January 11, 1962 - February 7, 1962 - Turning Point - The Beginning and End of the 7000-Person Conference

Author: Zhang Suhua
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-06-01
Features: From January 11 to February 7, 1962, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Beijing held an enlarged central work conference attended by over 7,000 cadres from county party secretary level and above, known as the "Qīrén Conference." The number of participants was unprecedented. Even more fascinating is the wealth of information it contained and its profound impact on subsequent history. The author, through years of interviews, material collection, and research, has comprehensively, deeply, and thoroughly disclosed the origins, process, and twists of the Qīrén Conference, providing detailed analyses of Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Chen Yun, Lin Biao, Deng Xiaoping, as well as the cadres from provincial and county party committees. It holds significant historical value and fills a gap in the study of Party history. The book's features are: (1) The first comprehensive monograph in China to reflect the entire process of this conference, filling a void in historical research; (2) A rigorous, innovative theoretical study with academic depth, yet accessible and easy to read; (3) A wealth of solid first-hand materials and numerous interviews with participants, all previously unpublished; (4) Detailed analyses and descriptions of the performances of leaders from Mao and Liu to Zhou, Zhu, Deng, and Lin, as well as provincial and county cadres, showcasing their rich political wisdom and strategies; (5) Historical lessons for current economic decision-making and rural construction.
From January 11 to February 7, 1962, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Beijing held an enlarged central work conference attended by over 7,000 cadres from county party secretary level and above, known as the "Qīrén Conference." The number of participants was unprecedented. Even more fascinating is the wealth of information it contained and its profound impact on subsequent history. The conference was called to address the economic difficulties of 1959–1961 by summarizing experiences and combating decentralization. However, the conference's agenda and themes underwent a series of unexpected changes. The relaxed democratic atmosphere allowed people to touch on major issues such as who should bear the consequences and responsibilities of the "Great Leap Forward" and how to evaluate the "Three Red Flags." Inspired by the conference, a new situation emerged across the country in the spring and summer of 1962. But soon, the situation changed again, with Mao Zedong re-emphasizing class struggle. The Qīrén Conference and the diverging views that emerged afterward became a distant cause of the later Cultural Revolution. The author, through years of interviews, material collection, and research, has comprehensively, deeply, and thoroughly disclosed the origins, process, and twists of the Qīrén Conference, providing detailed analyses of Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Chen Yun, Lin Biao, Deng Xiaoping, as well as the cadres from provincial and county party committees. It holds significant historical value and fills a gap in the study of Party history.