1. Yang, Benjamin, “The Zunyi Conference as one step in Mao's rise to power: a survey of historical studies of the Chinese Communist Party,” The China Quarterly (CQ), No. 106 (June 1986), pp. 235–71.CrossRefGoogle Scholar

2. The original version of this report by the Committee for the collection of materials on Party history of the Central Committee, dated February 1983 and approved by Chen Yun, Deng Xiaoping, Nie Rongzhen, Yang Shangkun, Wu Xiuquan and Li Zhuoran was first published as “Guanyu Zunyi zhengzhiju kuodahuiyi ruogan qingkuang de diaocha baogao” (“Investigation report on the circumstances of the Enlarged Politburo Conference at Zunyi”), Zhonggong dangshi ziliao (Materials on the History of the CCP), Vol. 6 (1983), pp. 16–35;Google Scholar it was reprinted in Zunyi huiyi ziliao xuanbian (Selected Materials on the Zunyi Conference) (Guiyang, 1985), pp. 175–94, which is the best and most extensive (477 pp.) collection of materials related to the conference.Google ScholarA shorter revised version of the report, dated September 1984 and checked by Hu Qiaomu, was published by the same Committee in Zunyi huiyi wenxian (Documents on the Zunyi Conference) (Beijing: Renmin chubanshe, 1985), pp. 123–37.1 will quote from the 1983 version.Google Scholar

3. See the books and articles quoted by Yang, B. and Ch'en, Jerome in “Resolutions of the Tsunyi Conference,” CQ, No. 40 (1969), pp. 1–38.Google Scholar

4. “Investigation report,” pp. 17–19.

5. See Rongxian, Wang, “Guanyu Zunyi huiyi jueyi dinggao shijian de kaozheng” (“Textual criticism of the time of the completion of the Zunyi conference resolution”), Dangshi tongxun (Newsletter on Party History), No. 3 (1984), pp. 56–58.Google Scholar

6. See “Wu Xiuquan tongzhi tan Zunyi huiyi” (“Comrade Wu Xiuquan talks about the Zunyi Conference”), Dangshi ziliao zhengji tongxun (Newsletter for the Collection of Materials on Party History), No. 1 (1985), p. 27.Google Scholar

7. See Heinzig, Dieter, “Otto Braun and the Tsunyi Conference,” CQ, No. 42 (1970), p. 132;Google Scholarhis, Hu Chi, “Hua Fu, the Fifth Encirclement Campaign and the Tsunyi Conference,” CQ, No. 43 (1970), pp. 44–45.Google Scholar

8. See “Hu Hua tan Hongjun Changzheng yanjiu zhong de yixie wenti” (“Hu Hua discusses some problems related to research on the Red Army's Long March”), Dangshi tongxun, No. 4 (1986), pp. 44–45.Google Scholar

9. See Zhuhong, Zhang, “Zhongguo xiandai gemingshi shiliaoxue gaiyao, 4” (“An outline of historical materials on Modern Chinese revolutionary history, 4”), Dangshi ziliao zhengji tongxun, No. 10 (1985), p. 44.Google Scholar

10. Selected Materials on the Zunyi Conference, pp. 197–201.

11. Zedong, Mao, “Guanyu Wang Jiaxiang de pingjia” (“An appraisal of Wang Jiaxiang”) (10 June 1945), Wenxian he yanjiu (Documents and Studies), No. 4 (1986), p. 32.Google Scholar

12. Wang Zhen et al., “Huiyi yu jicheng” (“Remember and carry on”), Gongren ribao (Worker's Daily), 4 February 1981.

13. Enlai, Zhou, “Dang de lishi jiaoxun” (“Lessons from Party history”) (10 June 1972), Wenxian he yanjiu, No. 1 (1985), p. 9.Google Scholar

14. Selected Materials on the Zunyi Conference, p. 143.

15. “Wu Xiuquan tongzhi huiyilu (zhi er)” (“The memoirs of comrade Wu Xiuquan, part two”), Zhonggong dangshi ziliao (Materials on the History of the CCP), Vol. 2 (1982), p. 170.Google Scholar

16. Huiyi Wang Jiaxiang (Remembering Wang Jiaxiang) (Beijing: Renmin chu-banshe, 1985), pp. 22–23.Google Scholar

17. Ibid. p. 2.

18. Wang Zhen et al., “Remember and carry on.”

19. See Ch'en, “Resolutions,” pp. 19–20, 36; Yang, “The Zunyi Conference,” p. 240.

20. Remembering Wang Jiaxiang, p. 232.

21. Zhu De nianpu (A Chronicle of Zhu De's Life) (Beijing: Renmin chubanshe, 1986), pp. 111–12;Google ScholarYongjun, Wang and Jiangao, Liu, Zhongguo xiandaishi renwuzhuan (Biographies of Important Persons in China's Modern History) (Chengdu: Sichuan renmin chubanshe, 1986), p. 68.Google Scholar

22. “Comrade Wu Xiuquan talks about the Zunyi Conference,” p. 30.

23. Weihan, Li, Huiyi yu yanjiu (Memories and Studies) (Beijing: Zhonggong dangshi ziliao chubanshe, 1986), p. 349.Google Scholar

24. Zhengzhi Xueyuan Zhonggong Dangshi Jiaoyanshi, Zhongguo gongchandang liushi nian dashi jianjie (A Brief Introduction to Important Events in the 60 Years of the CCP) (Beijing: Guofang daxue chubanshe, 1985), p. 159.Google Scholar

25. “Comrade Wu Xiuquan talks about the Zunyi Conference,” p. 29.

26. “Zhongyang ‘xgGuanyu fandui diren wuci “weijiao” de zongjie jueyi’” (“Central Committee ‘Resolution on summing up the campaign against the enemy's fifth “encirclement”’”), Zhonggong dangshi ziliao, Vol. 6, pp. 36–55; trans, by J. Ch'en, in “Resolutions,” pp. 1–17.Google Scholar

27. See Wang Rongxian “Textual criticism,” pp. 56–58.

28. “Zhongyang Zhengzhiju kuodahuiyi zongjie fensui wuci ‘weijiao’ zhanzheng-zhong jingyan jiaoxun jueyi dagang” (“The outline resolution of the Enlarged Politburo Conference on summing up experiences and lessons in smashing the fifth ‘encirclement’ campaign”), Zhonggong dangshi ziliao, Vol. 6, pp. 56–59; trans. by B. Yang, “The Zunyi Conference,” pp. 262–65. The title is taken from the journal Wenxian he yanjiu, not Wenjian yu yanjiu as given on p. 262.Google Scholar

29. See Bingqin, Zhou, “Guanyu Zunyi huiyi jueyi dagang yinfa riqikao” (“Verification of the date of the printing and distribution of the outline resolution of the Zunyi Conference”), Dangshi ziliao zhengji tongxun, No. 3 (1986), pp. 36–38; cf. Zunyi huiyi wenxian, pp. 29–33.Google Scholar

30. Yun, Chen, “(Yi) Zunyi zhengzhiju kuodahuiyi” (“B. The Enlarged Politburo Conference in Zunyi”), Zhonggong dangshi ziliao, Vol. 6, pp. 1–8; trans, by B. Yang, “The Zunyi Conference,” pp. 265–71.Google Scholar

31. See Hou Baozhong, “Yetan Chen Yun tongzhi de ‘(Yi) Zunyi zhengzhiju kuoda huiyi’ xingcheng shijian wenti” (“The time of the formation of Comrade Chen Yun's ‘B. The Enlarged Politburo Conference in Zunyi’ reconsidered”), Dangshi yanjiu (Research on Party History), No. 1 (1985), pp. 76–77.Google Scholar

32. Chen Yun, “B. The Enlarged Politburo Conference in Zunyi,” pp. 7–8.

33. Cf. Braun, Otto, A Comintern Agent in China, 1932–1939 (London: C. Hurst, 1982), p. 92. As the three-man-group had never been elected, no formal decision for its dissolution was needed.Google Scholar

34. “Investigation report,” p. 23.

35. See Otto Braun, A Comintern Agent, p. 104; “Investigation report,” pp. 26–28.

36. “Investigation report,” p. 32, n. 12; Remembering Wang Jiaxiang, p. 233.

37. Before the Zunyi Conference Qin Bangxian, Zhang Wentian, Chen Yun and Zhou Enlai belonged to the Standing Committee.

38. Jingtang, Yan, “Zhongyang junwei yange gaikuang” (“A survey of the evolution of the Central Military Affairs Committee (CMAC)”), Dangshi yanjiu, No. 2 (1983), pp. 54–55.Google Scholar

39. In addition to the memoirs of Wu and Nie, the above-mentioned book by Li Weihan also provides interesting background information, but as its author, one of the most influential Party leaders before the rise of the “Bolsheviks,” had been expelled from the Politburo and the Central Committee at the Fourth Plenum, he was not allowed to participate in the Zunyi Conference.

40. Zhao Pu, “Zhongguo Gongchandang zuzhishi ziliao (1)” (“Materials on the organizational history of the CCP, 1”), Dangshi yanjiu, No. 2 (1981), pp. 68–71. This shows that Mr Yang's statement, that “Mao for the first time became one of the five top leaders of the entire Party ” (p. 258) at the Zunyi Conference, is not correct.Google Scholar

41. Zhengzhi Xueyuan Zhonggong Dangshi Jiaoyanshi, Important Events in the 60 Years of the CCP, pp. 100–106.

42. Jianying, Wang, Zhongguo gongchandang zuzhishi ziliao huibian (A Compilation of Materials on the Organizational History of the CCP) (Beijing: Hongqi chubanshe, 1983), pp. 98, 142.Google Scholar

43. Zhiming, Guo, “Suqu Zhongyangju de chengli” (“The founding of the Soviet's Central Bureau”), Jiangxi dangshi tongxun (The Jiangxi Newsletter on Party History), No. 4(1987), p. 3.Google Scholar

44. ibid.

45. Yan Jingtang, “A survey of the evolution of the CMAC,” p. 54.

46. Guo Zhiming, “The founding of the Soviet's Central Bureau,” p. 4.

47. Xingjuan, Wang, He Zizhen de lu (He Zizhen's Way) (Beijing: Zuojia chubanshe, 1985), pp. 167–68.Google Scholar

48. ibid. p. 165. According to He Zizhen, Mao was not invited to the Conference. Qibin, Ma, Shaoqun, Huang, Wenjun, Liu, Zhongyang geming genjudi shi (A History of the Central Revolutionary Base Area) (Beijing: Renmin chubanshe, 1986). p. 367. There was no position called “general commissar” as mentioned by Mr Yang, and Zhou replaced Mao after, not at the Ningdu Conference (p. 252).Google Scholar

49. En, Huai, Zhou Zongli shengping dashiji (A Chronicle of the Life of Premier Zhou) (Chengdu: Sichuan renmin chubanshe, 1986), p. 147.Google Scholar

50. Li Weihan, Memories and Studies, pp. 335–37; Zhengzhi Xueyuan Zhonggong Dangshi Jiaoyanshi, Important Events in the 60 Years of the CCP, pp. 153–54.

51. ibid. p. 161.

52. ibid. pp. 159–60; Li Weihan, Memories and Studies, p. 338.

53. See Wang Jianying, Organizational History of the CCP, p. 188; a promotion at the Fifth Plenum would also contradict the judgment in the 1945 resolution on CCP history, which said that this Plenum was the “apex” of the third “leftist” line; see Mao Zedong xuqnji (Selected Works of Mao Zedong), Vol. 3 (Beijing: Renmin chubanshe, 1953), p. 989. Mao did not resume “alternate membership in the Politburo” in 1931 (p. 253) (see above). Wang's book was published in 1983, not 1981 (p. 241, n. 28).Google Scholar

54. Li Weihan, Memories and Studies, p. 349; Ma Qibin, Huang Shaoqun, Liu Wenjun, A History of the Central Revolutionary Base Area, pp. 519–520, 535.

55. ibid. pp. 528–29; some sources give the 12 December as the date of the Tongdao Conference. See also: Guofang Daxue Dangshi Zhenggong Jiaoyanshi, Changzheng xintan (New Explorations on the Long March) (Beijing: Jiefangjun chubanshe, 1986), pp. 39–40.Google Scholar

56. ibid. pp. 41–42; Li Weihan, Memories and Studies, pp. 350–51. See also, “Zunyi huiyi qianhou Zhonggong Zhongyang youguan zhanlue fangzhen de qige wenjian” (“Seven documents of the CCP's Central Committee concerning the strategic policy at the time of the Zunyi Conference”), Wenxian he yanjiu, No. 1 (1985). p. 20.57.Google Scholaribid. pp. 20–21; Guofang Daxue Dangshi Zhenggong Jiaoyanshi, New Explora tions on the Long March, pp. 43–44.

58. ibid. pp. 45–50; “Investigation report,” pp. 23–25.

59. ibid. pp. 26–28; Zhengzhi Xueyuan Zhonggong Dangshi Jiaoyanshi, Important Events in the 60 Years of the CCP, p. 169.

60. Li Weihan, Memories and Studies, p. 353; Guofang Daxue Dangshi Zhenggong Jiaoyanshi, New Explorations on the Long March, p. 52.

61. “Zunyi huiyi qianhou de sishiyifen junshi dianbao” (“Forty-one military telegrams of the period around the Zunyi Conference”), Wenxian he yanjiu, No. 1 (1985), p. 40; Ma Qibin, Huang Shaoqun, Liu Wenjun, A History of the Central Revolutionary Base Area, p. 544.Google Scholar

62. ibid:, “Investigation report,” pp. 28–30.

63. Guofang Daxue Dangshi Zhenggong Jiaoyanshi, New Explorations of the Long March, pp. 58–74; A Chronicle of Zhu De's Life, pp. 142–46.

64. Zhang left Shaanxi in Spring 1938 and was expelled from the Party on 18 April 1938. See Zhengzhi Xueyuan Zhonggong Dangshi Jiaoyanshi, Important Events in the 60 Years of the CCP, pp. 175–77.

65. When the new MAC was formed on 7 December 1936 Zhu did not even become vice-chairman. See A Chronicle of the Zhu De's Life, pp. 157–59.

66. Before the Long March there had been an indirect telegraphic link with Moscow via Shanghai, but this was interrupted in August 1934; a direct link between Shaanxi and Moscow was only established in June 1936 and there were still considerable technical difficulties for several months. See Qijun, Huang, “Zhonggong Zhongyang zai yijiusanwunian zhi yijiusanliunian jian yu gongchanguoji huifu dianxun lianxi de jingguo” (“How the telegraphic link between the CCP's Central Committee and the Comintern was restored in 1935 and 1936”), Dangshi yanjiu, No. 2 (1987), pp. 27–29.Google Scholar

67. Huai En, A Chronicle of the Life of Premier Zhou, p. 163.

68. “Chen Yun tongzhi tan Ludingqiao huiyi” (“Comrade Chen Yun talks about the Luding Bridge Conference”), Zhonggong dangshi ziliao, Vol. 16 (1985), p. 11.Google Scholar David M. Bachman's assumption, that “Mao trusted Chen enough to assign him the delicate task of informing Wang Ming and the Comintern of the Zunyi Resolutions” is not correct; Chen Yun and the Chinese Political System (Berkeley, 1985), p. 9.Google Scholar The decision to send Chen to Moscow was only made in Shanghai and Mao was not involved. See Huang Qijun, “How the telegraphic link was restored,” p. 27; Kanru, Fei, “Zunyi huiyi qingkuang shi shui xiang Gongchanguoji bao gao de?” (“Who informed the Comintern about the Zunyi Conference?”), Dangshi yanjiu, No. 2 (1984), pp. 16–17.Google Scholar

69. ibid. p. 16; Remembering Wang Jiaxiang, p. 233.

70. See “Zhang Wentian zhuanlue” (“A biographical sketch of Zhang Wentian”), Dangshi tongxun, No. 1 (1985), p. 36.Google Scholar

71. Yan Jingtang, “A survey of the evolution of the CMAC,” p. 55.

72. ibid.

73. Yanxing, Cao, “Yijiusanqinian Yan'an huiyi shuping“ (“A commentary on the Yan'an Conference in 1937”), Dangshi yanjiu, No. 6 (1985), pp. 64–66.Google Scholar

74. Zhang Guotao was not even an ordinary member of the new MAC. See Yan Jingtang, “A survey of the evolution of the CMAC,” p. 56.

75. Wang Ming was a member of the Comintern's Executive Committee, Kang Sheng had been the CCP's representative at the Comintern, while Chen Yun had worked in Xinjiang and joined the two others when they arrived there. See Wuyuan, Shu, “Bo Wang Ming dui Yan'an Zhengfengyundong de wumie“ (“Refuting Wang Ming's slandering of the Yan'an Rectification Movement”), Dangshi yanjiu, No. 2 (1984), p. 74.Google Scholar

76. Among the eight members of the new Secretariat there were four “Bolsheviks” (Wang Ming, Qin Bangxian, Zhang Wentian and Wang Jiaxiang, who was in Moscow then), three of the others (Zhou Enlai, Kang Sheng and Chen Yun) had co-operated with Wang Ming at different times, while Mao Zedong was the only representative of the old Jiangxi Soviet. After the Conference Wang Ming also became the Party's representative in Hankou, the provisional capital of the Kuomintang regime and led the United Front work. See Runfang, Cao, Xianying, Pan (eds.), Zhongguo gongchandang jiguan fazhanshi, shang (The History of the Development of the Organization of the CCP) (Beijing: Renmin daxue dang'anxi, 1984), p. 148. According to Li Weihan “Mao Zedong was in a minority and sometimes completely isolated for about half a year” after Wang Ming's arrival in Yan'an. Memories and Studies, p. 443. Mao Zedong himself said in 1945: “After the Zunyi Conference the line of the Central Committee has been correct, but there have been some setbacks. The December Conference at the beginning of the Anti-Japanese War was such a setback.” Mao Zedong, “An appraisal of Wang Jiaxiang,” p. 32.Google Scholar

77. ibid. pp. 32–33; Wang Zhen et al., “Remember and carry on”; Xu Zehao, “Wang Jiaxiang dui liujie liuzhong quanhui de gongxian” (“Wang Jiaxiang's contributions to the Sixth Plenum of the Sixth Central Committee”), Wenxian heyanjiu, No. 4 (1986), pp. 36–37.Google Scholar

78. ibid.; “Wang Jiaxiang wengao sipian” (“Four manuscripts of Wang Jiaxiang”), Wenxian he yanjiu, No. 4 (1986), pp. 27–29.Google Scholar According to Li Weihan, “the Politburo originally asked Wang Ming to give the report, but his draft report was not accepted and Chairman Mao was asked to give the report. (...) Comrade Wang Jiaxiang transmitted Dimitroff's directive after his return from the Comintern. Its most important, most decisive sentence was: ‘Dimitroff said that Comrade Mao Zedong is the leader of the Chinese people.’” Li Weihan xuanji (Selected works of Li Weihan) (Beijing: Renmin chubanshe, 1987), pp. 641–42.Google Scholar

79. Wang Jiaxiang presided over the Conference, transmitted the directive of the general secretary of the Comintern, Dimitroff, and gave the closing address on 6 November 1938. See “Four manuscripts of Wang Jiaxiang,” p. 29; Remembering Wang Jiaxiang, p. 233; Cao Runfang, Pan Xianying, Organization of the CCP, pp. 150–52.

80. ibid. pp. 170–71.

81. ibid. pp. 174–75.

82. Zhengzhi Xueyuan Zhonggong Dangshi Jiaoyanshi, Important Events in the 60 Years of the CCP, pp. 140–41.

83. Zedong, Mao, “Fandui zhuguanzhuyi he zongpaizhuyi” (“Fighting subjectivism and factionalism”), Wenxian he yanjiu, No. 1 (1985), p. 4.Google Scholar Zhou's Selected Works do not (with the exception of a few military telegrams) contain any works of the years 1931 to 1935, when he was most powerful and published numerous articles. Zhou Enlai xuanji, shang (Selected Works of Zhou Enlai, Vol. 1) (Beijing: Renmin chubanshe, 1980).Google Scholar

84. Referring to expulsions Dimitroff wrote: “People like Zhou Enlai and Wang Ming should not be asked to leave the Party, they should be kept and used (.)” “Jimiteluofu guanyu Zhongguo geming de liangge wenjian” (“Two documents by Dimitroff concerning the Chinese revolution”), Dangshi ziliao tongxun, No. 10 (1987), p. 39. From 1945 Zhou only ranked 23rd in the Seventh Central Committee.Google Scholar

85. “Yang Shangkun tongzhi de jianghua” (“Comrade Yang Shangkun's speech”) (13 March 1985). Dangshi ziliao zhengji tongxun, No. 4 (1985), p. 2.Google Scholar

86. Since this article was completed (in 1987) important materials concerning the Long March have been published in China. These indicate that between 5 and 8 February 1935 another (enlarged) Politburo meeting was held near Zaxi with more than a dozen participants. Specialists of the Central Party Archives have discovered an early version of the “Zunyi Resolution,” which was “passed by the Politburo on 8 February 1935” and “printed on 16 February” (mimeograph). Yin Zixian, Shi Jixin, “‘Zhong-gong Zhongyang guanyu fandui diren wuci “weijiao” de zongjie jueyi’ shijian kaozheng,” Dang de wenxian (Party Documents), No. 3 (1988), p. 62.Google Scholar This might be the same version which Chen Bojun “finished reading” on 20 February 1935. See Hongjun changzheng riji (Diaries of the Red Army's Long March) (Beijing: Dang'an chubanshe, 1986), p. 44.Google ScholarChinese historians now also seem to accept Soviet claims that the resolution had a sub-title concerning the military policy errors of Qin Bangxian, Zhou Enlai and Otto Braun. Cf. Gongchanguoji yu Zhongguo geming(The Comintern and the Chinese revolution) (Chengdu: Sichuan renmin chubanshe, 1987), pp. 320–21.Google Scholar