Mao’s Bandit Comrades: Wang Zuo and Yuan Wencai
The stories of Wang Zuo and Yuan Wencai before they joined up with Mao Zedong.Further reading:Stephen Averill, Revolution in the Highlands: China’s Jinggangshan Base AreaSome names from this episode:W...
24 Jun 202121min
Bandits of the Jinggangshan
A closer look at the phenomenon of banditry in the Jinggang Mountains, because of the importance that banditry and other forms of collective violence had on how the revolutionary movement developed.Fu...
17 Jun 202126min
Background on Society and Economy in the Jinggang Mountains
With particular emphasis on the geographical divisions between valleys and mountainsides, and ethnic divisions between Han and Hakka.Further reading:Stephen Averill, Revolution in the Highlands: China...
10 Jun 202124min
Entering the Jinggangshan: The Sanwan Reorganization of the People’s Army
As Mao’s troops arrive in the Jinggangshan region, a revolutionary reorganization of the people’s army is begun. Also, a tangent on Mao’s leadership style and nuclear war with a jump 30 years into the...
3 Jun 202124min
The Autumn Harvest Uprising in Hunan
The first days of Mao Zedong’s long career of armed struggle. Further reading: Marcia Ristaino, China’s Art of Revolution: The Mobilization of Discontent, 1927 and 1928 Roy Hofheinz, “The Autumn Harv...
27 Mai 202129min
Planning the Autumn Harvest Uprising in Hunan
Mao doesn’t budge on his military line in the face of pressure from the Party Center, and then gets arrested. Further reading: Marcia Ristaino, China’s Art of Revolution: The Mobilization of Disconte...
21 Mai 202124min
The Autumn Harvest Uprising in Hubei
The planning and execution of the Autumn Harvest Uprising in southern Hubei province. Further reading: Marcia Ristaino, China’s Art of Revolution: The Mobilization of Discontent, 1927 and 1928 Tony S...
15 Mai 202125min
The “Tender-Hearted Communist:” Qu Qiubai
Background on Qu Qiubai before he became Communist leader in 1927. Further reading: Tsi-an Hsia, The Gate of Darkness: Studies on the Leftist Literary Movement Jonathan Spence, The Gate of Heavenly P...
8 Mai 202125min
