Xiang Zhongfa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Xiang Zhongfa
向忠发
General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party
In office 1 July 1928 – 24 June 1931
Preceded by	Chen Duxiu
Succeeded by	Qin Bangxian
Personal details
Born	1879 Shanghai, China
Died	(1931-06-24)24 June 1931 (age 51-52) Shanghai, Republic of China
Political party	Chinese Communist Party

Xiang Zhongfa (simplified Chinese: 向忠发; traditional Chinese: 向忠發; pinyin: Xiàng Zhōngfǎ; 1879 – June 24, 1931) was an important early leader of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He served as the General Secretary of the CCP from 1928 to 1931. His journey from a poor background to a top political role shows the changing times in China.

Early Life and Work

Xiang Zhongfa was born in 1879 into a poor family. They lived in Hanchuan, Hubei province, China. He had to leave elementary school early to help his family.

When he was 14, Xiang became an apprentice. He worked in a factory that made weapons in Hanyang, near Wuhan. After that factory closed, he found work as a servant in Jiangxi.

Later, Xiang started working for a shipping company in Wuhan. He quickly moved up the ranks. He became a Second Mate, then a Chief Mate on a large ship.

Becoming a Worker Leader

Xiang later joined a major shipping company called Han Zhiping. Because he could read and write, and was active, he was chosen as a leader for the workers' union. In 1921, he became the Vice Chairman of this union. That same year, he joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Rise to Power in the CCP

During a time of big changes in China, Xiang Zhongfa became more important. This was during the Northern Expedition. The Kuomintang (KMT) army was moving through Hubei province. Xiang helped organize workers to go on strike against local leaders. This helped the KMT army a lot.

When the CCP's main office moved to Wuhan, Xiang was chosen for the CCP Central Committee. This was because of his hard work. He became one of the most well-known worker activists.

Working with the Comintern

The alliance between the CCP and the KMT was not always smooth. Xiang was open about his disagreements. This was different from other CCP leaders who tried to compromise. His strong opinions impressed the Comintern. The Comintern was an international group that supported communist parties around the world.

The Comintern wanted workers and farmers to have more influence in the CCP. This matched Xiang's views. So, in August 1927, the CCP removed its leader, Chen Duxiu. Xiang was then chosen as a temporary member of the CCP's top decision-making group, the politburo.

Journey to Moscow

In October 1927, the Comintern asked the CCP to send a group to Moscow. They were to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the October Revolution in Russia. Many CCP leaders were hiding after a failed uprising. So, Xiang was chosen to lead the group to the Soviet Union.

Xiang and eight other delegates arrived in Moscow in November. They were welcomed warmly. Xiang attended celebrations and gave talks on Soviet radio. His knowledge of worker movements in China earned him respect from the Comintern.

Becoming General Secretary

The Comintern believed the CCP needed more worker leaders. In January 1928, Xiang wrote letters to Joseph Stalin and Nikolai Bukharin. He shared his concerns about the CCP's direction. This caught their attention.

In March 1928, the Comintern asked the CCP to hold its 6th National Congress in Moscow. This meeting was meant to change the CCP's leadership. Xiang was chosen to lead the opening and closing sessions. This showed he was about to get a promotion.

At this meeting, Xiang spoke strongly about the future of the Chinese revolution. The Comintern then suggested a list of candidates for the CCP's Central Committee. Many workers were on this list. Xiang was elected as a member of the Politburo and became the General Secretary of the CCP. This was a big step for a worker leader.

Challenges in Shanghai

After becoming the top leader, Xiang Zhongfa returned to Shanghai. He was in charge of the CCP's daily work. He made some changes, like removing Cai Hesen from the politburo. He also tried to make the CCP's organization stronger.

The Li Lisan Line

During Xiang's time as leader, another important figure, Li Lisan, gained influence. Li Lisan became the Minister of Propaganda. He believed the Chinese revolution was at its peak. This led to a very extreme plan, known as the "Li Lisan line." This plan called for armed uprisings in cities across China.

Xiang supported Li Lisan's ideas. The CCP even stopped its regular work to prepare for a big uprising. However, the Comintern disagreed with this plan. They thought it was too extreme and would lead to big losses. They wanted the CCP to focus on smaller uprisings. But Xiang and Li insisted their plan was right.

Loss of Power

The "Li Lisan line" led to many problems and losses for the CCP. The Comintern sent Qu Qiubai and Zhou Enlai back to China to fix things. A group of young leaders, known as the 28 Bolsheviks, also criticized Li Lisan.

The Comintern ordered Li Lisan to return to Moscow. Pavel Mif, a Comintern envoy, came to Shanghai. Under his guidance, a new meeting was held. Li Lisan was replaced by Wang Ming, one of Mif's students. Other important jobs went to the 28 Bolsheviks.

Xiang Zhongfa tried to resign, but the Comintern and other CCP leaders stopped him. They still saw his value as a worker leader. However, his role as the top leader ended. The CCP's focus shifted from cities to rural areas, which Xiang knew little about.

Final Days

Xiang Zhongfa became less involved in the party's work. He felt like a puppet leader. He lost interest in the revolution and started living a more luxurious life. He used party money to live in a villa with his girlfriend. This made other CCP members upset, especially Zhou Enlai, who was worried about the safety of leaders.

In 1931, a key security leader of the CCP, Gu Shunzhang, was arrested. Gu then told the KMT about Xiang Zhongfa. Xiang was arrested on June 21, 1931, in a jewelry store in Shanghai. He was with his girlfriend, Yang Xiuzhen.

After his capture, Xiang told the KMT everything he knew about the CCP. He was shot and executed on June 24, 1931. A pardon order from Chiang Kai-shek arrived too late.

Xiang's Legacy

Xiang Zhongfa was the only General Secretary of the CCP to be arrested and executed by the Kuomintang. Because of this, the CCP saw him as a disgrace. They tried to remove his memory from their history.

In the early days of the CCP, many worker leaders were elected. But many of them later left the party or were arrested. After Xiang's death, the Comintern chose younger leaders like Wang Ming and Bo Gu. These leaders had studied in the Soviet Union. They were seen as more trustworthy, even if they had less experience than the older worker activists.

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  Xiang Zhongfa