"Chairman Mao's Good Soldier" Lei Feng

 
PIIS013128120017030-4-1
DOI10.31857/S013128120017030-4
Publication type Article
Status Published
Authors
Occupation: Associate Professor of Department of Universal History, Philosophy and Culturology
Affiliation: Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University
Address: Russian Federation, Blagoveshchensk
Journal nameProblemy Dalnego Vostoka
EditionIssue 5
Pages85-99
Abstract

The article examines the personality of "Chairman Mao's good soldier" Lei Feng — a soldier of the People's Liberation Army of China, who died tragically in 1962. On March 5, 1963, on the initiative of Mao Zedong, a political and ideological campaign was announced in China under the slogan "Learn from Lei Feng". In order to consolidate the positive image of Lei Feng in the mass consciousness of the people of the PRC, the possibilities of culture and art were widely used. The largest-scale political and ideological campaign under the slogan "Learn from Comrade Lei Feng!" acquired in the first years after the death of Lei Feng and during the "cultural revolution" (1966-1976). In 1977 Lei Feng's study campaign unfolded with renewed vigor. In the 1980s, the mass movement gradually began to fade. The CPC leadership made significant efforts to preserve it in 1980-1981, to revive it in 1987 and after the tragic events in Tiananmen Square (1989). Since 2012, there has been an increase in this campaign. Currently, Lei Feng is the personification of altruism, volunteering and helping others, carried out on a selfless basis. In this capacity, the image of Lei Feng is used in the public discourse of modern China. The Chinese media constantly refer to stories, the heroes of which are ordinary Chinese — "modern Lei Feng’". The cult of Lei Feng, persistently promoted by the CCP for decades, confronts the recently widespread facts of corruption in various (including the highest) echelons of political power.

KeywordsChina, Lei Feng, cultural revolution, propaganda
Received08.07.2021
Publication date18.10.2021
Number of characters39017
Cite  
100 rub.
When subscribing to an article or issue, the user can download PDF, evaluate the publication or contact the author. Need to register.

Number of purchasers: 0, views: 741

Readers community rating: votes 0

1. China remembers Maoist model soldier // People's Daily Online. 6.03.2009. URL: http://en.people.cn/90001/90776/90882/6607445.html (accessed: 1.09.2021).

2. Complete works of late Chinese altruist published // People's Daily Online. 23.02.2012. URL: http://en.people.cn/90882/7738199.html (accessed: 1.09.2021).

3. De-deification of Lei Feng will promote his appeal // People's Daily Online. 27.02.2012. URL: http://en.people.cn/90780/7740949.html (accessed: 1.09.2021).

4. Despite orders Lei Feng films bomb // Global Times. 7.03.2013. URL: https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/766438.shtml (accessed: 1.09.2021).

5. Finger lickin’ Lei Feng: KFC opens restaurant in China to promote spirit of model soldier // South China Morning Post. 4.03.2019. URL: scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2188580/finger-lickin-lei-feng-kfc-opens-restaurant-china-promote-spirit (accessed: 1.09.2021).

6. Jacobs A. Chinese Heroism Effort Is Met With Cynicism // The New York Times. 5.03.2012.

7. Is learning from Lei Feng now outdated? // People's Daily Online. 8.03.2010. URL: http://en.people.cn/90001/90782/6911934.html (accessed: 1.09.2021).

8. Istoriya Kitaya s drevneyjshikh vremen do nachala XXI veka (The History of China from ancient times to the beginning of the XXI century): v 10 t. / Gl. red. S.L. Tikhvinskiyj. T. VIII: Kitayjskaya Narodnaya Respublika (1949–1976) / Otv. red. Yu.M. Galenovich. M.: Nauka, 2017.

9. Kuznecov D.V. Kitajskij propagandistskij plakat: istoriya i sovremennost' (Chinese propaganda poster: history and modernity). Blagoveshchensk: BGPU, 2020.

10. Kuznecov D.V. Nacional'nyj panteon geroev Novogo Kitaya (National pantheon of heroes of New China). Blagoveshchensk: BGPU, 2021.

11. Lomanov A.V. «Kitajskaya mechta» kak ideologicheskij simvol rukovodstva Xi Jinpinga ("The Chinese Dream" as an ideological symbol of Xi Jinping's leadership) // Kitajskaya Narodnaya Respublika: politika, ekonomika, kul'tura. K 65-letiyu KNR. M.: IDV RAN, 2014.

12. Lomanov A.V. «Mechta o velikom vozrozhdenii» i politika rukovodstva Kitaya ("Dream of a great revival" and the policy of the Chinese leadership) // Kitaj na puti k vozrozhdeniyu. K 80-letiyu akademika M. L. Titarenko. M.: IDV RAN, 2014.

13. Lei Feng // Bol’shaya kitayjskaya ehnciklopediya. Ehlektronnaya versiya. Izdatel’stvo «Shans». URL: https://gruppashans.ru/index.php/Home/Basics/wikidetail/classid/8/cid/42/id/1017.html (accessed: 1.09.2021).

14. Lei Feng Becomes Online Game Hero // China.org. 15.03.2006. URL: http://www.china.org.cn/english/Life/161833.htm (accessed: 1.09.2021).

15. Lei Feng still has influence as selfless model in 45 years // People's Daily Online. 5.03.2008. URL: http://en.people.cn/90001/90776/90882/6367019.html (accessed: 1.09.2021).

16. Liu Yunshan urges 'learning from Lei Feng' // China Daily. 01.03.2013. URL: https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013–03/01/content_16268399.htm (accessed: 1.09.2021).

17. Meropriyatie «Uchitjsya u Lei Fenga» v deyjstvii (Learn from Lei Feng event in action) // Russian.News.Cn. 03.04.2019. URL: http://russian.news.cn/2019–03/04/c_137868561.htm (accessed: 1.09.2021).

18. Questioning of Lei Feng’s Frugality Leads to Detention // The Wall Street Journal China. 21.08.2013. URL: http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2013/08/21/four-detained-for-questioning-lei-fengs-frugality/ (accessed: 1.09.2021).

19. Rumyancev E.N. Vnutrennyaya i vneshnyaya politika Xi Jinpinga (Domestic and foreign policy of Xi Jinping). M.: Sinosfera, 2016.

20. Sud’bi kul’turi KNR (The fate of the PRC culture). 1949–1974. M.: Nauka, 1978.

21. Voropaev N.N. Precedentnihyj personazh № 34 Lei Feng (Precedent № 34 Lei Feng). URL: https://www.vokitai.ru/precedentnyj-personazh-34-lej-fen-%E9%9B%B7%E9%94%8B/ (accessed: 1.09.2021).

22. Who is Lei Feng // People's Daily Online. 27.02.2012. URL: http://en.people.cn/90882/7741738.html (accessed: 1.09.2021).

23. Zuo M. Lei Feng’s spirit of serving others has lost its appeal // South China Morning Post. 10.03. 2013. URL: http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/1187224/lei-fengs-spirit-serving-others-has-lostits-appeal (accessed: 1.09.2021).

24. 中共中央办公厅印发《意见》 深入开展学雷锋活动. 2012年03月03日 (The General Directorate of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party published Opinions on deepening the study of Lei Feng's experience). 3.03.2012. URL: http://cpc.people.com.cn/GB/64093/64387/17282033.html (accessed: 1.09.2021).

Система Orphus

Loading...
Up