Zhang Zhixin (December 5, 1930 — April 4, 1975), People's ...
Zhang Zhixin
Not to be confused with Shang Zhixin.
In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhang.
Zhang Zhixin (Chinese: 张志新; pinyin: Zhāngzhìxīn; Wade–Giles: Chang Chih-hsin; 5 December – 4 April ) was a dissident during the Cultural Revolution who became famous for criticizing the idolization of Mao Zedong and the ultra-left.[1] She was imprisoned for six years ( to ) and tortured, then executed, for having opposing views while being a member of the Chinese Communist Party.[2] A second party member who had expressed agreement with Zhang was sentenced to 18 years in prison.[3]
Although many consider her a heroine among the people for standing up to the party,[3] her experience is also a reminder of the potential punishment for deviating from party principles.
Zhang zhixin biography of barack gas Although many consider her a heroine among the people for standing up to the party, [ 3 ] her experience is also a reminder of the potential punishment for deviating from party principles. She did not consider herself anti-communist, but rather a "true Marxist" for whom Mao had distorted the communist cause. Even in prison, she insisted she was a member of the Chinese Communist Party. Many of her points of view were similar to those of the Communist leaders who succeeded Mao. For this reason, she was rehabilitated by Hu Yaobang and recognized as a revolutionary martyr , a model communist.She did not consider herself anti-communist, but rather a "true Marxist" for whom Mao had distorted the communist cause. Even in prison, she insisted she was a member of the Chinese Communist Party. Many of her points of view were similar to those of the Communist leaders who succeeded Mao. For this reason, she was rehabilitated by Hu Yaobang and recognized as a revolutionary martyr, a model communist.
Early life
Zhang Zhixin was born in Tianjin in She was educated at Renmin University of China from to and later worked in the university. Zhang later became a member of the Communist Party Propaganda Department at Liaoning province.[2][3]
- Zhang expressed her view:
I have doubts about Jiang Qing (Mao's wife and prominent figure of the Leadership of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution).
What's wrong with making critical remarks about her?
Zhang zhixin biography of barack obama But during the "Cultural Revolution" her open opposition to the "Gang of Four" infuriated the Gang's Liaoning followers and Zhang was arrested in and accused of being a counter-revolutionary. Despite being tortured in prison Zhang refused to retract her views. At a public meeting held to criticize and humiliate her, she declared: "You should not force me to deny what I think is right. It is impossible for me to surrender. It is better to live with honesty than with flattery.Why shouldn't Jiang Qing's problems be revealed? We should even expose the Central Cultural Revolution Group Why should we go along with the notion that even if you do not understand, you must obey? If this is allowed to continue, the situation will get out of control. This is all an effort to fortify Chairman Mao's reputation and that of Lin Biao.
Zhang zhixin biography of barack trump
Zhang Zhixin joined the Communist Party of China in in Liaoning Province where she worked for the publicity department. But during the "Cultural Revolution" her open opposition to the "Gang of Four" infuriated the Gang's Liaoning followers and Zhang was arrested in and accused of being a counter-revolutionary. Despite being tortured in prison Zhang refused to retract her views. At a public meeting held to criticize and humiliate her, she declared: "You should not force me to deny what I think is right. It is impossible for me to surrender.I personally have no trust in Lin Biao.[3]
Imprisonment and torture
In , Zhang was imprisoned in by the Liaoning Provincial Party Committee her critical comments toward Mao. She saved up 2 yuan a month to purchase books to read in the facility, where she wrote her study notes on toilet paper.
The prison guards then took her pen away. She proclaimed that the party would be "punished by history; if not sooner, then later".[3][4] For a year and a half she was frequently shackled in leg irons and tied in a harness.[3]
The party forced her to sign divorce papers. Confined in an all-male prison, she was raped and tortured.[3] Other male prisoners were told they could reduce their sentences if they were willing to torture Zhang.[3]
In a prison political-education meeting called to criticize Lin Biao, she shouted that Mao should be responsible for what Lin did.
A party secretary from Liaoning Province urged that she be executed quickly. During the Cultural Revolution, most legal procedures were abolished: without judges or trials, cases were decided by various levels of the Revolutionary Committees and Communist Party committees.
Zhang zhixin biography of barack With his loyalty to the party and the people, Zhang Zhixin opposed the perverse actions of Lin Biao and the gang of four during the cultural revolution and suffered cruel persecution. She insisted on the truth and publicly exposed the conspiracy of Lin Biao and Jiang Qing to usurp the party and seize power. She was regarded as "the current counter revolution" by the gang of four and was arrested in September On April 4, , she was killed by the gang of four. She was only 45 years old.Death and posthumous rehabilitation
Zhang was paraded and executed on 4 April , close to the end of the Cultural Revolution.[5] It is reported that her larynx was slit before the execution, in order to prevent her from speaking.[6][5]
On 16 October , the Intermediate People's Court of Yingkou City, Liaoning Province, revoked the original judgment and acquitted Zhang Zhixin.
Four years after her execution, in the spring of she was officially proclaimed a 'martyr'; 4 April was designated the day of her memorial.[2] Although an investigation was begun into her case, however party leader Hu Yaobang had it stopped.
Memorial
In People's Park in central Guangzhou, a statue named Mengshi (The Brave) has been raised to commemorate Zhang Zhixin.
The statue depicts a nude female warrior shooting an arrow on horseback, and the inscription on its pedestal reads "dedicated to people who struggle for truth".[7]