Li Lisan's Red Legend (Complete Two Volumes)

Author: Li Sishen
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: Revealing Historical Truths, Unveiling a Life Torn by Storms
On November 18, 1899, Li Lisan was born in Yanganshi, a suburban area of Liling City, Hunan Province. His father, Li Changgui (styled Jingrong), was a local scholar and teacher. Li Changgui named his son "Fengsheng" (meaning "Phoenix Born") because on the day of Li Lisan's birth, a large white flower bloomed on a phoenix-tail plant in their backyard. The phoenix-tail plant, also known as the iron tree, typically does not bloom.
From a young age, Li Changgui pursued truth with unwavering dedication and strove to find a path to save his country. He bravely broke free from social constraints and, despite family opposition, boldly went abroad for study under the work-study program in France. Upon returning to China, he actively engaged in the revolution. In his twenties, he led the Anyuan Uprising, initiated the nationwide "May Thirtieth Movement," and directed the seizure of the British concession in Hankou, becoming a renowned leader of the labor movement and one of the early leaders of the Communist Party of China.
Throughout his life, Li Lisan experienced both exhilarating moments of glory and periods of pain and despondency. He tasted the joy of success and felt the regret of his mistakes. His journey was fraught with challenges, marked by three rises and three falls, truly embodying the "red legend" of his era.
— Li Yingnan