Zhang Zhixin
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Zhang Zhixin (Simplified Chinese: 张志新; Pinyin: Zhāng Zhìxīn; December 5, 1930-- April 4, 1975) was a famous dissident during the Cultural Revolution for criticizing the idolization of Mao Zedong and the ultra-left[1]. She was imprisoned and brutally raped by members of the Communist Party of China for having opposing views while being a party member. Her imprisonment lasted six years from 1969 to 1975 before being cruelly executed.[2]
While she remains to be a heroine among the people for courageously standing up to the party.[3] Her experience continues to serve as a reminder of the punishment imposed for deviating away from party principles. However, it is possible that she had serious mental problems in her final days.
She was not real anti-communist, instead, she believed herself as a true Marxist, and Mao distorted the communist cause. Even in the prison, she insisted her membership of the Communist Party of China. Her many points of view were similar to the Communist leaders after Mao's death. For this reason, she was rehabilitated by Hu Yaobang and recognized as a revolutionary martyr. She was once revered as a model communist.
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[edit] Early biography
Zhang Zhixin was born in Tianjin in 1930. She was educated in Renmin University of China from 1951 to 1952, then she worked in this university. Zhang later became a member of the Communist Party Propaganda Department at Liaoning province.[3][2]
[edit] Some views
- Zhang expressed her view:
| “ | I have doubts about Jiang Qing (Madame Mao). What's wrong with making critical remarks about her? Why shouldn't Jiang Qing's problems be revealed? We should even expose the Central Cultural Revolution Group! What's all this talk about a zenith? And just what's this business about one line is worth ten thousand lines? And 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. I personally have no trust in Lin Biao![3] | ” |
[edit] Imprisonment and torture
In 1969, she was put into prison for her critical comments toward Mao. She saved up 2 yuan a month to purchase books to read in the facility. While in prison she wrote her study notes on toilet paper. The prison guards then took her pen away. She proclaimed that the party will be "punished by history if not sooner, then later".[3] The prison authorities put her in a tiny cell and put two sets of leg iron on her feet and harnessed her back. These stayed on for a year and a half.[3]
She was then required to assemble shoes in prison with a quota of 1,200 pairs of shoes a day.[3]
The party then forced her to sign divorce papers to punish her life outside of communist quarters. At this point, Zhang knew she would likely not make it out of alive. Already in an all-male prison, the authorities continued to ruthlessly group rape and torture her.[3] The party then offered other male prisoners a chance to reduce their sentences if they were willing to torture Zhang.[3]
In a prison political educational meeting for criticizing Lin Biao, she boldly shouted that Mao should be responsible for what Lin did. One of the party secretary from Liaoning Province urged her to be executed quickly, so that she that she can no longer fight against the party. If there was a nominal legal system before cultural revolution, then during Cultural Revolution, any nominal legal procedures were abolished: no judges, no trial, all the cases were divided and approved by various levels of the Revolutionary Committees and Communist Party committees.
[edit] Death
In 1975 she was brought over to Shenyang Donglingda execution grounds at 10am. The communist authorities were afraid she would reveal the criminal activities that have been going on in the party. They decided to cut her throat to prevent her from speaking.[3]
The party members threw her to the ground and jammed a brick under her neck. Her hands and feet were bound like a pig.[3] Using tools such as scissors, scalpel and no anesthetic, a metal pipe was stuck into her throat under excruciating pain.[3] She was then decapitated by the communist party to hide the evidence.
[edit] Final words and legacy
Her final words were "Party! My Party! Where do you want to take me?" She was restored as "Martyr" in the spring of 1979.[3] People were outraged and flew into Beijing in a blizzard to consult with the party. The case was protected by the party leader Hu Yaobang, who advised the investigation be stopped.
April 4, 1979 was the day designated as her memorial.[2]
[edit] Alliance
Another member of the party expressed agreement with Zhang and was sentenced to 18 years in prison.[3]
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ Louis. Henkin, R. Edwards, Randle. Nathan, Andrew James. [1986] (1986). Human Rights in Contemporary China. Columbia university press. ISBN 0231061811
- ^ a b c Ladany, László. [1988] (1988). The Communist Party of China and Marxism, 1921-1985: A Self Portrait. Stanford University, Hoover Institution Press. ISBN 0817986219
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Zheng, Yi. Sym, T. P. Terrill, Ross. [1996] (1996). Scarlet Memorial: Tales of Cannibalism in Modern China. Westvuew Press. ISBN 0813326168.
[edit] References
- Jonathan Chaves, "A Devout Prayer of the Passion of Chang Chih-hsin," MODERN CHINESE LITERATURE NEWSLETTER, Vol. 6, No. 1 (Spring 1980), pp. 8-24.
