Biography of Ye Jianying

Author: Writing Group of "Biography of Ye Jianying"
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1995-01-01
Features: In the solemn and majestic Hongcang Martyrs' Cemetery in Guangzhou, where cypresses stand tall, a stone bust of Ye Jianying in marshal's uniform, with a serene expression, stands prominently next to the tomb of martyrs of the Guangzhou Uprising. On the pedestal of the bust, three golden characters—Ye Jianying—are inscribed in Deng Xiaoping's handwriting. Below the bust, Ye Jianying's remains are enshrined, covered by a rectangular brown reclining tablet inscribed with an epitaph written by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the first anniversary of his death: Comrade Ye Jianying was one of the founders of the People's Liberation Army of China, one of the founding pioneers of the People's Republic of China, and an outstanding leader of our Party, nation, and army. He transformed from a righteous democrat into a staunch communist. On the long and arduous revolutionary path filled with difficulties and dangers, at critical turning points in complex struggles, he faced danger selflessly and fearlessly, demonstrating extraordinary revolutionary courage and dedicated his entire life to the cause of liberating the Chinese people and the construction of socialism, achieving remarkable merits. He was wise yet unassuming, talented yet modest, and his noble demeanor remains eternal. "Determined to pursue the grand cause of communism, may the flower bloom even in the mud," summarizes his brilliant life...
Born on April 28, 1897, originally named Ye Yiwei, styled Cangbai. From Meixian, Guangdong Province. In 1917, he entered the Yunnan Military Academy. He participated in the establishment of the Whampoa Military Academy and served as the Deputy Director of the Teaching Department. In 1926, he became the Commander of the newly formed Second Division of the National Revolutionary Army and later served as the Chief of Staff of the Fourth Army. In 1927, he joined the Communist Party of China. In December 1927, he led his teaching unit to participate in the Guangzhou Uprising and served as the Deputy Chief of the Military Command Headquarters. In 1928, he went to Moscow for studies. He returned to China in 1930. In 1931, he arrived at the Central Revolutionary Base Area in Jiangxi and held successive positions, including Member of the Central Revolutionary Military Committee of the Chinese Soviet Republic and Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Central Military Commission and Chief of Staff of the Red Army First Front, Chief of Staff of the Northwest Military Committee and Chief of Staff of the Red Army First Front, President of the Red Army Military School, Commander of the Ruijin Garrison, and Commander of the Fujian-Jiangxi and Fujian Military Regions. He participated in the Long March, serving as the Commander of the First Column and Chief of Staff of the Front Command Headquarters. After arriving in Shaanxi, he participated in the peaceful resolution of the Xi'an Incident. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, he served as the Chief of Staff of the Eighth Route Army and worked with Zhou Enlai in unifying the Kuomintang-controlled areas. In February 1941, he became the Chief of Staff of the Central Military Commission. During the War of Liberation, he held successive positions, including President of the North China Military and Political University, Chief of Staff of the Eighteenth Group Army of the National Revolutionary Army, Chief of Staff of the People's Liberation Army, Director of the Military Control Commission of Beijing, and Mayor of Beijing. In 1946, he served as the Chief Chinese Representative of the Military Mediation Commission in Beijing. From December 1948 to August 1949, he served as the Deputy Secretary-General of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China.
After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he held positions such as Commander of the Guangdong Military Region and Political Commissar, Director of the Military Control Commission of Guangzhou, Mayor and Secretary of the Municipal Committee of Guangzhou, Commander of the South China Military Region and Political Commissar, Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Central Military Commission, and Acting Secretary-General of the Central South Bureau of the Communist Party of China. In October 1949, he was elected as a council member of the China-Soviet Friendship Association, a member of the Committee on Overseas Chinese Affairs of the Central People's Government, and a member of the Committee on People's Revolutionary Military Affairs of the Central People's Government. From December 1949 to January 1953, he served as the Vice Chairman of the Central South Military and Political Commission. In April 1950, he became the Chairman of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government. From September 1950 to July 1954, he served as the Director of the Financial and Economic Commission of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government (). In January 1953, he became the Vice Chairman of the Central Administrative Commission. In June 1954, he became the Vice Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Commission of the Central People's Government. In September 1954, he became the Vice Chairman of the Defense Commission. In November 1954, he became the Minister of the Supervisory Commission for the Armed Forces of the People's Liberation Army. In March 1958, he became the President and Political Commissar of the Military Academy. From April 1959 to January 1965, he served as the Vice Chairman of the Defense Commission. In January 1965, he was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Fourth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference. In January 1975, he became the Minister of National Defense. In March 1978, he was elected as the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Fifth National People's Congress (resigned in 1983). In September 1982, he became the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China. In June 1983, he became the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China. He also served as the Honorary Chairman of the China Fishing Association, a member of the Eighth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Secretariat, a member of the Ninth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Vice Chairman of the Tenth and Eleventh Central Committees, and the Standing Committee Member of the Twelfth Central Committee. He was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in the Seventh National Congress, the member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in the to the Third National Congress, and the member of the National People's Congress in the Fourth National Congress (representing the People's Liberation Army).