Du Runsheng facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Du Runsheng
杜润生
Member of the Central Advisory Commission
In office 1987–1992
Director	Chen Yun
Director of Rural Development Research Center of the State Council
In office 1983–1989
Director of Rural Policy Research Office of Secretariat of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
In office 1983–1989
Deputy Director of National Agricultural Commission of the People's Republic of China
In office 1979–1983
Personal details
Born	Du De (杜德) (1913-07-18)July 18, 1913 Yangyi Village, Taigu County, Shanxi, China
Died	October 9, 2015(2015-10-09) (aged 102) Beijing Hospital, Beijing
Political party	Communist Party of China
Children	1
Alma mater	Taiyuan National Normal College Beijing Normal University
Military service
Allegiance	China
Branch/service	Eighth Route Army (1937–1945) People's Liberation Army (1945–1949)
Years of service	1936–1949
Battles/wars	Second Sino-Japanese War Chinese Civil War
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	杜潤生
Simplified Chinese	杜润生
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Dù Rùnshēng

Du Runsheng (Chinese: 杜润生; pinyin: Dù Rùnshēng; July 18, 1913 – October 9, 2015) was a very important Chinese leader and economist. Many people called him "China's father of rural reform." This means he played a huge role in changing how farming and country life worked in China.

From 1982 to 1986, he helped create special plans called "Document No.1 of the Central Government." These plans were all about making life better in China's rural areas. Many of his students also became important leaders and thinkers.

Who Was Du Runsheng?

Early Life and Education

Du Runsheng was born as Du De on July 18, 1913. This was in a village called Yangyi, in Taigu County, Shanxi province, China. He grew up during a time when China was changing a lot.

In 1929, he went to Taiyuan National Normal College. Later, in 1934, he studied at Beijing Normal University. He was very active in student movements. In 1935, he was even held by the government for taking part in protests.

Joining the Revolution

Du Runsheng joined the Communist Party of China in 1936. This was a big step in his life. He became a leader in a group called the Vanguard of National Liberation. He helped spread their ideas to others.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he worked in different roles. He helped manage areas near the Taihang Mountain. He also took part in the Chinese Civil War, which was another major conflict in China.

Helping Farmers with Land Reform

Du Runsheng was known as one of the Communist Party's top experts on rural areas. He played a key part in China's land reform movement. This movement was about changing who owned the land.

Before, many farmers didn't own the land they worked on. Land reform meant giving land to the farmers. Du Runsheng believed this would help farmers stand up for themselves. It would also make them feel proud to own their own land. This change was not just about money; it was also about giving farmers more power and respect. It was a big step towards building a new China.

After the New China Was Formed

After the People's Republic of China was founded, Du Runsheng continued his work. He helped lead the land reform movement in different parts of the country.

In 1953, he moved to Beijing. He joined a new department that focused on rural work. He strongly supported farmers being able to develop their own small businesses. However, some people criticized him for these ideas. They thought his ideas were too much like capitalism.

Facing Challenges

In 1966, a difficult period in China began, known as the Cultural Revolution. During this time, Du Runsheng was suspended from his work. He faced many challenges. In 1970, he was sent to work in a rural area in Hubei province.

Leading Economic Reforms

Things changed for Du Runsheng in 1978. He was able to return to his important work.

In 1979, he became a deputy director of the National Agricultural Commission. He held this job until 1983. Then, he became the director of two important offices. These offices focused on rural policy and rural development. He worked in these roles until 1989.

One of his biggest achievements was helping to create the "household responsibility system." This system allowed farming families to manage their own land and keep what they produced. It was a huge change that helped farmers earn more and boosted food production across China. This system first became official in 1980.

In his later years, Du Runsheng continued to be active. He served as a leader in several groups related to agriculture and economics.

His Passing

Du Runsheng passed away on October 9, 2015, in Beijing. He was 102 years old.

Personal Life

Du Runsheng had one daughter, named Du Xia.