Anarchism in the Chinese Revolution.pdf - Libcom

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Chapter 3 is reise wersiom yan aioe thal fing] appeal in Madera Cina 12-0. 2 (Apel ID86)s chapter
4is a revised version of eu article (comuthoxed ssita Edward Krebs) that Hist appeared 2a Modera Chime 7, uo,
2 (Apeil 1981); coaptsr 3 is a rcvised version of an article tht first appearcl in Afodeny Chow 11, na, 3 Cduly
i9kS), ezamrer 6 is «revised version of am article chat fest appcared in Jasernational Review of Social History
1 (1989); chapter 7 fist appoaced in Afouera China 15. no, 4 (October 1989), 1 ain indebted to duese jomnals

and 9 Saye Publications,

University of Califorma Press
Berkeley and Los Angefes, Califomia

University of Cull bnia Press, Li
Tontlon, Bashan

©1991 by
Tae Rosen oF the Univerity of Califortiay

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Daca

Didi, At
Snurchiso inthe Chinese reolton # Ari Dik
Focus otiographeal references nl nde.

TSBN 0520-08081

1 Anurcinmhnalistory20%h century 2. China
Uingory20th cetary. (1 Revluti shinal ny 2005
oa Tile

Hoxisb.b37 1881 suztavr
52057795 1090ide20 ar

Printed in the United States of Amerien
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‘The paper used inthis publication meets dhe miniaam requiseruents of American National Standard for
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Contents
Acknowledgments ix
( Tntreduction: Anurchism orl Reviluiomary Diwoure 1

2. Nacnalina, URopiauism, and Revaltiouary Palities: Anarchist I hemes ia she

Early Chinsse Revolutionary Movement a
3, Science, Morality, and Revotntion: Anarchism aan the Origins of Social

Revolutionsry Though ia China *
4, Anavekins wginst Souiafni in Tarly Republicnn Chir 116

5, Radiedl Culture und Cultural Revolotion; Ansrehisn in ths May Fourth Movement 148

6. tho Anarchist Alteruative in Chinese Socialism, 1921192? 197
7. The Revolution That Never Was: Anaecism inthe Gaomiadeng, 2a
8. Aftermath und Alierthouyhts 286
Ribiogriphy 305
fates 37

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Paneia

Acknowledgments

This work ig preliminary one, an allem! to Tay she geour dwrk. for further study of amsrchistn in Chin, ‘The
ssbsrance ol the study is based! on articles on Chinese anarchism thet | have published over the ae decade.
Ihave acldel sveral now chapters and revised alrcady published oncs extensively. both ta icarporate new
_materiuls an to Tesork them into a historicel narrative. Jn che process, have also brought to the ferogrennd
aa treatin ofthe plac of ance in Chins adem hat was pecsut cay pil nay
previouy vai

Sveral poopie have contributed to this work signitcactly, both with thee ow work and withthe materials
they have uncovered. F should ike to enon five sclan in puotcular who, in he het spirit scholahip
{Grad anavchy) have shared with me theie work and reveara Protester Lu Zhe ol Nanjing tenversty, ak O14
CCoonale, whose awn manusceipt an Chinese anarchism has just heen published: Diane Schece, who
generously Kep: me informed oF her Hinding over the auras ofa Tong ek of research ito Chiacse anarchism
hat took ber around dhe nod; Edtaed Krehs, wh wan ty coauthor inthe writing of the oiinal article al
‘Was the basis for chapter 5; Matilyh Levine and Peter Zutmbw, wher stored with roe tit dlssertauans
Zanow's Anarchism and Chinese Police Culare (Ness Cork: Colurbia thivenity Press, 1089) and Lu
Zhes Zhotgnuo muchenafie sha oh (History of Chinese anarahiew) (Fiat: Ressnia chubanshe, 1980) have
‘already addod much to out understanding ot anarchism in Clvna 100k Soetard tothe publicadon of the
seudies by Kicbs, Levino, and Schoeer.

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Untaitingly stimulatirg conversations with Tony Harralunian (end, volleys, al limer proless) helped
spe think vu the ides that hase yonc into che theoretical uadezpinnings ofthis sludly. The stuly wb bencftted
fom curelul endings by Mrvin Scheinyy. Lary Scticides. aad Peter Zerrow. acknowledge theit
eonmttdbulione while relieving Thum Fans tesao-sabi lily for what ampears eee,

| should Wks sau to neknawlodge 4 long-standing debt toa formar teacher, Dr, Excnancnt Atabyy' of
‘Bosphonus Uiversicy, Istanbal (oimetly Robert College, wlto had much to do with my interest in history
(while las ail an caginecring studeat. Doratby Sapp, of the Department of History at Duke University, as
cuual ware er all to seeing “his annscript duoiigh 0 its eorapletion (and to ealchng the excors that ately
escape ber sharp 6363),

first seriously get iata the collation of materials fe Unis suady in 197879, wih generous grant hom the
\Natfonal Endowment fe the Turounilies forthe ay of Chinese potitil thought, Over the yuma Thave,
ruvaived supa fram the Duke University Revearch Counefl swell ya suramer gran From the Teter
Institution and he Slunford Center fr Tist Asian Studios, which huve enabled re to keep up with nese
smaloriuls pouring put oF the Peaple's Republic of China, A rant rom The Ametivan Council of Learned
Societien tt IO8586 lor writing up the siuly evel with w diversion to a study of the origina of Chinese
Ccormmuian; this tudy shows, TEope, thal the diversinn was nol whimsical, Finally, T should ike to Thank: the
sgl af Uke Hoover Tnatittion's Pant Asiun Collection (where Thave spent goad deal of research Fime over
the years), ia particular ils curator, Ramu Myers, fbr their yracinus Rowpitlily over The Yenrs

Tedicute the study with ove ta my spouse, caillegyuc, and comrate, Roxann Prummiik. Raxunr's unimsiom bas
influanced the way [look at anarchism, | leave itto her, however, to delve into the question of the relationship
Jpetween uurchise, Buitdhiban, und Soin Francie

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Pagel

Chapter One
Iegodueven
‘Auatebisn snd Revolutionary Discourse

Anarchist is ot the casiest subject to “hink, speake ur write about within a eufmral context that kes
Hnegernony foe granted a¢ a prinesple ol sna) wn puliicul iruegration. The mos! consistent and chorongh ging
‘oF al wiodern eadieal cacial philomophien in is repuiatim oF this principle, anurchisnn bu ulso For ehat reaaam
alleged tne greatest margivakatin Other radicals: loo, huve Wsciked feur und viicule, bt they bave
acyuired fespectabiity to Be extent that they huve vome lu share inthe presmisen oF engunivel power. The lear
fF gnarehise, i contrast, bua int the ward sell, whose meaning (nb rule) has heen suppressed ia
ceveryitay language hy itt deniewian sth disorder. Tis lake a perlinenl recent exarrple, ithe lelevion
average ol the lragic events in China in 1989, whal Chinese learlers spake af as arent disorder (datuan) was
‘eonvistenthyrenuered in Due reparing uv unarchy. This ix nol lo sugges Haut Chinese eaters eraselves ete
fncapable of the ident ication } Tut feur may nol he mx eVective as ride inthe murginal ation nd
Aisiortion of anarchism: lo din wuurchism as irrelevanl werk bolle singe Liv thus removed (rom te
domain of serious political ialogueand historical alention,

‘This study deals wilh w historival yevasiom hen anurchinm fare hetler, indeed wus central i speculation on
polities; Ching inthe egrly part ofthe century. when saarchism held a place inthe ecnocr of revolutionary
Thought. T argue ot only thatthe revolutionary situstion ercnfed by China's conffontation withthe mer
‘world gave Bird avadieal cullure that provided feeund yrcund Tor unarehi, but als Taal wna

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‘hints played ax important part in the fashioning this radical eultuce, The significance of anaushism,
Inowoves, went beytna The oughly Gro decals (19951930) when anarelism wa highly vise curteo in
ihe revelutionary meigement ALa fime shen a revolutionary fiacaunee was tukinu shape, anarchist deus
played a crucial part in injectiog nlp i cemeurs tal soul eave w iagtng imprint am The Chineve revelution,
rraiching beyord he relatively small prop of anarchists ints he Menfogies other revplutimarien. ar the
sung reason, the hiiary ol ansrchisns offers a perspective fram whieh 19 view the subsequent unfalding GF be
revolntion und the saya in which the revolution, in andr tp uchieve access, was to suppress the very wocfal
deals hat intially wave H mearniny,

Will the suave of thy Oetober Revolotion in Russis and the consequent diffusion oF Leninist Marxism
svorklwide, Pris Hobshassr has weiten,

Te became bed to recall that in 190514, the maxis loft had in most connie been on the fringe of the
revalutiqnaey movement, ine main hody' ol'marsisls had been Weatlfied with a de fto non
revolutionary social democracy. while ie hulk oF the revolutionary let was anarebo-syndicalst, or at
Tease much closer to the ideas aid the mood ot anarcho-syndivalis dhaa wo thal of classical mavzism,
‘Marxisit was henceforth identified with acively revoLiclouary movements. Anaethist abd anaecho-
syndicalism entered upou adramatic and wninternupted decline.3

‘This could serve equally well as a description of the situation af Chinese eadicalison in uhe eaty part af thee
century, wilh Gu quabifoutions. There vax no rarxis ell io xpeak af in China unt? 192021; aoa-Marsist
social demoeratic currents thal appeared fn Chinese radienl Inout early on were eb necexsiilyirinuicul ba
fnarchism bul, on the cumtrury, willing us recognize ituxa usammun, i'remute, ideal, While i Ching, Gi,
fnarchism fal ini decline with be appeurane of Laninit Murxism i 19202), und was repudiated by the
revclulionaly Left, which Iaerealler ident ied wills Varsinn, the relalfonship of Varxime in anarchisan
relained sone ambiguity. (have argued elsewhere that most oF those who vere i emery a leaders af Ue:
‘Commtiaist moveraent in China vend thcouyh an anarchist phave belie they bevare Marxini.1 1 will
endeavor to show here that hese anarchist origina anay be inporlant to an understanding of how they becume
‘Masts. aud also of some features of Chinese Marxism

1. Evie Hobsbawin, Revolutionaries (New Vork: New Arnetican Libeary, 1973), 61

2, Ani Disk, The Origin of Chime Communism (New York: Oxford Universi Press, 1989), ep.
chaprers3 and 8

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(especially in ils Maoist version) that diverged from the Leninst interpretation of Maraiswn that they wsponsed
fomally

‘That anurchist ideas may have survived the decline of anarchisma suggests, in turn, thar anarchist had a
Allferent eladenship 1 sevahuicmary discourse in China than in Furze, The forlunes of anagchism ia China
qaralleted (indeed, wre part of) he Sluufion that Tlobshsern deseriben. But Chines anarchism vias bound up
Fromm fe beginning with an inuipient revlatiomary disoourse fl wax ulimutely- he product af China's
confrontation wilh the modern wer, und anaruhinis were ia play some par in the lirmulution of thal
Sicourse. While unarchista ju China was alga The idealioyy af Ihe revolutionary Tf, which ilentlied itself
‘with wat iL tbok lp be the mos! advanced ragivalileplogy ofthe eumtemperary sword, it seas phrased,
(especialy initially) within The langunge of This discourse, For the same resnon, arurchist ileus entered this
dligeourse utils constituen! elements, Pill rgue that murchisen derives is signi feance in Chinese:

‘rufa son, al Teast in part, From the Wi Tusion oF unarchistidews aeraes the ideotoienl foundries Dal vied
raul,

‘Nevertheless, the anarchist origin of those deny was forgotten ns anarchism yraduslly rome bela
‘Leniojst Manian in the 1920s, ttis important to recall these orig (the subject of this study}, for both
fistorioal nud polieal zeasous, Anarchisin was important historically i a contextual scnsc: as the ideology of
‘he radical Left in China for more than two decades atthe boginning of the century. Bomuse this was also the
period when a revolutionary discourse emerged that was to shape Chinese radicalism in ensuing year, the
anarchist cortibution fo the formulation of this discourse must be part of any account that socks a
ormprchensive yrasp af Chinese radials.

‘Tho recalling of marchism also bas ebvions politcal implicstions for our understanding of the past and
present of sosialism mn China, he repudiation of snarelsun with the ascendancy of Leulnist Marxism also
_ncant the suppression of cortain quostious cmetal fo soctalisin as a political idcologyin particular the question
fof democracy. "Te Comnmuist regime in China is in a etisis today, which nat only has thrown into question.
the continued viability of socialism. but has shaken the credibility of the sociatist revolution, Alfxeugh the
cuisis is ideological, part of i ios unquestionably in the failure of the regime to deliver the democratic
promise of socialism. «fare that has eqused a now gencration of radicals to look outside of savialisin for
llernulives in the realign af a democratic serety

weuld soggest ors that te rocall ansrebism, which Leninist Marx-

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‘gm sup)presoed is le revll the demure ideals for whigh anarchism, among al the competinucpeiaisens in
China's revclufonary history, served as che repository. It fsa eminder tha the socialist tradition in China,
releasod from the ideological Boundaries within which it has boon confined, may serv as 4 source of
emoereric inspiration and social inagiuation, Whether che kind af democracy aunrchists cuvisious is
feasibte is bose the point; wht is importa is thats affords a critial perspective npou the elzims to
democracy of competing soctalst and bourgeois alteaacives ofthe plosentand makes 1 possible to imagine
the ture in nev ssas2, The challenge of the anarchist naron af democracy has been swept uder the Tus, both
by capitalism and by sacialiem as it casts. how to be both efhicaf (and thecefore deeply utinaful of social
‘elatinships) aud rational (snd therefore able to overcome the hieraschical biad of conventional social
‘elationships). This was ulditely che challenge that anafehisisintroddved into revolutionary discourse in
China, even if uone stated it wit the diteeeness with shich { have expressed it here, Ava time of social
breakdown and individual alienation, anaecbists imagined a society where individual freedom could be
{ulllied only chrough social responsibility, but withsut heing suerifived to it, which isthe essence of soclalint
democracy ard way be cential to aay coaception of democracy. The challenge was to eesonae with key
questious of Chinese politics, wich may account for the refusal oF auaihisin to disappear, even when It hax
nad ltd to say abour practical politics.

‘Over the past decade there has been a surge f interest in China in the bisuury o€ Chinese anarchism, Schoturly
iournals regulacly publish discursions af the place af marchism in the Chineve reversion, Two ragjor (and
thorugh) compilations of anarchist writing rena he Firs! three lecules of the century were published im
194, eich have made avaluble lo conternpurury reuders xcalleredl (und rare) documentation on Chinese
anarchist dbisking and pravidel direct eweaunter vi w lamy-largalten phase in u (i) unldiog
fevclutionary discourse, Even abingraphy «CM. Bakunin and a tanstatim sf P. Kropotkin's Conguast of
rend appeared at ahout the saene time, Aan unswer, u voluminous ealeclion appeared and made available
extensive Maraist criticisms of anarchisn, & bisiney publishel ja 1989 has provided a detailed coverage a
the nnfolding of anarchism, and och works are in preparation.2

3, Ge Manchu, Jiang jun, aud Li Xingzhi, eds, #uchengis fay sisiany sili xuan (Selection of
imatedals on anarchist hough! [herealler FPZFZ¥SX), 2 vis, (Deijings Tedjiny danue chubanshe,
1984; Gao Jun etal, ods, Huchenefe shay! zai Zhongguo (Anarchist in

(Pootnate continued on nest pase)

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{Whig this matvity adds up to fe difficult to say, Bsposialy problemnahe isthe question of whether interest in
the histury of anarchism in Chuna is a sign of ioerest iu anarchism itself. We can only safely deduce that
interest ithe history of snaichismt:s part of a surge of interest in the history of socialism in China,
‘Anarchism is uae tie enfy socialism ta enjoy cenewed attention ia cunterapacary China among bistorians,
paltical idoolognes, and the general reauéng public alike, but it does appear as One prominent erest 12 a broad
‘pave of interest in dhe past ef Chinese socialism, whch inchades, anxing other sings, an inteest in long.
Forgotten aspoets of the history of che Communist party itself

Anarchism basa cometporery celeyancew de extent thats npfcaed inthe cument isis of Chinese
Seqintismani ol the higarial conscloosresel sowie. rele hereto he rss cea bythe repiation
Sho Zatimy and Mua commis, which Fw eel prooun uncer eCcene
Gonclowsien Convert ot ony The Tare bul the paseo sit in China, Ta hep our cies, he
Fislory of mci in China en Ign oen weno he paradigm of Mis person

Biogripbiye China und amor The Cullund Revol npr wn espe fr elevating Mas
bea to puratigmate sata nth canespunvaton of Chinese ctl lth the pre a
nrenly und wny tthe [3403 even belove Ive icon ul he Cua ny 1589. The replat of
the Calta Revelation fllewving M's doh in 979 wns oly oc in question Voit Nsoriogrophy
‘ofthe soci rveluon as well The ren chsh conseonsnsy of spain fata erst
{resent pecan well as oe ertumtss Preieiment hese Ie history of wii han boon
eprived of is elrence im Macs bography avd needs fo he loca in im (he Camm pay does not
rvs eidysubstat, hecune in railing Mia i ayaa deprived sel Fof the chim arise
Jnfalbig). Gpporiity ecu the repucinsim oF Ma shart pon he cote clue in which
oii ad on been estrcld, whi han made posible new ys 01 Seen Mie)

(Footnote cantinued from previous page)

Cina) (Changi: Hunan rennin chuibanshe, |OR4K; Iu Zhe, Zhongguo veuchionghi nos shi Hisry
bl Chinese unarchisn) (Fujian: Renmin chuhsnshe); Xu Shanguing and Tie Liuping, Zhongauo
vwuchongfczhuvi shi (History of Chinese anarchism) (Changsha; Htmau reamin chubaashe, [989%
Makes Frgon ter Bofewing shy (Mors end Engels on Bekuninism) (Baiting: Renmin chubanshe,
1980): 17 Nianjong. Baking ping hem (Biography of Bakynin) (Bejing: AGubva shudinn, 1982);
Kropotkin, Sambo yx xipox (Brend and fecodem) [sic] (Beijing: Shangwo yinshoguan, 1982). Fora
listing of anicles on anarchism, see Makes! chip cat Zhanggvo (Marxism in China), 2 vols, (Beijing
Ginga danue chubunshe, 1983), 2:573-74.

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-Anarchiam bas ada siacificane pact co play in this evisis. the imumediate i brief aumesphere of idcologgival
Treudorn thal flovved upc the nlieial repudiation atthe Cultural Revolulin, erie of Maun Ino thre
Tefen the Ml-fated Derioerucy Mavemientof 19781980 called ora mare iermocratissccalis, on Cre wed
af the Paris Cor-raure of 1871.4 The Paris Commune is nol lo be claimed tar angrehism, al caunse, becut sit
Folds at equally venerable place in both smarchist and Marxist evelutienury aditions. Bul Tsuuuest rat as
an instance o/s immocralic wed self-governing soial orgeaizetion, thy Conamune stands ae inierseution of
fanarchis: and Marais. revolutionary ial, whore the histori? opposition betwen arwechisor and Marxists
barred into an authentic sucial revolution in whigh tle opposition is dissolved in ths conamun vision of which
{Sey are allemative products, Although, as far as I am swate, che lolst socialists of the Demotraey

Movaunent did not use the word ansrehisu in their discourse. the use ofthe Commune as aimodel reeled
anarchism. or if not anerehiam, thsa that area of Marxism which averlaps with anarchism and is espouially
roblesnatic Irom the perspective wf Leninist Marxism,

‘To make mulfors worse, the Paris Commune lind also provided a model for the Cultoral Revolution at its more
ssdical moments.s iis not suptising, therefor, that when the first wricings on anarchism began to appear in
Chinese publicatious in te catly 19¥0s, they east anarchism ina nceative, pejorative mold to attack hourgcois
individualism, offen confounding the ati Chlciral Revolution demands of the Democracy Movenicut with the
Cultural Revolution perversion of coctoct Marsism, [twas ostensibly the urge to fd the key ta this
perversiou, uthnotely, that was to sustain the surge of interest in anarchism. Some have argued chat the
Calewal Revolution Was a product of the persistence of anarchist influences tht had entered the Communist
party at is very otigins through the founding fathers of the party, many of whom hed gone throvgh au
nareiist phase before they bocanie Marxists, aud smmbboraly survived the party's repestod efforts to purge
itself of is anatchist beglunings.6 While the uso of anarchisin in such wcinas is often vulgatly simplistic,
‘squated wih s pettbourgeois propensity to mindless individualisin aud disorder, if Bas

4. A collection of Democracy Moverncut writings is available in Gregory Benton, ed, Wilt Lilies and
Poisonous Weeds (London: Pluto Press, 1932),

5. Johm Bryan Starr, Revolution in Retrospect: ‘The Paris Commune through Chinese E}
‘Quarsery, ne, 49 (JanaryMareh 1972): 106-25,

6.1.4 Thenya, Zhongguo seurhengt zhuyide jc (Past and prosent of Chinese anarchisen), Nankai
xneboo (Nankai University journal), no. 1 (1980),

Chine

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