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The May 4th storm hit
What became a turning point in the development of modern Chinese history was the May Fourth Patriotic Movement that took place on May 4, 1919. Compared with the early New Culture Movement, there are three main changes: First, the spearhead of the initial New Culture Movement's opposition was mainly directed at the old feudal culture and old ethics, and at this time it was more prominent against the power politics of Western powers., A great patriotic movement for the rejuvenation of the nation. Second, the initial level of activities of the New Culture Movement was mainly in the intellectual class with a limited number of people, and the mode of activities was mainly fierce debates in publications and newspapers, while the latter was a patriotic mass movement with unprecedented scale and thousands of people from all walks of life, and its mode of activities was much more radical. third, after the may fourth movement, marxism began to spread widely among advanced elements in china. Of course, these two stages are the same and difficult to separate. The occurrence of this huge turning point is not only the result of the Chinese patriots' persistence in exploring the truth of saving the country and the people, but also the direct result of the strong changes in the overall situation of the world at this moment. This was not possible before.
As mentioned earlier, after the defeat of the Opium War, the advanced Chinese have been struggling to find the truth that can save China from Western countries for a long time. This is not surprising, because at that time only the Western countries in the world were progressive, and they succeeded in building modern countries. Within Chinese society, there is no sufficiently strong emerging social force. Under such historical conditions, people have strong confidence in the pursuit of seeking truth from the West, and there are few doubts. That is understandable. This was the case during the Revolution of 1911, as was the initial New Culture Movement that wanted to "make up lessons" for the Revolution of 1911.
However, the Chinese have been seeking the truth of national salvation from the West for decades, but the expected results have not been achieved. From 1914 to 1918, there was an unprecedented First World War. The facts before and after the war brought many strong new understandings that the Chinese had never thought.
First, for a long time, China's advanced elements admired the prosperity and strength of western countries, idealized it and regarded it as an example for China to follow. However, after this war, Europe was shockingly devastated, dilapidated, difficult for the poor to live, and extremely acute social conflicts. Zhou Enlai, who came to England shortly after the war, wrote in a letter: "When we first visited Europe, our first impression was that the European society was greatly affected after the war, and its remarkable uneasy status quo. What is the impact? The lack of productivity, the panic in the economic world, and the embarrassment of life." What a great change from "seeking truth from Western countries" to thinking that "how can our country avoid the eastward trend of social revolution! The facts are the most convincing. The Western model is not as perfect as originally expected. In the eyes of China's advanced elements, Western countries suddenly lost their original glory and felt the need to find a new way. This is a useful lesson in real life for the Chinese.
Second, the Paris Peace Conference held after the end of the war made the Chinese people have great expectations for it, believing that it was the embodiment of "justice over power. They also decorate themselves with many beautiful languages. President Wilson of the United States put forward the seemingly just "fourteen principles", which made many people extremely excited. Chen Duxiu even praised Wilson as "the world's first good man". When the peace meeting was held, the "Weekly Review" wrote: "If the great powers can approve of this great alliance, from then on, humanity will have light and the rule of the people can be universal."
However, the ruthless fact is that the "meeting of ten" of western powers secretly agreed that the rights and interests occupied by Germany in Shandong should not be returned to China, one of the victorious countries, but transferred to Japan, and should not be discussed. Gu Weijun, the Chinese representative who attended the peace conference, wrote in his memoirs: "We used to think that the final plan might not be too good, but we did not expect the result to be so miserable." The Chinese delegation refused to sign the peace treaty. The beautiful promises made by the Western powers in words turned out to be all lies. This kind of thing gave the Chinese people too much stimulation, anger suddenly erupted like a volcano.
On May 4, 1919, more than 3,000 students from Peking University and other schools gathered in Tiananmen Square, chanting slogans such as "fighting for sovereignty outside and eliminating national thieves inside" and holding a patriotic protest march. Their declaration in classical Chinese wrote: "Shandong is dead, but China is dead! My compatriots are in this land, with this mountains and rivers, how can they witness this rape and bullying me, oppression me, slave me, cattle and horses me, and not be a life-long cry for help!" The vernacular declaration reads: "China's land can be conquered but not ruined! The Chinese people can kill but not bow their heads! The country is dead! My compatriots are up!" Many passers-by along the street were moved to tears. The procession first went to the foreign embassy area of Dongjiaomin Lane to protest, but was blocked and impassable. Angry students rushed to the home of Cao Rulin, who was seriously responsible for the Shandong issue, to take drastic action, and many students were arrested. The next day, students from colleges and universities in Beijing went on strike, and middle school students also joined in. The movement quickly spread across the country. On May 7, more than 20,000 students and people from all walks of life in Shanghai gathered to protest. On the 9th, it was the anniversary of Yuan Shikai's acceptance of Japan's "21 Articles" of national humiliation. Many schools in Shanghai were closed for one day and entertainment venues were closed for one day. On June 5, the workers of the Japanese cotton yarn factory in Shanghai took the lead. Many industry workers and shop assistants went on strike and businessmen went on strike. This was an unprecedented event. Class strikes have been held throughout the country.
There has never been a patriotic mass movement of such scale and momentum that swept the country like the May Fourth Movement in Chinese history. this was a patriotic national salvation movement in which the masses took part. If you compare it with the gentle attitude of Kang Youwei and other people's "bus letter" request when the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 was defeated, you will find that the time interval is only about 20 years, and China's social conditions and people's awareness have changed so much! It also made many advanced Chinese elements who were extremely depressed because of the outcome of the Revolution of 1911 see that there is such an overwhelming power among the people and the hope of China's rejuvenation. The transformation of society can only be achieved by relying on the people. If we only rely on the appeal of a small number of people and the investment of the broad masses of people, our strength will naturally be very weak and will not be enough to defeat the powerful old forces. This is the fundamental reason for the failure of the previous changes in modern China. Wu Yuzhang, a veteran member of the Chinese League, recalled his strong feelings during the May Fourth Movement: "This was a truly exciting page, a truly great historical turning point. In the past, we had seen some scenes of mass movements in our revolution, but we had never seen such majestic momentum sweeping the country. Under the impact of the mass movement, the whole of China recovered from its slumber." "Once the power contained in the masses of the people is liberated, it will be truly earth-shattering and invincible." "At that time, my feeling was: there is hope for the revolution and China will not die."
The striking of such an astonishing storm as the May Fourth Movement caused a large number of patriots to undergo drastic changes in their thinking in a short period of time. Many people who had lived a miserable and lonely life and lived only in a quiet small circle of individuals because of the low tide of the revolution, once they actively participated in this fiery struggle, they found that there was still a broader world around them., The mood can no longer calm down, and can no longer return to the life of the past. They do not stay in a moment of passion and fanaticism, but together with like-minded people they met in the movement, they often discuss state affairs seriously. What they talk about most is that after repeated comparisons and explorations, what kind of new ideas can really solve the problem of China's future. Among the new generation of intellectual youth, there are Xinmin Society such as Mao Zedong and Cai Hesen, Consciousness Society such as Zhou Enlai and Deng Yingchao, and Liqun Book Society such as Yun Daiying and Lin Yunan. With the publication and wide distribution of newspapers and books spreading new ideas, the spread of new ideas has affected many small and medium-sized cities, and has a considerable mass character. They have a broader vision, come into contact with a broader society, and propose to integrate the "ego" into the "big self" of the nation, devote themselves to actual social activities, and seek the rejuvenation of the nation. Many early communists came out of this crowd. Such a big change in the thinking of thousands of people in a short period of time is difficult to achieve for many years.
Third, in the late period of the First World War, under the leadership of Lenin, the October Socialist Revolution broke out in Russia and won victory, turning socialism from an ideal into a living reality. It was not immediately understood by many Chinese at the beginning due to the confusion of the news. But the truth gradually spread, and the internal and external policies and practices of the Soviet regime became more concrete and often found in the press. Some advanced elements such as Qu Qiubai went to Soviet Russia as journalists and wrote back many vivid and detailed reports. At the end of the European War in 1918, Li Dazhao wrote enthusiastically in two articles "The Victory of the Common People" and "The Victory of Bolshevism": "The result of society is the failure of capitalism and the victory of laborism." "The French Revolution of 1789 was the forerunner of the revolutions of the countries of the nineteenth century. The Russian Revolution of 1917 was the forerunner of the world revolution of the twentieth century." "Try to see the future of the world, must be the red flag of the world!" The tragic scenes caused by the European War and the naked power politics at the Paris Peace Conference have made many people see that the dark side of Western society is not as perfect as they originally thought. Is China going to follow in their footsteps and follow this old path again? Why not change course and adopt the newer doctrines of the world to create a more rational society? From opposing the old feudal ethics to yearning for socialism, it has naturally become a new social trend.
The October Socialist Revolution in Russia was carried out under the banner of Marxism, which naturally aroused more and more Chinese advanced youth's concern for Marxism. In 1919, Li Dazhao, who was influenced by the Marxist Kawakami when he was studying in Japan, published "My View on Marxism" in "New Youth" in two issues, systematically introducing Marxism on "historical materialism" and "economic theory". And the basic principles of "socialist movement theory. Some newspapers have published many articles promoting Marxism. Marxism and scientific socialism began to become the mainstream of China's advanced ideological circles. This is the most important achievement brought about by the May Fourth Movement in the history of the liberation of the Chinese nation.
But it is not easy for people to truly and systematically understand the principles of Marxism. Before 1920, there were almost no Chinese translations of the major works of Marx and Engels, and not even one of Lenin's articles was translated into Chinese. There were not many people who could read foreign books directly at that time. Deng Yingchao recalled: "At the end of the summer of the May 4th Movement... Everyone did not have a certain belief and did not understand communism. They only heard that the most ideal society was 'each doing his best, 'and 'each taking what he needs.' They only knew that with Lenin, the October Revolution in Soviet Russia succeeded; they only knew that their revolution liberated most oppressed people and wanted to realize a society without classes, it aroused our sympathy and longing for the October Revolution." This was a natural phenomenon when advanced people first came into contact with Marxism. However, they are not satisfied with those indirect introductions or rough understanding. They need more rational thinking and more systematic theoretical guidance, so they turn to have a deeper discussion with some like-minded people. In 1920, Chen Wangdao, who returned from studying in Japan, translated and published the full version of the Communist Manifesto. From September 1920, the "New Youth" magazine edited by Chen Duxiu became a publication centered on the promotion of Marxism. The advanced people had a relatively clear and systematic understanding of the basic principles of Marxism and began to engage in the workers' movement. unprecedented changes have taken place in china's social life.
At this time, the ranks of the early New Culture Movement were clearly divided. The liberal intellectuals such as Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao who propagated Marxism and Hu Shi took different paths. Both sides published articles expounding their respective views in public debate.
The advanced elements who accepted Marxism did not abandon the banner of "democracy and science" put forward by the initial New Culture Movement, but gave them new and more complete content. The vast majority of the Chinese people are workers and peasants. If they do not go among them, do not fully consider their interests and concerns, and only focus on the narrow circle of a few intellectuals, then, no matter how fierce the discussion of democracy is, it is still only the democracy of some people or even a few people, not really extensive people's democracy. Science, the most fundamental thing is to conform to objective reality. It must be deeply rooted in the soil of Chinese society and find a way to promote social change and progress in China. This is naturally much harder than talking in a study or conference room. It can be said that after the May Fourth Movement, people's understanding of democracy and science is deeper and more realistic than before.
Mao Zedong wrote in 1939: "The May Fourth Movement 20 years ago showed that China's anti-imperialist and anti-feudal bourgeois democratic revolution has developed to a new stage." Later, he wrote, "At this time, and only then, did a brand new era emerge for the Chinese, from thought to life. The Chinese found the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism, which is universally applicable, and the face of China changed."
The advanced elements who have initially accepted Marxism realize that only socialism can save China, and only organized can have strength and realize the socialist ideal in China. In 1920, Li Dazhao established a Marxist Research Society in Beijing, and Chen Duxiu established a Marxist Research Society in Shanghai. Most of their members became early communists. Then, the early organizations of the Communist Party of China began to be established in Beijing, Shanghai, Hubei, Hunan, Shandong, Guangdong, and students studying in Japan and law.
General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that the May Fourth Movement, with its revolutionary anti-imperialism and anti-feudalism, the progress of pursuing the truth of saving the country and strengthening the country, and the extensive participation of the people of all ethnic groups and all walks of life, promoted the spread of Marxism in China, promoted the combination of Marxism and the Chinese workers' movement, and made ideological preparations for the establishment of the Communist Party of China, and created conditions for new revolutionary forces, revolutionary culture, and revolutionary struggles to ascend the stage of history.
This is a new starting point and a historical orientation for the May 4th Movement.
Exactly 100 years have passed. History is the best textbook. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that it is necessary to combine the 100-year history since the May Fourth Movement to thoroughly study the significance of the patriotic, progressive, democratic, and scientific ideas advocated by the May Fourth Movement to the realization of the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The national spirit and the spirit of the times are unified with the study of the revolutionary culture and advanced socialist culture created by the party leading the people in revolution, construction, and reform, make it a spiritual force that inspires the people to forge ahead. Revisiting the history before and after the May Fourth Movement 100 years ago, we cannot help but be deeply moved by the indomitable and tenacious spirit of the Chinese nation in such a dangerous situation. We also strongly feel that the Chinese people have finally found Marxism. Combining with the reality of the country, that is, how difficult it is for the bright road of socialism with Chinese characteristics to continue to develop. Over the past 100 years, in order to realize the great rejuvenation of the nation, the Chinese have tenaciously explored and struggled, made various attempts, and repeatedly tried to copy the experiences and models of other countries, especially trying to find the truth of saving the country and the people from Western countries. Practice tells us that no other road will work. Only socialism can save China, only socialism with Chinese characteristics can develop China and realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. This is the only correct path and a long-term historical mission, which requires the continuous struggle of generation after generation. Today, on the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China, we must "never forget our original ideals and aspirations and bear in mind our mission" and never stop to forge ahead on the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
(author: researcher of the Central Party History and Literature Research Institute)
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