Selected Works of Li Dazhao

Author: Zhu Wentong et al. (compiled and edited)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1999-09-01
Features: The book is divided into four volumes, including 577 writings of Li Dazhao, with a total of 1.927 million words. Among them, 61 newly discovered lost writings amount to over 1 million words, accounting for approximately 11% of the total number of writings and 31% of the total word count. Notably, four manuscripts (translations) include Comments on General Theory of Law, Comments on Criminal Law Lectures, Rebuttal to The Fate of China's Division, and China's International Law Theory, as well as works such as Republic and Honors (March 1917), Letter to Cai Zimin (March 1919), Announcement for the Clarification of the New Tide Society (July 1919), Announcement of the Drafting Committee of the Faculty and Staff of Peking University (February 1920), and Report and History (August 1923). These are precious materials for studying Li Dazhao's early thought, the transformation of his worldview, his theoretical exploration of revolution, and his revolutionary practice. The Complete Works of Li Dazhao arranges all the writings in chronological order of writing and publication. Works with unclear months are placed after the corresponding year, while those with unclear years are placed at the end of the entire collection. This reflects the compilers' rigorous and realistic scientific attitude while also demonstrating their guiding principle of unifying history and logic in the compilation process. The earliest writing included in the collection is Annotations on General Theory of Law from September 1909 to June 1910, and the latest is Self-Description in Prison from April 1927. The works encompass various genres such as manuscripts, essays, translations, letters, poems, annotations, notices, and announcements, covering the period from the age of 20 to the time of his martyrdom. The content includes personal notes on learning, reflections on theoretical issues, perspectives on current affairs, self-descriptions and recollections of his life, exchanges and emotional expressions between teachers and peers, and more. This fully covers all aspects of Li Dazhao's thoughts, emotions, theoretical explorations, and revolutionary practices during the period from the Xinhai Revolution to the Great Revolution. This approach better reflects Li Dazhao's emotional world and inner journey, and more effectively recreates his process of exploring revolutionary theory. In this sense, The Complete Works of Li Dazhao is a comprehensive display of Li Dazhao's spiritual world. The book outlines the main development of Li Dazhao's thought and theory, revealing both the historical background and impact of his ideological evolution and authentically reflecting the historical trajectory of his lifelong intellectual activities. The book comprehensively, accurately, and systematically reflects Li Dazhao's "intellectual and theoretical legacy" and "great personality," making it highly valuable for educational and propaganda purposes.