Zhang Zhixin

Zhang Zhixin

Zhang Zhixin ( Chinese  张志新 , Pinyin Zhāng Zhìxīn , W.-G. Chang Chih-hsin ; born December 5, 1930 in Tianjin , † April 4, 1975 ) was a Chinese dissident during the Cultural Revolution , who was known for her criticism of the Adoration of Mao Zedong and left-wing radicalism . She was detained, tortured, and eventually executed for six years for disagreeing with the Chinese Communist Party . Another party member who agreed with Zhang's views was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Zhang did not describe herself as an anti-communist , but as a "true Marxist". In their eyes, Mao had distorted communist principles. Since many of her opinions were in line with those of Mao's successors, Zhang was rehabilitated by Hu Yaobang and recognized as a martyr and a model communist.

Though popularly regarded as a heroine, her condemnation is a reminder of the possible punishment for those who deviate from the party's guiding principles.

youth

Zhang Zhixin was born in Tianjin in 1930 . She attended the Chinese People's University from 1951 to 1952 and then worked at that university. She then joined the Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee in Liaoning Province .

She expressed her opinion:

“I doubt Jiang Qing [Mao's wife and prominent figure in the leadership of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution ]. What's wrong with critical comments about them? Why shouldn't Jiang Qing's problems be exposed? We should even expose the Cultural Revolution group ... Why should one agree with the idea that even if you don't understand, you have to obey ? If this continues, the situation will get out of hand. All of this is an effort to increase the power of Chairman Mao and Lin Biao. Personally, I don't trust Lin Biao. "

Detention and torture

In 1969, she was detained in a tiny prison cell for criticizing Mao. She saved 2 yuan a month to buy books to read in her cell. She wrote notes on toilet paper, but the prison guards stole her pen. She claimed that "sooner or later history will condemn the party." One and a half years she was regularly with leg irons chained and harnesses.

She was forced by the party to get a divorce. She was raped and tortured in the all-male prison. The guards told other male prisoners that if they tortured Zhang, they could mitigate their sentences.

At a meeting held in the prison to criticize Lin Biao , Zhang shouted that Mao should be responsible for Lin's actions. A party secretary from Liaoning Province demanded that Zhang be executed quickly. During the Cultural Revolution, the majority of legal proceedings had been abolished: cases were heard before revolutionary and party committees without judges or courts of justice.

Death and rehabilitation

Zhang was displayed and executed on April 4, 1975, just before the end of the Cultural Revolution. Before she was executed, her larynx was slit so that Zhang could not speak.

Four years after her death, in the spring of 1979, Zhang was officially proclaimed a martyr. April 4, 1979 was Zhang's memorial day. An investigation into the case has been opened but stopped by Hu Yaobang .

cenotaph

In the Guangzhou People's Park , the Mengshi statue was erected in honor of Zhang Zhixin. It shows a naked female warrior on horseback shooting an arrow. An inscription on the base reads: "Dedicated to the people who fight for truth".

bibliography

• Jonathan Chaves: A Devout Prayer of the Passion of Chang Chih-hsin . In: Modern Chinese Literature Newsletter . tape 6 , no. 1 . Spring, 1980, pp. 8-24 (English).

Web links

Commons : Zhang Zhixin  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ R. Randle Edwards: Human Rights in Contemporary China . Columbia Univ. Press, 1988, ISBN 0-231-06181-1 (English, first edition: 1986).
2. ↑ ^{a b} László Ladany: The Communist Party of China and Marxism, 1921-1985: A Self Portrait . Hoover Institution Press, Stanford University 1988, ISBN 0-8179-8621-9 (English).
3. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g} Yi Zheng: Scarlet Memorial: Tales Of Cannibalism In Modern China . Westview Press, 1997, ISBN 0-8133-2616-8 (English).
4. ^ Yi Zheng: Scarlet Memorial: Tales Of Cannibalism In Modern China . Routledge, S. 230 (English, google.com [accessed October 24, 2019]).
5. ↑ ^{a b} Zhang Zhixin: The Woman who Took on the 'Gang of Four'. In: chinafile.com. December 2, 2015, accessed December 8, 2019 . 
6. ↑ 文革 张志新 冤案 震惊 全国 枪决 前 被 割断 喉管. In: news.china.com. March 31, 2015, accessed December 8, 2019 (Chinese). 
7. ↑ 张志新 临 刑 照片 ： 喉管 被 割断 脸 扭曲 得 没 人形. In: news.ifeng.com. September 6, 2012, accessed December 8, 2019 (Chinese). 
8. ↑ 人民 公园 ： 广州 第一 公园. In: Guangzhou Daily. February 17, 2008, accessed April 24, 2014 (Chinese). 

Note: This article places the family name before the person's first name. This is the usual order in Chinese. Zhang is the family name here, Zhixin is the first name.