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The Poetry of Mao Tse-tung

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 February 2009

Yong-Sang Ng
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Extract

Early in 1957, an event perhaps unparalleled in the world of letters was reported from China. A new monthly magazine, Shih-k'an (Poetry), made its appearance in February of that year, its inaugural issue including a collection of eighteen poems by Mao Tse-tung. The appearance of Mao's poetry was not in itself an exceptional event. From ancient times down to recent decades, Chinese statesmen and military leaders have often displayed talent in the writing of poetry; and it appeared that Mao Tse-tung was carrying on the established tradition of a long line of strong rulers in China who desired to impress the world that they were not only victorious conquerors and vigorous administrators, but also accomplished artists.

Type
Special Survey of Chinese Communist Literature
Information
The China Quarterly , Volume 13 , March 1963 , pp. 60 - 73
Copyright
Copyright © The China Quarterly 1963

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References

1 Chiu-yu, , “Mao Tse-tung in the Words of Chang Shih-chao,” Wan-hsiang (Hong Kong), No. 1, 06 5, 1961.Google Scholar

2 Mao Tse-tung: Nineteen Poems (Peking: Foreign Languages Press, 1958), p. 7.Google Scholar

3 People's Daily (Jen-min Jik-pao), 05 12, 1962.Google Scholar

4 Nineteen Poems, p. 16.Google Scholar

5 Nineteen Poems, p. 22Google Scholar. [For the present author's own translation, see page 37 above—Ed.]

6 Nineteen Poems, pp. 58–59.Google Scholar

7 Ho, Ping-ti, “Two Major Poems by Mao Tse-tung,” Queen's Quarterly, Kingston (Canada), LXV, No. 2, 1958, p. 257.Google Scholar

8 Yuan-chun, Feng, A Short History of Classical Chinese Literature, translated into English by Hsien-yi, Yang and Nai-ta, Tai (Peking: Foreign Languages Press, 1958), pp. 71–72.Google Scholar

9 Liu Pei became the first emperor of the Shu (or Minor) Han dynasty (221–265). Ts'ao Ts'ao did not actually become emperor himself, but his son Ts'ao P'ei, who usurped the throne to found the Wei dynasty (220–265), honoured him posthumously as Emperor Wu. Indeed he is the Emperor Wu referred to in “Peitaiho,” another of Mao's poems in this same collection

10 Translations were published in Chinese Literature No. 1, 1963.Google Scholar

11 Kung-lueh, Huang (1898–1931)Google Scholar was a Communist commander posthumously glorified by the Party as a martyr. Chang Hui-tsan, commander of the Nationalist vanguard units in the first “encirclement campaign,” was one of the more prominent Kuomintang officers captured by the Communists in Kiangsi in late December 1930.