Yang Gensi
Encyclopedia
Yang Gensi was a military hero of People's Republic of China
, remembered for his efforts and death in the Korean War
. A frequent topic of Communist Chinese propaganda
, the people of the republic were taught to emulate his acts in their daily lives.
Gensi was born in a poor peasant family in Taixing, Jiangsu Province. According to the stories about him, his family was killed by "landlords and capitalists" and he swore revenge and to overthrow the regime. He joined the New Fourth Army
in 1944 and joined the Communist Party in 1945. In October 1950, his unit entered the Korean War as part of the People’s Volunteer Army to support the communist North Korea
against the United States
-backed South Korea
. In November of the same year, Yang Gensi was killed when protecting a strategic position. According to the official story, after withstanding eight waves of attacks, only he and two injured soldiers remained alive in the fortification, and they were out of ammunition. He threw himself into a group of more than 40 American soldiers while holding a satchel charge, sacrificing his life and killing the American soldiers.
In 1952, the Chinese authorities gave him the honorary title of "super hero". The Yang Gensi Memorial Park was established in 1955.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, remembered for his efforts and death in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. A frequent topic of Communist Chinese propaganda
Propaganda in the People's Republic of China
Propaganda in the People's Republic of China as interpreted in Western media refers to the Communist Party of China's use of propaganda to sway public and international opinion in favor of its policies. Domestically, this includes censorship of proscribed views and an active cultivation of views...
, the people of the republic were taught to emulate his acts in their daily lives.
Gensi was born in a poor peasant family in Taixing, Jiangsu Province. According to the stories about him, his family was killed by "landlords and capitalists" and he swore revenge and to overthrow the regime. He joined the New Fourth Army
New Fourth Army
The New Fourth Army was a unit of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China established in 1937. In contrast to most of the National Revolutionary Army, it was controlled by the Communist Party of China and not by the ruling Kuomintang. The New Fourth Army and the Eighth Route Army...
in 1944 and joined the Communist Party in 1945. In October 1950, his unit entered the Korean War as part of the People’s Volunteer Army to support the communist North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
against the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-backed South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. In November of the same year, Yang Gensi was killed when protecting a strategic position. According to the official story, after withstanding eight waves of attacks, only he and two injured soldiers remained alive in the fortification, and they were out of ammunition. He threw himself into a group of more than 40 American soldiers while holding a satchel charge, sacrificing his life and killing the American soldiers.
In 1952, the Chinese authorities gave him the honorary title of "super hero". The Yang Gensi Memorial Park was established in 1955.
See also
- Chinese propaganda poster depicting Yang Gensi about to commit his act of heroism, hosted at the Indonesian Wikipedia