Yan'an Period Model Essay

2018:

What role did the ‘Yan’an Period’ play in the eventual victory of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949?

Essay Plan

Overall argument: Yan’an period responsible in two ways for CCP victory: ideological and military. Ideology: development of Chinese communism as opposed to Soviet style, appeal to oppressed masses, Mao becomes undisputed leader. Military: guerilla warfare tactics suppressed Japanese and attracted soldiers to join PLA, CCP not heavily involved in Sino -Japanese War Offensives.

Ideological factors

Theory of the mass line and mass membership of CCP (800,000 in 1940)
Yan’an rectification movement (1942)
On new democracy (1940) and democratic centralism.

Military factors

PLA troops did not play large role in Sino-Japanese War (built up their forces)
Guerilla warfare against Japanese - defending own land rather than offensives – minimal casualties and army of 1 million troops by end of Sino-Japanese War.
Isolated location of Yan’an

This essay argues that the Yan’an period played a decisive role in the CCP’s eventual victory in 1949. Ideologically speaking, Mao expanded upon many theories that gave rise to a distinctly Chinese form of communism whilst gaining complete control of the party, purging it of dissident factions. By appealing to the masses, the party experienced exponential growth from their isolated northern base of Yan’an which was not an immediate strategic priority for the Japanese. As such, growth in Yan’an of both the military and civilian membership of the CCP by the end of the Sino-Japanese War rivalled that of the Nationalist Party which would be vital for success in the subsequent Chinese Civil War.

First of all, the isolated location of Yan’an meant that the area was not a strategic Japanese military priority. In the early years of the Sino-Japanese war, the empire was focussed on pursuing the GMD government, perpetuating atrocities in Nanjing whilst the de facto capital of Chongqing was subject to constant aerial bombardment. Mao’s strategy of guerrilla warfare served to repel Japanese troops from their Yan’an base and rarely did the PLA launch offensive attacks. Instead, from its Yan’an base it could concentrate on training troops, both practically and ideologically. Whilst just 9000 CCP troops survived the Long March, a decade later in 1945 the PLA comprised over 1 million soldiers. Indeed, when the US Dixie Mission arrived in Yan’an in 1944, the military observers commented upon how impressed they were with the organisation and training of the Communist army. As such, military strategy during the Yan’an period enabled the CCP’s army to be in a position to rival the Nationalists and ultimately triumph over them during the Chinese Civil War.

Further to this, during the Yan’an period CCP party membership rose from just 40,000 in 1937 to 800,000 in 1940, hence becoming a party of mass membership. Appealing to the masses and inciting a peasant led revolution was a core strand of Mao Zedong thought that was elaborated on in Yan’an. Mao’s theory of the mass line advocated that the masses were the defining force in enabling historical progress. He questioned top-down strategies, arguing that policy should come from the people and then be implemented in accordance with Marxist-Leninist thought. Those in high positions of power did not necessarily have as much knowledge as the masses and should learn from them. Naturally, such a theoretical stance was attractive to many ordinary Chinese who felt exploited by the GMD and was instrumental in attracting new members to the party.

The first mass campaign and example of the mass line in practice was the Yan’an Rectification Campaign in 1942. This campaign enabled Mao Zedong to firmly cement his leadership of the CCP. Elite members of the party were subject to self-criticism or purging. For example, a group known as the ‘28 Bolsheviks’ comprised CCP cadres who had studied abroad at Moscow’s Sun Yat-Sen University, which had been founded as a result of the First United Front between the CCP and GMD. These students tended to be highly supportive of a Soviet-style revolution that focused on the urban proletariat, the polar opposite to Mao’s ideal of a peasant revolution. The other group Mao targeted were known as empiricists who engaged with the masses practically but did not appear loyal to Marxist-Leninist ideology. Both of these groups had to undergo an in-depth study of Mao’s writings. Of course, by giving power to the peasantry this campaign was met with little resistance. Those who did not comply would be killed and it is estimated that the death toll of the Yan’an rectification movement reached 10,000. Consequently, the Yan’an rectification movement, however brutally, gave the CCP an undisputed leader with an ideology that appealed to the oppressed Chinese masses.

The concept of ‘democratic centralism’ was also formulated in Yan’an and published in Mao’s 1940 work ‘On New Democracy.” This concept subordinated free speech to compliance with authority. Whilst democratic centralism enabled the critique of a policy while in the stages of deliberation, no such critique was allowed after a majority decision had been taken. In a sense it also flattened the power of the mass line in that no uprising against a policy could be taken once it was agreed upon. In tandem with the Yan’an rectification movement, the notion of democratic centralism ensured obedience to Mao and the CCP of both cadres and the masses which was in stark contrast to divisions that blighted the Nationalist Party during both the Sino-Japanese War and Chinese Civil War.

In conclusion, the Yan’an period played a vital role in the CCP’s 1949 victory in both ideological and military terms. The isolated base of Yan’an proved a substantial military advantage whilst the Japanese focussed their efforts on cities and the GMD government. The CCP focused on training their troops and engaging in guerrilla warfare rather than offensive attacks, limiting casualties. Furthermore, the ideological appeal of the CCP to the masses encouraged many ordinary Chinese to join either the People’s Liberation Army or become a Communist Party member. Mao published many important texts and rounded upon any cadres that questioned his leadership exerting extensive political control over the party elite as well as the peasantry. Overall, rapid, sustained growth during the Yan’an period enabled the CCP to mount a successful challenge to the GMD and win the Chinese Civil War in 1949.