Author: Tin-Kay Goh
Date: 01-26-02 07:25
Dear Yoon Ngan
It is very good to see you writing profusely to let us relive Chinese history. I am sure you will be having more books to be published soon.
The first meeting of the Chinese Communist Party was held in Shanghai at 76 Xingye Lu which was a girl's school in then French Concession. Though most authorities listed twelve delegates, some books ("An Outline History of China 1919-1949" by Bai Shouyi and "Mao, A Life" by Phillip Short) mentioned a thirteenth delegate, He Shuheng, who accompanied Mao Zedong from Changsha. The delegate Wang Lumei that you wrote is probably a typo mistake for Wang Jinmei ¤ýºÉ¬ü .
This first meeting, termed the First Congress of the CCP, ¤¤¦@¤@¤j·|§} , was held from 23rd-31st July 1921, but on 30th July, the venue was held at Li Hanjun's house, also in the French Concession. Suddenly, a suspicious man popped up asking for a Mr.Wan who was Chairman of the Association of Social Organiszations. Since such an association nearby had no Mr. Wan as chairman, the delegates immediately disbanded and the place was raided soon after by Chinese detectives led by a French officer. The remaining part of their meeting was then recommenced the next day at the South Lake in Jiaxing on the way to Hangzhou.
This First Congress was not attended by the CCP's two most important founder members, Chen Duxiu 41 years, and Li Dazhao 32 years. It had two Russian foreign, observers the Russian Emissary to China, Gregori Voitinsky, and his aide identified as Nikolsky. Threre was a third foreign observer. the Dutch Comintern representative, called Hendricus Sneevlit, alias Maring. The Congress elected Chen Duxiu in absentia as the Secretary General. Apparently, Zhu De, later Marshal and Chief of Armed Forces, was also an absent CCP founder member.
Chen Duxiu (Editor of New Youth, La Jeunesse)and Li Dazhao, though both Marxists, had different views. Chen was more Western orientated to revolution by city workers whereas Li was keen on revolution in the country. Li, who was Mao Zedong's librarian boss in Beijing University, had an impact on the young Mao. Li was unfortunately killed by the Manchurian warlord Zhang Zuolin. Chen was later expelled from the CCP by his own members.
Interestingly, it was the May 4th Revolution followed by the New Culture Movement that tied them to each other and their subsequent fates. Cai Yuanpei, on appointment as Chancellor of Beijing University in 1916, had Hu Shi as Professor of Philosophy, Chen Duxiu as Dean of the School of Letters, Li Dazhao as Chief Librarian and Lu Xun as a staff member (in 1920). Li Dazhao in turned had Mao Zedong as his assistant librarian. Although Hu Shi was anti-Confucian like Chen and Li, he was anti-Marxist.
Three years ago, my interest in Chinese history brought me to 76, Xingye Lu, which is now the Museum of the First National Congress of the CCP. The entrance fee was and is a nominal 3 yuans. Please be warned that it is closed on Monday and Thursday. Chen Duxiu's words, which I append below, will still run true for the youths and new leaders of China:
Be independent, not servile
Be progressive, not conservative
Be cosmopolitan, not isolationist
Be utilitarian, not formalistic
Be scientific, not imaginative.
If one is in Shanghai, one should also see Sun Yatsen's Residence, Lu Xun's Residence and the house where Zhou Enlai operated the CCP. Sun Yatsen lived in his Shanghai Residence for six years on donations from Overseas Chinese.
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