Double Hundred Policy Overview | Generated by AI
Question: Introduction to the policy of “百花齐放、百家争鸣” (Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend)
Answer:
“百花齐放、百家争鸣” (often abbreviated as the “Double Hundred Policy” or “双百方针”) is one of the most famous cultural and intellectual policies in the history of the People’s Republic of China.
Core Meaning
- 百花齐放 (Let a hundred flowers bloom): In literature, art, and culture, different styles, schools, and forms should be allowed to develop freely and compete with each other.
- 百家争鸣 (Let a hundred schools of thought contend): In academic research, science, and ideology, different viewpoints, theories, and schools should be allowed to debate freely and openly.
The policy aimed to promote the prosperity of socialist culture, encourage creativity in literature and art, and stimulate the development of science and academic research by reducing excessive administrative interference.
Historical Background and Timeline
- Early origins
- 1951: Mao Zedong wrote “百花齐放，推陈出新” (Let a hundred flowers bloom, weed through the old to bring forth the new) as an inscription for the development of Peking Opera, initially focused on artistic reform.
- 1953: Mao used “百家争鸣” when discussing the study of Chinese history.
- Formal proposal – 1956
- April 1956: During discussions on the “Ten Major Relationships,” Mao Zedong proposed “百花齐放、百家争鸣” as a guiding policy for literature/art and science/academia.
- April 28, 1956: Mao clearly stated at an enlarged Politburo meeting: “On matters of art — let a hundred flowers bloom; on matters of scholarship — let a hundred schools contend. I think this should be our policy.”
- May 2, 1956: Mao reiterated the slogan at the Supreme State Conference.
- May 26, 1956: Lu Dingyi (Head of the Propaganda Department) delivered a major public report titled “百花齐放、百家争鸣” at Huairen Hall, formally explaining and promoting the policy to intellectuals, scientists, and artists.
- High point – 1957
- February 27, 1957: Mao delivered the speech “On the Correct Handling of Contradictions Among the People,” in which he officially declared “百花齐放、百家争鸣” as the Party’s long-term policy for promoting the development of art and progress in science.
- This led to the “Hundred Flowers Campaign” (also called the “Blooming and Contending” movement or 大鸣大放 — “big criticism, big blooming, big contention, big airing of views”).
Actual Outcome and Historical Evaluation
The policy was intended to ease tensions with intellectuals after the large-scale socialist transformation (1955–1956) and to correct overly rigid Soviet-style dogmatism.
However, the campaign quickly spiraled beyond expectations: many intellectuals raised sharp criticisms of Party bureaucracy, dogmatism, and even the political system itself. This alarmed the leadership.
- In mid-1957, the policy was abruptly reversed.
- The Anti-Rightist Campaign (1957–1959) began, during which hundreds of thousands of intellectuals who had spoken out were labeled “rightists,” purged, sent to labor reform, or suffered long-term political persecution.
Later Status
- After the Cultural Revolution, the “Double Hundred Policy” was officially restored and reaffirmed at the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee (1978).
- It remains one of the guiding principles for Chinese cultural, artistic, scientific, and academic work to this day (though its implementation varies greatly depending on the political climate).
In short:
“百花齐放、百家争鸣” was originally a progressive, open-minded policy proposed by Mao Zedong in 1956 to encourage intellectual and cultural vitality in the early years of socialist construction, but its brief implementation in 1957 became one of the most dramatic and tragic episodes in modern Chinese intellectual history.
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