◆A portrait of Cao Cao.
Text/Wang Yonghua
Cao Cao can be said to be one of the most controversial historical figures in thousands of years; his evaluation has always been ruined and praised. At the end of the 1950s, famous historians 郭沫若, Jian Bozan, etc., initiated a discussion on the restoration of Cao Cao’s reputation, which people call "reverting the case for Cao Cao." However, this important matter in contemporary history is rarely discussed in specific articles. The author combed through the memoirs of the parties that came out in recent years and examined the ins and outs of this controversy.
1. Cao Cao in the eyes of Mao Zedong
Scholar Song Peixian published "Mao Zedong and "Returning the Case for Cao Cao" in the "Literary Theory and Criticism", 1999, 6th issue-a reference to a public case 40 years ago The article points out that the controversy surrounding Cao Cao in 1959 directly originated from Mao Zedong’s evaluation of Cao Cao. This view has been widely recognized by academia. Therefore, to discuss the whole story of Cao Cao's evaluation, we must start with Mao Zedong's several evaluations of Cao Cao.
At the beginning of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Mao Zedong made a high evaluation of Cao Cao. On November 1, 1952, when Mao Zedong visited the Yin Ruins in Anyang, Henan, he said: Zhanghe is the place where Cao Cao trained sailors. Cao Cao is also an amazing character. He carried out a large-scale expansion here, and also implemented a farming system in this area, so that the people had enough food and clothing, accumulated strength, and gradually unified the north, laying the foundation for the later Shan to unify the country.
It was in 1954 that Mao Zedong fully affirmed the historical figure Cao Cao and clearly proposed to "reverse the case for Cao Cao". In the summer of this year, he came to Beidaihe. After a swim, he recites Cao Cao’s "Guan Canghai" poem, and said to Xu Tao, a health doctor next to him, “Cao Cao is a great politician, military strategist, and Amazing poet." Xu Tao was taken aback. He had never heard such affirmation of Cao Cao, so he asked doubtfully: "Cao Cao? Which Cao Cao?" "Which Cao Cao is there? Cao Cao of the Three Kingdoms." "He, isn't he a treacherous minister?" "嘁", When Mao Zedong was angry, he reprimanded people like this: "Cao Cao unified northern China and founded the State of Wei. At that time, the Yellow River Basin was the center of the country. He reformed many of the evil policies of the Eastern Han Dynasty, restrained tyranny, developed production, implemented the farmland system, and urged land reclamation. Promote the rule of law and promote thrift, so that the devastated society begins to stabilize, recover, and develop. Shouldn’t this be certain? Isn’t it amazing? It is said that Cao Cao is a white-faced treacherous minister, written like this in the book, and acted like this in the drama. That was an unjust case created by feudal orthodoxy, and the reactionary gentry. They were monopolists of feudal culture. They wrote things to maintain feudal orthodoxy. This case has to be reversed.”
Mao Zedong opposed the derogation of Cao Cao, right. Cao Cao was very dissatisfied with the traditional concept of being a traitor. On April 10, 1957, in a conversation with the person in charge of "人民日报", Mao Zedong defended Cao Cao's false accusation: In history, Cao Cao is a traitor, so don't believe those romances. In fact, Cao Cao is not bad. At that time, Cao Cao represented the progressive side, while Han was in decline.
In mid-August 1958, the CPC Central Committee held an enlarged meeting of the Political Bureau in Beidaihe. Mao Zedong convened a meeting with the directors of the major cooperation districts. He said at the meeting: It is good for us to be with the workers. Our feelings will change, affecting tens of millions of cadres and children. It is reasonable for Cao Cao to scold Han Xiandi as "born in a deep palace and grown in the hands of a woman". Mao Zedong used this story to warn leading cadres not to divorce from the masses, which is just right.
Mao Zedong is a romantic poet. He wrote in the phrase "Langtaosha Beidaihe": "The past has been over a thousand years, and Wei Wu waved his whip, and there is a legacy on the east side of Jieshi. The bleak autumn wind is now again, and the world has changed." This is Mao Zedong's conclusion to Cao Cao. The famous article. In a few words, the image of a politician, military strategist, and poet came to light. Mao Zedong liked Cao Cao's poems very much. He said: I still like Cao Cao's poems. Majestic, generous and desolate, he is a real man, and generous.
Mao Zedong even noticed Cao Cao's health regimen. 1961In August 2008, he recommended Cao Cao’s poem "Turtle Shoushou" to Hu Qiaomu who was recuperating due to illness. He said: "The period of shrinking and shrinking is not alone in the sky. The blessing of raising and happy, you can get eternal years." Poems should be read. In December 1963, he wrote to Lin Biao, who was recuperating due to illness, recommending "Turtle Although Longevity", saying that this poem is very good.
After this, Mao Zedong also mentioned and fully affirmed Cao Cao many times. For example, in 1975, Mao Zedong said: "Several politicians and military strategists from the three countries have all contributed to reunification, and Take Cao Cao as the greatest.” Even in a conversation in 1976, he used Cao Cao and others who had never gone to college to explain the truth that “only in practice can we grow talents”. However, Mao Zedong most frequently affirmed and admired Cao Cao in a relatively short period of time, and fully affirmed and admired Cao Cao from various angles, and made a clear-cut attempt to reverse Cao Cao's case, which was concentrated in the last two months of 1958.
In November 1958, Mao Zedong said at the first Zhengzhou meeting: "King Yin Zhou (usually called a'tyrant') is proficient in literature and military affairs. Qin Shihuang and Cao Cao are both regarded as bad guys. This is incorrect. "
In the same month, when he met with the secretary of the Anyang County Party Committee, he said: "Cao Cao knows how to employ people, recruit talents, engage in'all over the world', and don't engage in sectarianism. He also pays attention to dredging rivers, irrigating water, and developing. Agricultural production.”
On November 20th, at a symposium held in Wuhan, when it came to Cao Cao, Mao Zedong asked the people around him: Have you noticed when you read "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Three Kingdoms". The book's evaluation of Cao Cao is different. "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" describes Cao Cao as a traitorous official; and "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" describes Cao Cao as a positive figure in history, and it is said that Cao Cao was an "extraordinary person" and "superior" who appeared during the great chaos of the world. The best". But because "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" is popular and lively, so many people watch it, and the old dramas in the Three Kingdoms are made up based on the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", so Cao Cao is a white-faced traitor on the stage of the old drama. This can be said to be well known to women and children in our country. "To say that Cao Cao is a traitorous official is an unjust case created by feudal orthodoxy." "Now we have to rectify Cao Cao's case. Our party is a truth-speaking party. All wrong cases and unjust cases will be rectified in ten or twenty years. Two thousand years will be turned over."
In December, when Mao Zedong read Lu Bi’s annotations to "Let the County Self-Ming" in the Collected Explanations of the Three Kingdoms, he wrote such a comment in response to Lu Bi’s accusation against Cao Cao: "This annotation is posted There are many big-character posters in Wei Wu. If you want to add a crime, there is nothing wrong with it.”
In the same month, when Mao Zedong was reading "The Biography of Wei Shu·Liu Biao", he also criticized Liu Biao's "Kill Jiang" in Pei Note. : "It is ominous to kill and descend, what Meng De does not do." It showed his praise for Cao Cao’s “do not kill and surrender”; he also criticized Lu Bi’s comment on Liu Biao’s sacrifice to the world and self-reliance as an emperor in the fifth year of Jian’an (200 AD): “Being the emperor of the earth, Meng De is not ." Not only showed his contempt for Liu Biao's approach, but once again praised Cao Cao.
As a great leader who enjoys lofty prestige among the Chinese people, Mao Zedong's evaluation of Cao Cao will naturally have a great influence in the academic world, as if it has set up a weather vane. The academic community moved after hearing the wind.
2. "Guangming Daily" took the lead in discussing the issue of Cao Cao's evaluation
In addition to Mao Zedong's factors, the debate surrounding Cao Cao in 1959 also had an important historical background.
The error of the expansion of the anti-rightist struggle in 1957 disrupted the implementation of Mao Zedong's 1956 policy of "letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend", which aimed to promote the prosperity of literature and art and the development of science. Many intellectuals in society avoided expressing opinions and talked about academic issues, and the atmosphere was very quiet. To change this situation, it is necessary to correctly implement the principles of contention of a hundred schools of thought, conduct free discussions, create an atmosphere of academic contention, and encourage people with different opinions to speak freely.
One month after Mao Zedong focused his comments on Cao Cao at the end of 1958, on January 25, 1959, the special issue "Literature Legacy" of Guangming Daily was published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Guo Moruo's "On Cai Wenji's "Eighteen Beats of Hu Ji"" raised the issue of reversing Cao Cao's case. This article mainly demonstrates that Cai Wenji is "The real author of "Hu Ji Eighteen Beats". Guo Moruo said in the article: "From Cai Wenji's life, we can see the greatness of Cao Cao. It was Cao Cao who saved her." He further pointed out: "Although Cao Cao started assaulting the Yellow Turban, we can say that he inherited the Yellow Turban movement. This movement was organized. The Qingzhou Army composed of yellow turban farmers was the basis of his military force. His farming policy was also based on this foundation. He lays down the strong, suppresses mergers, helps the poor and the weak. More than ten years of painstaking efforts have basically reordered the entire society that collapsed at the end of the Han Dynasty. The peasants in northern China have basically gotten some adjustments to their desire for land for thousands of years. Since the Yin Dynasty, it has been the northern part of China. The Hun, who was in great trouble, almost turned into a county in his hands. He went as far as Liaodong to calm down the newly emerged Wuhuan. He culturally formed the climax of Jian'an literature in the history of Chinese literature." Said: "Cao Cao's contribution to the nation should be highly appraised. He should be called a national hero. However, after the so-called'orthodox' concept was established since the Song Dynasty, this outstanding historical figure was not in vain. The injustice. Since the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" became popular, even three-year-old children have regarded Cao Cao as a bad person, as a treacherous minister, which is really a major distortion of history."
Guo Moruo This is Cao Cao. After the reversal article was published, it attracted great interest from readers. People have different opinions on whether Cao Cao is a national hero or not, and there are a lot of opinions on the evaluation of Cao Cao in the society.
"Guangming Daily" is a national newspaper led by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, with intellectuals as the main target, and focusing on publicizing the party’s cultural and educational policies. It implements the policy of "letting a hundred flowers blossom and a hundred schools of thought contend". Glorious mission. The editorial board of Guangming Daily believes that how to correctly evaluate the subject of Cao Cao can easily open up a situation of contention among a hundred schools of thought.
Mu Xin, the party secretary and deputy editor-in-chief of Guangming Daily, disclosed in "Shu Xue Tan Wang-Recollection in the Ten Years of Guangming Daily": After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, how many Guangming Daily was founded An academic special issue, such as "Literary Heritage", "History", "Philosophy", "Economics", "Literature Reform" and "National Life". These special issues, which are popular among intellectuals, constitute a major feature of Guangming Daily. These special issues have invited well-known scholars from outside the academic circles to form an editorial committee responsible for the editing of the special issues. "Literature Legacy" is led by the Institute of Literature of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the editorial board of "History" is composed of three people from the Institute of Modern History of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University, and Beijing Normal University. In the past, the choice and layout of the manuscripts of the special issue were decided by the editor-in-chief of the special issue. In order to improve this situation and also to discuss the evaluation of Cao Cao, it was decided to establish an academic propaganda organization in the newspaper editorial department; but due to insufficient manpower and experience Lack, first set up an academic group in the domestic political department, and began work in early 1959. The first task of this group is to discuss the evaluation of Cao Cao. They consulted people from all walks of life such as history, literature and art, and agreed to write manuscripts.
On February 19, 1959, the famous historian 翦伯赞 was invited to publish in the "History" Special Issue No. 152 "We should restore the reputation of Cao Cao-from "The Battle of Chibi" to Cao Cao ". The editorial department specially added "Editor's Note" before the article:
"Cao Cao is a well-known historical figure in our country, but how should he evaluate him? He should be one in Chinese history. Today, there are still very different opinions on what status. Jian Bo agrees with this article, combining the content of the newly adapted "Battle of Chibi", a Beijing opera, to raise the issue of'recovering Cao Cao's reputation'. We hope that Comrades who are interested in Cao Cao have all come to participate in the discussion about this historical figure. At the same time, because Cao Cao is an important figure on the stage of our country, comrades in the theater industry are welcome to participate in this discussion."
◆ Jian Bozan
Jian Bozan agreed with Guo Moruo's opinion that Cao Cao reversed the case. He said in "Should Recover Cao Cao's Reputation": "In my opinion, Cao Cao is not only a first-rate politician, military strategist, and poet among the three kingdoms, but also a prominent figure in China's feudal ruling class." He finally won. Conclusion: It is unfair that such a prominent figure in Chinese history has been treated as a traitor for a long time.flat. We should remove Cao Cao's hat as a traitor and restore Cao Cao's reputation.
On March 23, Guo Moruo published "Returning the Case for Cao Cao" in the "People's Daily" to further develop the arguments he put forward in "Tan Cai Wenji's "The Eighteen Beats of Hu Ji"". The main points of the full text are as follows: (1) Although Cao Cao attacked the Yellow Turban Army, he did not violate the purpose of the Yellow Turban Army uprising. (2) Cao Cao's suppression of Wuhuan was an anti-aggressive war and won the support of the people. (3) The issue of Cao Cao's murder should be reconsidered based on historical facts. (4) Cao Cao has made great contributions to the development of the nation and culture. (5) Cao Cao wrongedly made negative teaching materials for more than a thousand years. Today, he wants to restore his reputation.
One stone stirred up a thousand waves. Guo Moruo and Jian Bozan's articles broke the silence of the historical circle that was formed by the anti-rightist movement in 1957 and the "historical revolution" in 1958, and the climax of contention resumed.
3. A large-scale and far-reaching controversy
The discussion on Cao Cao’s evaluation began with Guangming Daily and People’s Daily and quickly expanded to other newspapers across the country. According to the "Discussion on Cao Cao's Evaluation-Comprehensive Report" in the 9th issue of "History Monthly" in 1959, as of the end of June 1959, there were more than 140 articles and reports in newspapers. Many celebrities from the historian, literary, and theater circles across the country, such as Wu Han, Tan Qixiang, Wang Kunlun, Yang Rongguo, Zhou Yiliang, Qi Sihe, Liu Dajie, Zheng Tianting, etc. wrote articles to participate in the discussion. In this discussion, many arguments were tit-for-tat. Participants debated openly and spoke freely, which changed the opinion of some people in the academic circle about whether or not the policy of "Hundred Schools of Thought" should still be implemented. In October 1959, Tan Qixiang published an article "Discussing Cao Cao's Gains" in "Wen Wei Po", which summarized the discussion about Cao Cao's evaluation. The article said that through the discussion, "the first is to activate the academic atmosphere." "The thousands of people who participated in the forum are really so enthusiastic. Not only did the academic atmosphere in the history circle become more active, it also affected the entire social science circle." , "Promoted academic research", "mobilized the enthusiasm of all aspects of the historian", "really received the effect of the policy of a hundred schools of thought to make up for the shortcomings, and brainstorm." Because of contention, you can fight for a good article. Many people start discussions around a problem, each knows well, provides information, and each offers their own views, which can make "the discussion gets deeper and deeper, and the article becomes more detailed." Not only that, "Through this discussion, the majority of academics will further correctly understand the positive significance of the contention of a hundred schools of thought." The articles and speeches discussed are also incorrect, but whether they are correct or not, you can express your own opinions. Many unknown juniors put forward different opinions to Guo Moruo. This kind of equal discussion is the possibility and guarantee of academic development.
Soon after this discussion started, people from all walks of life were talking about Cao Cao. Regarding the discussion of Cao Cao’s grand occasion, the historian Wu Han’s words in "Talking about Cao Cao" published in the "History" special issue of "Guangming Daily" on March 19th as evidence: "These days, when you meet someone, you will talk about Cao Cao. It’s very high. Even in the venue, before, after, and during breaks, all the people talking about were Cao Cao. Some said he was a good guy, some said he was a bad guy, and some said he was half and half, half good, and half bad. There are a lot of discussions and a lot of articles, and everyone expresses their own opinions. It was when the spring flowers were blooming, and there was a good topic like Tan Cao Cao, the academic world was also blooming, and the spring was full of gardens, and it was so good." "The Daily" received a letter from an engineer from Qingdao National Cotton No. 7 Factory saying: Many people in their factory are interested in this discussion. As soon as the newspapers that published articles about Cao Cao arrived, they immediately collected them, and many people who wanted to read them could not see it. Therefore, the engineer wrote to repurchase the entire Guangming Daily of this period. Deng Guangming, who was the editor-in-chief of the "History" special issue at that time, later wrote in the article "Recalling the "History" Special Issue before the Cultural Revolution": "Cao Cao is a historical figure known to women and children. The writers participating in the discussion are not only historians. And there are people from all walks of life. At that time, all provinces, cities, and autonomous regions across the country had articles discussing Cao Cao posted to the "Guangming Daily". Some of the manuscripts were published in the original version, and most of them were published in the "History". "The Prosperity"." The article on the debate on the issue of Cao Cao was published by Beijing Sanlian Bookstore in 1960 as "The Collection of Cao Cao".
This discussion made a breakthrough in the evaluation of Cao Cao. For many years, there has been a basically unanimous understanding among people: "They all regard Cao Cao as a bad person and a treacherous minister with a pink face." After discussion, this long-term understanding began to diverge. Although this discussion has not yet reached a consensus conclusion, the image of Cao Cao has changed in people's minds. On August 11, 1959, Mao Zedong said at the Lushan Conference: Cao Cao has been scolded for more than a thousand years, and now his reputation should be restored. After that, Cao Cao on the Peking Opera stage added a red dot to the center of his eyebrows to show that he was a good person. In the discussion, most people agreed with the main points of Guo Moruo and Jian Bozan in the above article, that Cao Cao was an outstanding historical figure, an outstanding politician, military strategist, and poet at that time. His farming policy, suppression of tyranny and other measures, as well as his achievements in reunifying the north and restoring the economy, most people also believe that they meet the needs of the times and are objectively in line with the interests of the people. But on some issues, many articles expressed different opinions on the arguments in Guo Moruo's two articles. The more intense issue in the debate was Cao Cao's attitude towards the Yellow Turban Army of the peasant rebel army, followed by the issue of Cao Cao's murder and the nature of several wars. The most influential one is the confrontation between Professor Tan Qixiang and Guo Moruo of the History Department of Fudan University. Guo Moruo wrote a series of articles to reverse the case of Cao Cao, and Tan Qixiang published three articles to discuss with them. Tan Qixiang published "On Cao Cao" in Wen Wei Po on May 31, 1959. The article believes that "there is no issue of overturning the case against Cao Cao." "In short, Cao Cao is a historical figure with advantages and disadvantages, a lot of credit, and no small sins. From a comprehensive perspective, the overall evaluation should be that merit is more than sin. . But we can’t and we don’t need to hide his crime because he is meritorious. In the past, many people did not say that he was too meritorious, so this case basically does not need to be reversed. If we must reverse the crime he committed. It is said that there is nothing wrong, or although there is something, but it is not guilty, I am afraid it is impossible to interpret, because it is a historical fact." Tan Qixiang also published "Cai Wenji's Life and Works" in 1959. Guo ZhuAfter". Guo Moruo usually wrote articles to refute different opinions, but he remained silent on these three papers by Tan Qixiang and did not make any response.
◆郭沫若
This discussion has had a profound impact on the correct evaluation of Cao Cao in the academic world, and on some important issues in history, such as The evaluation of historical figures, the evaluation of peasant wars, the issue of ethnic relations, and the study of the farming system all have certain enlightening effects. Afterwards, most of the relevant academic works and dictionaries published in my country absorbed the results of this discussion. For example, the 1999 new edition of "Ci Hai" commented on Cao Cao as a statesman, military strategist, and poet during the Three Kingdoms period. After the battle of Guandu broke the Hebei separatist Yuan Shao, northern China was gradually unified. He farmed farms in the north and built water conservancy projects to solve the problem of lack of military rations and have a certain effect on the restoration of agricultural production. Employing only talents, draws attention to the middle and lower classes of the landlord class. Suppress tyranny and strengthen centralization. The social economy of the ruled area has been restored and developed. Fine art of war, the author of "Sun Tzu Briefly" and "Sun Tzu Jiao" and other books. Good poetry, "Haoli Xing", "Guan Canghai", "Gui Shishou" and other articles express their political ambitions and reflect the suffering life of the people in the late Han Dynasty, majestic, generous and sad. The "General History of China" edited by Bai Shouyi pointed out: "Cao Cao is not only an outstanding statesman and military strategist in Chinese history, but also an outstanding writer."
It should be pointed out that in this evaluation of Cao Cao In the large discussion of the problem, due to Mao Zedong’s special identity, especially the special background of the infinite worship of him throughout the country in the 1950s and 1960s, it objectively caused people to regard him as an extraordinary reader and evolve into the right. Absolute acceptance and respect for all his opinions and speeches. In all fairness, the wave of "reversal" at that time cannot but be said to have a lot to do with this. As far as the historians at that time are concerned, reversing the case of Cao Cao in history is not only in line with historical reality, but also completely correct. But instead of translating the historical case of Cao Cao, he decided that "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms is simply Cao Cao's slander", and indiscriminately concluded that the author of "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" completely "appraised the characters of the Three Kingdoms based on feudal consciousness." This is a bit of a "grabbing of the beard and eyebrows", which damages the historical status and value of the "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", one of the four classic classics.
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