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Portrait of Mao Zedong from propaganda poster

Long Live Mao Zedong Thought (1968)

 At the beginning of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Wang Chaoxing, an instructor in the Philosophy Department at Wuhan University, compiled hundreds of Mao’s speeches and writings that covered the Communist Party Chairman’s life up to 1968. The Second Steel Division, a rebel Red Guard faction based at the university, subsequently obtained and printed the documents for internal circulation in May 1968. The publication was comprised of five volumes, nearly 1600 pages in length, and titled Mao Zedong sixiang wanui (Long Live Mao Zedong Thought).

This collection consists of about 90 documents related to foreign affairs that were selected from the full edition, including records of conversations that Mao held with non-Chinese individuals after 1949 and speeches, letters, and commentaries that he wrote.

The full texts for this edition of Long Live Mao Zedong Thought are available online through the Marxists Internet Archive, as well as in print from the Service Center for Chinese Publications (Los Angeles).

Portrait of Mao Zedong from propaganda poster

Popular Documents

October 1950

Four Principles for Unity Between the Chinese People's Volunteer Army and the [North] Korean People

Mao instructs soldiers in the Chinese People's Volunteer Army to support Kim Il Sung and abide by North Korean policies while they help defend the North Korean people from the United States.

September 20, 1953

Congratulatory Message [from Mao Zedong] to the Chinese People's Volunteer Army

Following the signing of the Korean War Armistice, Mao writes to congratulate the soldiers of the Chinese People's Volunteers.

May 27, 1960

[Mao Zedong's] Conversation with [Bernard] Montgomery, [British Viscount of Alamein]

Montgomery offers praise for what he sees during his visit to China. He and Mao discuss a variety of both then current and historical topics, mostly concerning American opposition to China and the possibility of peaceful coexistence with European countries.

March 9, 1953

Mao Zedong, 'The Greatest Friendship'

After the death of Stalin, Mao honors his legacy and achievements.

January 27, 1959

Conversation from [Mao Zedong's] Audience with a Government Delegation from the German Democratic Republic (Excerpt)

Mao discusses the need to both use and control intellectuals. He particularly notes that the CCP must be prepared to face rebellions at universities [such as the ones that occurred during the Hundred Flowers Campaign]. When Mao allowed Chinese intellectuals to rebel, it almost seemed like the CCP would perish, but he learned from the Hungarian Incident [a student protest incited the Hungarian Revolution of 1956] and ensnared them [in the Anti-Rightist Campaign of 1957].