1. Chen Boda, was a Chinese Communist journalist, professor and political theorist who rose to power as the chief interpreter of Maoism in the first 20 years of the People's Republic of China.
16 Facts About Chen Boda
1. 2.
Chen Boda was born Chen Jianxiang in 1904 to peasant parents.
3.
In 1925, Chen Boda enrolled at Shanghai Labor University, studying literature, and in 1927 he joined the Chinese Communist Party.
4.
Chen Boda was released after a month on General Zhang's recommendation.
5.
Shortly thereafter, Chen Boda was sent by the Party to Moscow Sun Yat-sen University, where he studied politics and Marxist philosophy for four years.
6.
In 1931, Chen Boda returned to China, and married Sichuan native Zhu Yuren, who had studied in Moscow.
7.
Chen Boda soon became personal research assistant and chief political aide to Mao Zedong.
8.
Chen Boda published the first collection of Mao's writings in 1937, and an official history of the Party in 1945.
9.
In 1951, Chen Boda wrote an article with the title Mao Zedong's theory of the Chinese Revolution is the combination of Marxism-Leninism with the Chinese Revolution and a book entitled Mao Zedong on the Chinese Revolution.
10.
In 1950 Chen Boda accompanied Mao to Moscow to participate in the negotiations with Joseph Stalin that led to the signing of the 30-year treaty of alliance between China and the Soviet Union.
11.
From 1966 until 1969, Chen Boda was to play an important role in the Cultural Revolution.
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Furthermore, Chen Boda was placed as head of the Communist government's propaganda apparatus alongside Jiang Qing when the previous leader, Lu Dingyi, was deposed in 1966.
13.
Chen Boda became a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo.
14.
Chen Boda's reputation began to wane after the 9th Party Congress in 1969 due to his ties with Lin Biao and his opposition to Zhou Enlai's attempt to deescalate the Cultural Revolution and refocus on consolidating the Party.
15.
Chen Boda was sentenced to eighteen years in prison, but was released under parole shortly afterwards due to his ill health, and his parole time ended in 1988.
16.
Chen Boda died on 20 September 1989, at the age of 85.