Introducing reality to the study of facts and truth

In the spring of 1930, in order to oppose the dogmatism in the party, Mao Zedong wrote "against fundamentalism" (the original title was "investigation work"), proposing that "there is no investigation, no right to speak". From this, an important historical question can be derived: in the early twentieth century, when social surveys became common practice in China, what criteria should be met and what characteristics should the correct research meet? Compared to other political organizations and academic groups of the same period, what are the distinctive features of the investigation and research of the Chinese Communist Party?
　　Step on the actual speech of life
Since the middle of the nineteenth century, the social status quo of foreign invasion and frequent internal crises has led to a considerable lack of organizational resources available for China's modernization. This state of "low organization" is not only reflected in the level of things, but also in the serious shortage of modern knowledge resources.
When talking about the reform and knowledge improvement movement in the late Qing Dynasty, young Mao Zedong pointed out that the so-called "reform and reform" is only a huge force, with many empty holes inside and lack of life reality, while the knowledge improvement of "Chinese style and western use" is only ideological "general change, blind change and transitional change". Therefore, it is necessary to "speak according to the reality of life" and "introduce reality to study facts and truth".
In 1919, Mao Zedong listed more than 150 practical issues involving finance, education, labor, women, industry, etc. in the "Articles of the Problem Research Association", emphasizing that "those who need field investigations must be investigated on the spot". in 1920, mao zedong put forward in the Secondary specialized school door of "letter to zhou shizhao", "if we want to do a little bit in today's world, of course we can't get rid of the territory of 'china'. as for the situation in this territory, it seems that we have to do on-the-spot investigation and research."
As the founder of the Communist Party of China, Li Dazhao was also a pioneer of the Chinese social investigation movement. From 1917 to 1919, Li Dazhao conducted social surveys and wrote research reports on social groups and practical problems such as human drivers, coal miners, and youth suicides. He used a large number of first-hand materials and statistical data instead of pure logical speculation to present social reality and demonstrate practical problems.
From the perspective of organizational structure, the early Chinese Communists formed and actively participated in various research societies that specialized in social investigations before the founding of the party. In 1917, Li Dazhao, who had not long returned from Japan, together with a class of students from the political and economic discipline of Waseda University, established the "China Financial and Economic Society", claiming to study economic theory and investigate facts "in order to apply to China". In 1919, initiated by Li Dazhao and Wang Guangqi, the "Young China Society" was formally established with the participation of Mao Zedong, Deng Zhongxia, Zhang Wentian and others. The "Young China" sponsored by the society clearly declares the purpose of the publication: (1) actual investigation, (II) narrative facts, (III) applied science.
After the founding of the party, the Chinese Communists took the investigation of practical problems as an important work content of the party's organizational construction. In 1925, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions set up a special investigation and statistics agency, and wrote relevant responsibilities into the All-China Federation of Trade Unions Chapter: The trade union should compile statistical books on population, number of members, occupation, illness, and strikes every month. And investigate the facts of the strike, and compile statistical tables on labor status, employment, and unemployment.
　The Fresh Power of Liberation in China
Compared with the social surveys in the same period, the early Chinese Communists paid special attention to the bottom laborers represented by workers and farmers, and regarded them as the fundamental to solve the domestic and foreign crises in Chinese society since modern times.
In 1924, Deng Zhongxia analyzed in detail the quantity, industry and geographical distribution of the working class in China at that time in the article "Our Power". By quoting the 1918 workers' survey data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce and combining his practical experience in organizing and leading the workers' movement, Deng Zhongxia refuted the view of "doubting the lack of proletarian power" and believed that the proletarian power was growing in both quantity and quality, and will eventually become the main force of the Chinese social revolution.
In the early spring of 1927, Mao Zedong spent 32 days and traveled more than 1,400 miles to complete the investigation of the peasant movement in Xiangtan, Xiangxiang, Hengshan, Liling, and Changsha. He extensively contacted the masses, visited cadres of peasant associations, trade unions, and women's committees, held various investigations and research meetings, obtained a large number of first-hand practical materials about the Hunan peasant movement, and wrote the ''Hunan Peasant Movement Investigation Report'' on this basis, which truly recorded The great practice of the peasant movement responded to the criticism and censure of the peasant movement inside and outside the party at that time.
In contrast, other social surveys since the 20th century are mostly "statistical" and "descriptive" surveys that state the current situation in the fields of economy, society, ethnicity, and culture. Although there are social surveys on urban workers and peasant agriculture, they have not paid more attention to the actual production and living conditions of the working people at the bottom and the social structure behind them.
For example, a social survey on urban "coolies" believes that urban employees such as dock workers and rickshaw drivers are the most miserable people in the labor sector, but attribute this kind of suffering to "overeating", "poverty will cause theft", "laziness" "Sex", "gambling addiction" and so on. For another example, the rural economic survey conducted by some people attributed the root cause of poverty to "shortage of resources, backward management methods and production tools".
In this regard, as a pioneer of the investigation work of the Communist Party of China, Chen Hansheng criticized: the current social investigation of China is "not for the sake of charity relief, but to improve agriculture, or else it is just a discussion topic for social improvement". They are self-styled as a list of social phenomena and do not attempt to understand the social structure itself.
In contrast, the Communist Party of China creatively applied Marxist theory to understand and analyze practical problems in its investigation and research, and found that the oppression and exploitation of the working people in a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society is the root cause of hindering social progress.
The investigation and study of the early Chinese Communists also had a strong color of social transformation and practical advocacy. In Anyuan, Mao Zedong, in order to investigate the production and living conditions of coal miners, ate mildew and rotten vegetables with the workers and experienced the working conditions of carrying coal baskets and lying on the ground like cattle and horses. In Haifeng, Peng Pai, who returned from studying in Japan, changed into a clean and tidy suit, put on thick cloth, took off his western white hat, pointed bamboo hat, took off his leather shoes and bare feet, investigate rural issues in working and living with poor farmers.
It was through the actual investigation for the workers and peasants that the early Chinese Communists were deeply aware that "they (workers and peasants) contain the strength of the nation and the ability to promote national development", and then solemnly declared that the majority of the Chinese population The workers at the bottom of society are not the abstract objects of a certain theory, but the living forces that fundamentally solve the overall crisis, promote social progress, and liberate China.
　Investigation and Research Form Distinctive Characteristics
During this period, a large number of social survey reports have sprung up. However, from the perspective of practical effect, many of them are trapped in the category of abstract knowledge, either in the record and description of social facts, or in the lack of courage and strength to transform reality.
In the 1930 s, the Kuomintang once won over a group of experts and scholars to carry out investigation, research, planning and design work in the fields of industrial construction, military and national defense, and education of talents. However, according to the recollection of relevant people, a large number of research results and design and planning schemes formed during this period are rarely put into practice, but are only reduced to tools for decorating facade and whitewashing peace.
Mao Zedong once made a vivid metaphor of investigation and research and problem solving: "investigation is like 'pregnancy in October, 'and problem solving is like 'giving birth at once'." From Mao Zedong's investigation and research texts in the Jinggangshan base area and the Central Soviet Area, it is not difficult to find that each investigation is oriented to solving one or more practical problems. At the same time, the important findings and conclusions formed in the investigation and research will enter the decision-making process and policy practice in different forms.
In December 1928 and April 1929, according to Mao Zedong's investigations in Ninggang and Yongxin, the Central Soviet Area promulgated two bills, the Jinggangshan Land Law and the Xingguo Land Law. In May 1930, Mao Zedong clarified the problems between the rich peasants and the landlords through the "Xunwu Investigation", and put forward the land policy of "not only pumping more to make up for less, but also pumping fat to make up for thin. In October 1930, Mao Zedong defined the agrarian revolution line of "relying on the poor and hired peasants, uniting the middle peasants, restricting the rich peasants, protecting small and medium-sized industrial and commercial workers, and eliminating the landlord class" in the "Xingguo Survey.
In November 1930, Mao Zedong investigated the organization and activities of the two levels of Soviets in the land struggle in Dongtang, Daqiao, Lijiafang, Xiyiting and other places, and formed a plan to adjust the rural land distribution policy: change the village as a unit-This kind of land distribution law is beneficial to the rich peasants but not to the poor peasants. In November 1933, Mao Zedong summarized the experience of the two places in uniting and mobilizing the masses, promoting the production and economic construction of the base areas, and expanding the Red Army team in the "Changgang Township Survey" and "Caixi Township Survey". "The masses are unwilling to be the Red Army" and "no one produces if the Red Army expands", and two research reports were printed and distributed to the delegates at the second National Congress of Workers and Peasants, call on all localities to learn relevant advanced experience.
In a word, the early Chinese Communists creatively combined Marxism with China's reality, forming the distinct characteristics of investigation and research work: not only covering all social strata, but also facing the masses of workers and peasants; not only compassionate and compassionate, but also resorting to class mobilization; not only strict in theory, but also emphasizing practical action.

Source: Liberation Daily