong Thought to keep advancing.
August 12
In the morning meeting, we criticized anarchism. Anarchism manifests in various ways: late start, early finish, absence without reason, not accepting criticism, playing cards and Go during work, destroying unity, and breaking proletarian discipline. The comrades present unanimously criticized this reactionary trend. I will strictly observe proletarian discipline and strive to be a model in observing Party discipline.
August 13
In casual talk about lamps, we concluded: no matter how bright the lamp is, if the mind is dark, the lamp still seems dim; no matter how small the wick is, studying Chairman Mao’s works makes the heart feel bright and brighter the more one studies. Because Mao Zedong Thought illuminates our direction forward.
August 14 (The day before sacrifice)
Today, I heard a diplomatic note from our Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the radio, and my heart was furious. Chairman Mao teaches us: never be intimidated by the reactionaries’ fierce momentum. Seven hundred million Chinese soldiers and civilians are on high alert, resolutely striking the invaders.
We warn imperialists, revisionists, and reactionaries: the revolutionary youth of the Mao Zedong Thought era are not to be trifled with. If the U.S. imperialists and Soviet revisionist social imperialists dare to try, let them taste the iron fists of China’s third and fourth generations!
We are the new generation of socialist China’s youth. The U.S. imperialists and Soviet revisionists pin their hopes for restoration on us—what a dream! The corrosion of bourgeois thought can be crushed; what is there to fear from your fully armed paper tiger?
Down with U.S. imperialism!
Down with Soviet revisionist social imperialism!
Swear to defend the motherland’s territory to the death!
Swear to defend Mao Zedong Thought to the death!
Swear to defend Chairman Mao to the death!
