Zhang Side
Encyclopedia
Zhang Side (April 19, 1915 – September 5, 1944) was a soldier of the People's Liberation Army
.
He was born in Yilong County, Sichuan
Province and served as a soldier of the People's Liberation Army
of the Second United Front during the Second Sino-Japanese War
. He joined the military in December 1933 serving in a variety of posts and taking part in Long March
of 1935. During this time he was wounded in battle at least three times and repeatedly recognized for his dedication to the cause. Beginning in 1943, he served as one of Mao Zedong's
body guards and held that position until he was killed when a charchoal-producing kiln suddenly collapsed. At Zhang's memorial service, Chairman Mao subsequently honored him in a speech entitled "Serve the People
," saying that "To die for the people is weightier than Mount Tai
, but to work for the fascists and die for the exploiters and oppressors is lighter than a feather. Comrade Zhang Side died for the people, and his death is indeed weightier than Mount Tai.". In others books was written that Mao Zedong said in his eulogy "Serve the people":
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
.
He was born in Yilong County, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
Province and served as a soldier of the People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
of the Second United Front during the Second Sino-Japanese War
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
. He joined the military in December 1933 serving in a variety of posts and taking part in Long March
Long March
The Long March was a massive military retreat undertaken by the Red Army of the Communist Party of China, the forerunner of the People's Liberation Army, to evade the pursuit of the Kuomintang army. There was not one Long March, but a series of marches, as various Communist armies in the south...
of 1935. During this time he was wounded in battle at least three times and repeatedly recognized for his dedication to the cause. Beginning in 1943, he served as one of Mao Zedong's
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
body guards and held that position until he was killed when a charchoal-producing kiln suddenly collapsed. At Zhang's memorial service, Chairman Mao subsequently honored him in a speech entitled "Serve the People
Serve the People
"Serve the People" or "Service for the People" is a political slogan which first appeared in Mao-era China. It originates from the title of a speech by Mao Zedong, delivered on September 8, 1944. The slogan was also widely used in the United States by students and youth during the Asian American...
," saying that "To die for the people is weightier than Mount Tai
Mount Tai
Mount Tai is a mountain of historical and cultural significance located north of the city of Tai'an, in Shandong province, People's Republic of China. The tallest peak is the Jade Emperor Peak , which is commonly reported as tall, but is described by the PRC government as .Mount Tai is one of the...
, but to work for the fascists and die for the exploiters and oppressors is lighter than a feather. Comrade Zhang Side died for the people, and his death is indeed weightier than Mount Tai.". In others books was written that Mao Zedong said in his eulogy "Serve the people":
- "All men must die, but death can vary in its significance. The ancient Chinese writer Szuma Chien (Sima QianSima QianSima Qian was a Prefect of the Grand Scribes of the Han Dynasty. He is regarded as the father of Chinese historiography for his highly praised work, Records of the Grand Historian , a "Jizhuanti"-style general history of China, covering more than two thousand years from the Yellow Emperor to...
) said, "Though death befalls all men alike, it may be weightier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather." [...] From now on, when anyone in our ranks who has done some useful work dies, be he soldier or cook, we should have a funeral ceremony and a memorial meeting in his honor. This should become the rule. And it should be introduced among the people as well. When someone dies in a village, let a memorial meeting be held. In this way we express our mourning for the dead and unite all the people".
This speech later became the focal point of a propaganda campaign that in some forms is still actually in use.
External links
- Posters depicting Zhang Side
- Mao Zedong's speech "Serve the People" venerating Zhang Side
- :zh:张思德 Chinese Wikipedia.