Liang Jun (tractor driver) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Liang Jun
|
|
|---|---|
| 梁军 | |
Liang Jun graduating from the Beijing Agricultural Machinery Academy in 1957
|
|
| Born | 1930 Mingshui County, Heilongjiang, Republic of China
|
| Died | (aged 90) Harbin, Heilongjiang, People's Republic of China
|
| Known for | China's first female tractor driver |
| Liang Jun | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 梁軍 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 梁军 | ||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
Liang Jun (Chinese: 梁军; 1930 – 14 January 2020) was a famous woman from China. She is known for being the country's first female tractor driver. She became a national hero and a "model worker," meaning someone whose hard work inspired others.
You can even see her picture on the one yuan banknote, which is a type of money in China! Liang Jun also worked as a politician and gave advice on farming. She is celebrated for helping to break down old ideas about social classes and what women could achieve.
Liang Jun's Early Life
Liang Jun was born in 1930 in a place called Mingshui County in Heilongjiang, China. Her family were farmers and very poor. When she was twelve, she was sent to live with another family.
When Liang Jun was 15, her home province became free during World War II. The Communist Party of China then came into power. This change allowed Liang Jun to go to school, which was a big opportunity for her.
A historian named Tina Mai Chen met Liang Jun in 1996. Chen said that Liang Jun really wanted to learn. She also wanted to show everyone, especially the boys and teachers, that girls could do just as much work.
In 1947, Liang Jun started a special program. It was at a teaching school in Dedu County. There, she read books about hard-working people and strong women. She also watched movies from the Soviet Union. These movies showed women driving tractors. This inspired her to choose this job.
In 1948, a special course for tractor driving began. Liang Jun signed up, not knowing she would be the only girl among 70 students.
Becoming a Pioneer
Liang Jun's hard work fit into a big idea in China. The new government, called the People's Republic of China (PRC), wanted to celebrate workers. They especially wanted to show women in important new jobs.
Liang Jun became known as China's first female tractor driver. The government promoted her story to inspire many others. They wanted to show that women could do any job, especially driving tractors.
Even though she became a national hero, Liang Jun kept working hard. People said she gave her whole life to farming machines. Stories spread that she, a woman, drove tractors to explore new lands. Liang Jun's story encouraged many other women to become tractor drivers. In 1950, the first all-female tractor team was formed, and Liang Jun was their leader.
In 1951, Liang Jun received more training. The local government helped her go to the Beijing Agricultural Machinery Academy. She also studied at the Beijing Agricultural Mechanization College in 1952. After her training, Liang Jun returned home. She worked for the government, leading programs to improve farming.
Because she was a hero, Liang Jun was chosen for an important meeting. In December 1949, she became a delegate for the Asian Women's Conference. In 1957, she helped teach about farming in China's northern wilderness. She continued this work in 1960.
When China's first tractor factory opened in Harbin in 1959, Liang Jun was involved. In 1962, a picture of her driving a tractor was put on the one yuan banknote. This made her even more famous.
From 1954 to 1966, Liang Jun was elected to the National People's Congress three times. This is like being a member of parliament in China. She kept working in her province's farming department until she retired in 1990. Her life story is even taught in Chinese primary school textbooks. Films have also been made about her amazing journey.
Liang Jun's Later Years
Liang Jun passed away on January 14, 2020. She was 90 years old and died in Harbin. Her son said she had been sick for a long time but passed away peacefully.
Images for kids
-
Liang Jun graduating from the Beijing Agricultural Machinery Academy in 1957
-
Liang Jun on a one yuan banknote.
