History always gives people the strength to draw wisdom and move forward in some special years. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 100th anniversary of the founding of Hunan Self-Study University, the first cadre training school of the Communist Party of China. Not forgetting the original intention and keeping the mission in mind, we came to Chuanshan Society (now No. 74, Zhongshan Road, Changsha City), the former site of Hunan Self-Study University, to look back at the century-old party history, remember the revolutionary patriots, and relive the glorious achievements of Hunan Self-Study University. It is understood that in the new era, we must inherit revolutionary ideals, draw on the spiritual power of forging ahead, strive to implement the "three highs and four new" strategy, comprehensively promote high-quality development, and continue to work hard to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
1. Founding purpose: to cultivate revolutionary talents
The key to the success or failure of revolution and construction lies in talents, and the basis for cultivating talents is education. The establishment of Hunan Self-Study University is a practical move to meet the needs of the revolution. It must answer a series of questions such as for whom to train people, how to train people, and what kind of people to train. For whom does
train people? After the Revolution of 1911, countless people with lofty ideals were thinking about how to make the country prosperous, strong and independent and save the people from the fire. With the firing of the October Revolution, the New Culture Movement took on new content and entered a new stage of promoting Marxism. As Marxist thought spread, fermented, and matured, in July 1921, a group of representatives with lofty ideals who had found the truth to revitalize China met in Shanghai and Jiaxing and announced the establishment of the Communist Party of China, ushering in a new era of Chinese history. After the founding of the Communist Party of China, in order to strengthen the theoretical study of Marxism-Leninism among party and league cadres and to better publicize and organize the masses, Mao Zedong, He Shuheng and others accelerated the preparation of self-study universities.
How to train people? Self-study universities are essentially different from ancient academies and traditional old universities in terms of enrollment conditions, organizational form, teaching content, systems and methods according to the purpose and purpose of running the school. For example, Mao Zedong openly declared that "self-study universities are a kind of populist university." We adhere to the principle of populism in recruiting students. There is no tuition fee for students to enroll, and only meal fees for boarding. However, since self-study universities serve the revolution, they also adopt a "relatively cautious attitude" in selecting students and have strict requirements for admission. The administrative body of the school has a school board of directors, and it also hires a group of famous professors to provide circular guidance. Li Dazhao and Chen Duxiu have all applied for the job, and Deng Zhongxia, Yun Daiying, Zhang Qiuren, etc. have all come to the school to give lectures. Who does
train? creates a generation of talents and inspires future generations with its glory. Mao Zedong founded Hunan Self-Study University in response to the trend of the times and the needs of the revolution, to cultivate revolutionary talents and to select like-minded students. Mao Zedong personally drafted the "Declaration of the Founding of Hunan Self-Study University" and pointed out that self-study universities cultivate talents for the revolution and prepare for the construction of a new era. Habits, preparation for social innovation. "The purpose is to transform society. "Our study is not without purpose. Our purpose is to transform the current society." Self-study university is to satisfy the "three goals." The "spiritual desires and cultural impulses" of the tens of millions of Hunan ethnic groups must cultivate the "self-fulfillment, self-development and creation of their individual and collective special personalities and special personalities" in the new era. Through the admission screening, a large number of ambitious and promising young people with revolutionary spirit were selected and gathered in the self-study university. This not only created a new trend for a generation, but also brought together like-minded revolutionary comrades.
2. School philosophy: integrating theory with practice
On August 16, 1921, Mao Zedong issued the "Declaration of the Founding of Hunan Self-Study University" and began to recruit students from the society. Hunan Self-Study University abandoned the mechanical education management method of the school at that time, and changed the training model of "dealing with each other, each getting his own place" between teachers and students; innovating the "eight-legged essay" in content, focusing on the study of Marxism-Leninism, with special emphasis on social practice, in order to cultivate students' nationality Independent thought and revolutionary spirit.
teaching content is scientific. Article 17 of the "Organizational Outline of Hunan Self-Study University" stipulates that there are two subjects of grammar and law. The liberal arts courses include Chinese literature, Western literature, English, psychology, ethics, education, sociology, history, geography, and journalism. Science, philosophy; law courses include law, political science, and economics. Students must elect at least one of the above subjects. In addition, self-study universities, while emphasizing students' serious study of knowledge, also pay great attention to labor education and emphasize the combination of mental labor and physical labor. "In order to get rid of the habit of being weak in literature, strive for the average development of mental and physical strength, and seek to bring the two classes of knowledge and labor closer, we should pay attention to labor." Therefore, the university added art, printing, ironworking and other equipment.
teaching methods are diverse. Hunan Self-Study University has its own unique education system and learning methods. It focuses on students' self-study and opposes teachers' use of indoctrination to teach. The educational method adopts the advantages of the academy of excellent traditional Chinese culture and the advantages of modern education, and is divided into self-study, discussion, lecture, correspondence, etc. In order to meet the needs of self-study, the Self-study University changed the original Chuanshan Society library into a library and purchased a large number of progressive books and periodicals, including "The Communist Manifesto", "History of Socialism", "New Youth", etc. The library has a total of 678 kinds of books. 3677 volumes. In order to cultivate more cadres and talents to lead the Marxist revolutionary movement, in September 1922, the Self-Study University added a cram school to lead the youth movement. Seven tutoring evening schools have been established for the rickshaw industry, pen industry, road condition and other industries. The cram school had 114 students when it opened, and at its peak there were more than 200 students, including Chen Geng, He Erkang, Mao Zetan, Gao Wenhua, Zhang Qiong, etc.
teaching results are revolutionary. In April 1923, Hunan Self-Study University founded the school magazine "New Era". Most of the articles published were the results of self-study and discussion research by alumni of the self-study university. They studied how to overthrow imperialism, overthrow military politics, and how to reform education, literature, art, etc. and other revolutionary content. In addition, participating in the labor movement, student movement, peasant movement and anti-imperialist struggle is a main course at Hunan Self-Study University and its affiliated cram schools. As a result, the self-study university trained a large number of outstanding revolutionary cadres in just two years, and played a major role in the revolutionary movement. After the establishment of Hunan Self-Study University, Mao Zedong and his teachers and students organized and led a series of strikes by workers on the Guangdong-Hankou Railway, Shanshuikou Lead-Zinc Mine Workers, Rickshaw Workers, Barber Workers, Pen Industry Workers, and Sewing Workers, setting off the first major strike in Hunan. the climax of the labor movement. In addition, the students also launched the student anti-imperialist and patriotic movement, established the Hunan Provincial Student Federation, the Hunan Youth National Salvation Corps, and the Hunan Diplomatic Support Association to fight against reactionary forces, setting off one climax after another.
3. Historical contribution: Known as the "cradle of revolution"
Hunan Self-Study University is the first cadre training school of the Communist Party of China. It has formed a group of staunch Marxists and plays a very important role in the historical process of the sinicization of Marxism. It is praised by the people of Hunan as the "cradle of revolution".
1. The first exploration of the Sinicization of Marxism
Hunan Self-Study University is known as the "source of the Party School" and the "cradle of the revolution" in Hunan because there are a number of Marxist groups active in it and it was the first time to actively explore the Sinicization of Marxism. . The self-study university mainly studies Marxism. It has also held Marxist lecture conferences and hired patriots with profound knowledge of Marxism as tutors. The school magazine "New Era" founded by Mao Zedong invited Li Da as the editor-in-chief. The purpose of the publication is to "strive to study practical academics and prepare for social transformation." "In the future, how to transform the country, how to clarify politics, how to overthrow imperialism, and military politics How to overthrow, how to reform the education system, how to revolutionize literature, art and other knowledge, how to build, etc., this journal must contribute fundamental research and specific propositions", "so as to attract many like-minded people to engage in this kind of society. socialist undertakings and research."According to the four issues of "New Era" that can be collected so far, there are 55 articles, mainly promoting Marxism, exploring the sinicization of Marxism, the spirit of the Second National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and educational reform ideas. Among them, the monthly "New Era" published Li Da's article "Marx Theory and China", which was the first time that the Communist Party of China proposed the combination of Marxism and China's reality, and the first time it explored the sinicization of Marxism.
2. The first dawn of educational reform practice in the new era
Hunan Self-Study University has conducted groundbreaking exploration and practice in teaching content, curriculum, teaching methods, and practical methods. Li Shi once said that "it is the era of a new education system" and "the forerunner for the popularization of higher education and the forerunner for the realization of a free social system." Cai Yuanpei published an article "Introduction and Explanation of Hunan Self-Study University" in Shanghai's "New Education" magazine, saying that self-study universities "combine the strengths of our Chinese academies and Western research institutes and make full use of them. They can serve as models for new universities in various provinces." These valuable experiences have opened the dawn of a "new era" and are of extremely important significance in the history of Chinese education and Party school education.
Hunan Self-Study University draws on the advantages of traditional academies and modern schools, while avoiding the shortcomings of both. It also has "unique advantages" beyond the two, that is, it advocates "populist education". "The reason why self-study universities are A new system is to take the form of ancient academies and incorporate the content of modern schools into a special organization suitable for the study of human nature. "It makes the concept of populist education deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, benefits the common people at the bottom of society, and expands the mass base. It is conducive to cultivating a large number of revolutionary talents.
Hunan Self-Study University organizes evening parties every weekend to discuss current affairs politics or academic discussions, and encourages students to conduct social surveys among workers. In May 1922, students from Hunan Self-study University attended a conference commemorating the 104th anniversary of the birth of Marx. Mao Zedong gave a speech on "Communism" and "Communism and China", and Xia Xi gave a speech on "Communism and Russia". The understanding of Marxist works and the Russian October Revolution has reached a high level among students.
China's excellent traditional culture pays attention to practice, especially Hunan culture, which has always had the tradition of practicing, applying the world, and seeking truth from facts. This is what Mao Zedong learned through his eyes and ears at Yuelu Academy and Chuanshan Society. Hunan Self-Study University attaches great importance to integrating theory with practice, guiding students to combine what they have learned, thought, and gained with social reality, and quickly improve their ability to rationally grasp Marxism. It hopes to use Marxism to transform society in the future to guide the Hunan revolution and even the practice of the Chinese revolution. Open the dawn of building a new era and a new society. Hunan Self-Study University and its affiliated cram schools have a practical main course, which is to participate in the labor movement, student movement, peasant movement and anti-imperialist struggle.
This is exactly what He Shuheng said at the closing ceremony of Xiangjiang School: Hunan Self-study University and Xiangjiang School are the birthplaces of the Hunan revolution. All teachers and students are "like wine and medicine." "I hope these wine and medicine can be fermented everywhere." ". These "drunkards" are indeed the outstanding cadres and talents of Hunan Self-study University, cram schools, and Xiangjiang Middle School. Through revolutionary practice, they led the revolutionary masses to set off waves of Marxism one after another, which indeed ushered in the dawn of a new era.
3. The first Chinese Communist Party cadre training school
After two years, Hunan Self-study University trained a large number of outstanding revolutionary cadres. They played a leading role in the first upsurge of the workers' movement and the peasant movement in Hunan, as well as in the subsequent revolution. The role of initiator, organizer, leader. For example, Mao Zedong served as secretary and representative of the Changsha Printing Press and Guangdong-Hankong Railway Federation of Trade Unions, director of the Hunan branch of the China Labor Combination Secretary Department, and director-general of the Hunan Provincial Trade Union Federation; Xia Minghan served as the editorial director of the Hunan Student Federation; Guo Liang served as the Hunan Chairman of the Diplomatic Support Association, Chairman of Changsha Tongguan Ceramics Trade Union, Deputy Director-General of Hunan Provincial Federation of Trade Unions; Luo Junqiang serves as Chairman of Hunan Labor Legislation Alliance; Luo Xuezan serves as Chairman of Hunan Youth National Salvation Corps; Yi Lilong, Luo Xuezhan, Mao Zemin, Guo Liang, etc. He served as secretary of workers' clubs in Changsha's rickshaw, weaving, clay wood, pen and other industries and in Xinhe, Yuezhou and other places on the Guangdong-Hankou Railway.They launched, organized, and led the first upsurge of the labor movement in Hunan, and achieved victory in the strikes of workers in the Guangdong-Hankou Railway, Anyuan Road Mine, mud wood, barbering, pen industry, sewing, letterpress printing, rickshaw and other industries. Many of the teachers and students later died in the revolutionary struggle, such as Guo Liang, Xia Minghan, Chen Youkui, Mao Zemin, Mao Zetan, Xia Xi, Jiang Mengzhou, Luo Xuezhan, He Erkang, He Shuheng and others.
Hunan Self-Study University has also trained a group of party and state leaders and senior cadres for New China. In addition to Mao Zedong, there are also Li Weihan, Chen Geng, Gao Wenhua, Yi Lirong, etc. Li Weihan is a teacher at the cram school attached to the Self-Study University and a director of the Xiangjiang School. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as vice chairman of the National People's Congress and deputy director of the Central Advisory Committee. Chen Geng was a student at the cram school affiliated to the Self-Study University and was awarded the rank of general in 1955. Gao Wenhua was a student at a cram school affiliated with a self-study university. He served as secretary of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China during the Anti-Japanese War and as deputy minister of the Ministry of Light Industry after the founding of New China. Yi Lilong is one of the founders of the Self-Study University and a teacher at the cram school affiliated to the Self-Study University. After the founding of New China, he served as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a member of the Standing Committee.
4. Study history and move forward: strengthen confidence and determination
General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the Party History Study and Education Mobilization Conference, "At the important moment of celebrating the centenary of our party, at the critical intersection of the history of the 'two centenary' goals At this juncture, it is very necessary to carry out party history study and education in the whole party. "Hunan Self-Study University is the first new school founded by the Communist Party of China to train revolutionary cadres. It is a monument in the history of the Communist Party of China and has created many achievements. First, look back at the century-old history of the party and review the history of Hunan Self-Study University. Its valuable experience still has a great enlightenment effect on our struggle for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in the new era.
First, we must strengthen our ideals and beliefs. Ideals and beliefs are people's yearning and pursuit for the future, and are the concrete embodiment of people's political beliefs and worldview in their goals. Hunan Self-Study University focuses on guiding students to educate students with the experience of theoretical and practical struggle, and guide students to establish a Marxist world view and the lofty ideals of communism. Practice has proved that the ideals and beliefs of socialism and communism are the most noble pursuits and powerful spiritual pillars of Communists, and are also the political advantages of our party. We must always strengthen our correct ideals and beliefs and regard them as the foundation of Communist Party members, and they must not be shaken at any time. We must understand from the party's extraordinary journey how Marxism has profoundly changed China and the world, understand the truth and practical power of Marxism, and deepen our understanding of the theoretical achievements of Marxism in China that are both consistent and keep pace with the times.
Second, we must inherit and carry forward the tradition. Hunan Self-Study University pays special attention to cultivating students' national independent thoughts and revolutionary spirit. With the courage to create new things and the persistence to reform the past and create new things, it leads the broad masses of the people in the process of revolutionary struggle to understand political ideals, political concepts, political ethics, political strategies, political systems, and A series of cultural value constructions such as political path and so on formed a specific revolutionary culture. A large number of outstanding cadres have become outstanding organizers and leaders of mass movements. At present, socialism with Chinese characteristics has begun to enter a new era, which means that the Chinese nation, which has endured many hardships since modern times, is ushering in bright prospects for realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In the face of major changes unseen in a century and a critical period for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, in order to carry out a "great social revolution" and a "great self-revolution", we must vigorously promote advanced socialist culture, inherit and carry forward Huxiang culture and Chuanshan Theory Wait for the excellent traditional Chinese culture; continue to inherit and carry forward the spirit of struggle, take on more urgent, difficult and dangerous tasks, think more about some difficult-to-solve contradictions and problems, and actively participate in various struggles with the courage of "the brave will win when we meet on a narrow road". Dare to face difficulties in the face of conflicts, dare to stand up in the face of crises and difficulties, overcome difficulties, do well, be brave to be strivers and dream chasers in the new era, and work hard to deliver qualified answers.
Third, we must closely integrate with reality. history is the best textbook and the best nutrition.Along the way, the key to our party's ability to live up to the trust of history and the people, overcome many dangers, and continuously push its cause forward lies in adhering to the combination of theory and practice, and constantly using scientific theory to guide great practice. The teaching content of Hunan Self-Study University is centered on the study of Marxist theory, focusing on the application of basic Marxist viewpoints, answering practical questions in the revolutionary process, guiding students to actively participate in social revolutionary practice activities, growing their talents in practical struggles, and tempering to solve practical problems. With the ability to solve problems and establish communist ideals, most of the trainees have the qualities of revolutionary leading cadres with a high degree of ideological consciousness and political foresight, and have made significant contributions to the victory of the revolutionary struggle in Hunan and the country. We must go deep into the party history study and education carried out at Hunan Self-study University and other former sites, and always maintain the party’s greatest political advantage of being closely connected with the masses. We must combine learning with practice, study with questions, and study based on work, and systematically answer why we learn, what we learn, and how we learn. and other important issues, we must seek truth and be pragmatic, apply what we have learned, continuously improve our governance skills, better answer the questions of the times, and deeply understand why the Chinese Communist Party "can", why Marxism "does", and why socialism with Chinese characteristics "is good" ", with a more high-spirited mental state and attitude of struggle, regard the people's support or disapproval, approval or disapproval, happiness or displeasure, and consent as the fundamental criterion for measuring the gains and losses of all work, and maintain the original intention and worry about the people in contacting and serving the people. Mission, unswervingly handle your own affairs, and walk the Long March of the new era.
After a hundred years of wind and rain, we are forging ahead on a new journey. Standing at a new starting point and entering a new era, we must adhere to our original mission, inherit the red gene, carry forward fine traditions, continue the spiritual blood of the Communists, and earnestly implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has been fully implemented in all work, fields, and aspects, striving to implement the "three highs and four new" strategy, comprehensively promote high-quality development, and accelerate the construction of a modern new Changsha, and contribute new strength.
(The author is the executive director of the Hunan Junzi Culture Research Association, a young scholar, and the deputy editor of "Wang Chuanshan Yu Yao". Works at the Changsha Municipal People's Government Research Office)
