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Ruijin Massacre

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Rujin Massacre
Part of Cultural Revolution in China
Ruijin in the People's Republic of China
LocationRuijin, Jiangxi Province China
Date1968
September 1968 – October 1968
TargetCounter-revolutionaries, "Five Black Categories" (Landlords, wealthy peasants, bad influences/elements and right wingers)
Attack type
Politicide, Massacre, politically motivated violence
DeathsOver 1,000[1]
PerpetratorsChinese Communist Party, Cheng Shiqing then Governor of Jiangxi Province
MotiveCultural Revolution instigrated by Mao Zedong, resentment of wealthier peasants, capitalists and "traitors" instigated by the Chinese Communist Party

The Ruijin Massacre (simplified Chinese: 瑞金大屠杀; traditional Chinese: 瑞金大屠殺) was a series of massacres that took place in Ruijin and nearby counties in Jiangxi Province during the Chinese Cultural Revolution.[1][2][3][4][5][6] From September 23 to early October, 1968, over 1,000 people were killed in the Ruijin Massacre; specifically, over 300 people were killed in Ruijin County, around 270 were killed in Xingguo County, and over 500 in Yudu County.[1][2][3][6][7]

Historical background

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A propaganda painting of people's communes in Ruijin (August 1968).

Ruijin was the capital of the short-lived state Chinese Soviet Republic from 1931 to 1934, the year the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) fled the city and started the famous Long March.

In May 1966, Mao Zedong launched the Cultural Revolution in mainland China. The Ruijin Massacre took place during the nationwide campaign of "Cleansing the Class Ranks".[3][7] In August 1968, Cheng Shiqing, then provincial secretary of the CCP and governor of Jiangxi Province, launched the "Three Investigations Movement (三查运动/三查運動)" throughout the province, attempting to find out traitors, spies and counter-revolutionaries.[2][3][8][9] The movement caused the deaths of over 10,000 people in total, including 5,000 who were forced to commit suicide.[2][3]

On September 22, 1968, officials from local people's communes were called to a meeting in Ruijin, during which the importance of carrying out the "Three Investigations Movement" was emphasized. The meeting also stressed the need of making some "achievements" to celebrate the upcoming National Day of the China on October 1.[3] After the meeting, officials in local communes and production brigades began to kill people at will, without the requirement of launching investigations, collecting evidence, or receiving approvals.[2][3][5]

The massacre

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The Ruijin massacres were conducted by people's communes and production brigades in Ruijin, together with local militia, targeting members of the Five Black Categories as well as their relatives.[2][5][6]

From September 23 to early October, 1968, over 1,000 people were killed: over 300 people were killed in Ruijin County, around 270 were killed in Xingguo County, and over 500 in Yudu County.[1][2][3][6][7] The oldest victim was 80 years old, while the youngest was 11.[2][5][6] The methods of torture and slaughter included shooting with guns, stoning, beating with clubs, stabbing with knives, pushing over cliffs, and so on.[2][5][6]

From late September to early October 1968, the situation had grown out of control, forcing the local revolutionary committees to take multiple interventions which gradually ended the massacre.[2][3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Song, Yongyi (2011-08-25). "Chronology of Mass Killings during the Chinese Cultural Revolution (1966-1976)". Sciences Po. Archived from the original on 2024-01-14. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Yang, Jisheng (2017-07-04). 天地翻覆: 中国文化大革命历史 (in Chinese). 天地图书.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Yao, Shuping. "文革中江西瑞金的"民办枪毙"大屠杀！". Chinese University of Hong Kong (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2021-05-17. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  4. ^ "1968年瑞金"民办枪毙"大屠杀调查". Hua Xia Zhi Qing (华夏知青) (in Chinese). 2014-12-24. Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  5. ^ a b c d e Hu, Ping (2015-01-27). "军管年代——程世清在江西". Duowei News (in Chinese). Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Li, Yigen (2009-01-12). "程世清沉浮录（上）". China News Digest (华夏文摘) (in Chinese). Retrieved 2020-04-07.
  7. ^ a b c Hays, Jeffrey. "CULTURAL REVOLUTION: DEATH TOLL, FIGHTING AND MASS KILLING". Facts and Details. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  8. ^ "1. CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY EDUCATION PROGRAM AND PLANS FOR 'THREE INVESTIGATIONS' MOVEMENT 2. CHINESE COMMUNIST MEMBERSHIP CARD | CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov)" (PDF). CIA. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-06-22. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  9. ^ Lewis, John Wilson (1964). Chinese Communist Party Leadership and the Succession to Mao Tse-tung: An Appraisal of Tensions. Bureau of Intelligence and Research, U.S. Department of State.

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