"Only Public Servants, No Officials"

During the Yan'an period [1]1 Yan'an period: The period from 1936 to 1948 when the Chinese Communist Party had its revolutionary base area in Yan'an, Shaanxi Province, and led the resistance against Japan and the civil war against the Kuomintang., a number of foreigners made their way to Yan'an and witnessed the work and life of the leaders of the Chinese Communist Party, leaving behind a large number of precious authentic records. From a unique cross-cultural perspective, they sketched for us a vivid image of the CPC leaders as "only public servants, no officials." This played an important role in building the CPC's good reputation and winning support from all sides, and also offers profound inspiration for our current study and education on thoroughly implementing the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations [2]2 Eight-Point Regulations: A set of rules issued by the CPC Central Committee in 2012 to reduce bureaucracy, waste, and undesirable work styles among Party officials. and strengthening the Party's conduct.

延安时期，一批外国人士奔赴延安，目睹中国共产党领导人的工作与生活，留下了大量珍贵的真实记录。他们以独特的跨文化视角为我们勾勒出“只见公仆不见官”的中国共产党领导人鲜明形象。这对形成中国共产党良好声誉、收获各方支持起到重要作用，也为当前我们开展深入贯彻中央八项规定精神学习教育、加强党的作风建设带来深刻启示。

"What charmed them most was simplicity." Foreigners who came to Yan'an had deep contact with the CPC leaders and faithfully recorded their revolutionary style of hard work and plain living. In the eyes of the American journalist Edgar Snow [3]3 Edgar Snow (1905–1972): American journalist who wrote *Red Star Over China* (1937), the first major Western account of the CPC and its leaders in Yan'an., Mao Zedong lived in a very crude cave dwelling, his "chief luxury" being "a mosquito net," and "all his possessions were still a roll of bedding and a few items of personal clothing"; Zhou Enlai slept on a heated earthen bed; Peng Dehuai's vest was made from a captured parachute; Lin Boqu's glasses had a broken temple, tied to his ear with a string... The U.S. Army Observer Group [4]4 U.S. Army Observer Group: Also known as the "Dixie Mission," a small U.S. military team stationed in Yan'an from 1944 to 1945 to observe the CPC and coordinate with it against Japan., which arrived in Yan'an in 1944, believed that "what charmed them most was simplicity." Observer group member John Colling [5]5 John Colling: A member of the U.S. Army Observer Group in Yan'an; no further details available. remarked with emotion: "In Yan'an, I was moved by the spirit of the Communists striving for their goals. You could smell that spirit in the air. Their clothes were ragged and torn, their equipment was short of guns and ammunition, but they had the spirit of fighting for their goals." Through their own observations and experiences, these foreigners spread the story of the CPC leaders' fine character of leading by example and practicing clean and honest self-discipline, so that the image of CPC leaders as "only public servants, no officials" began to be displayed internationally.

“他们最大的魅力就是简朴。”来到延安的外国人士与中国共产党领导人深入接触，真实记录下中国共产党领导人艰苦朴素的革命风貌。在美国记者斯诺的眼中，毛泽东住在十分简陋的窑洞里，“主要奢侈品是一顶蚊帐”，“所有的财物却依然是一卷铺盖，几件随身衣物”；周恩来睡在土炕上；彭德怀穿的背心竟是用缴获的降落伞做的；林伯渠的眼镜腿断了，是用一根绳子系在耳朵上……1944年到达延安的美军观察组认为，“他们最大的魅力就是简朴”。观察组成员约翰·科林感慨：“在延安，我被共产党人为目标奋斗的精神所感动，人们在空气中可以嗅到这种气息，他们的衣服破烂不堪，他们的装备缺枪少弹，但他们有为目标奋斗的精神。”外国人士通过自身的观察与体验，将中国共产党领导人以身作则、廉洁自律的优良品格传播出去，使得“只见公仆不见官”的中国共产党领导人形象开始在国际上展现。

"The Communist Party shines brilliantly in comparison with the Kuomintang." Under Western capitalist society and the old Chinese feudal ruling system, power was often seen as a tool for personal gain and privilege, with a clear class difference and power gap between "officials" and ordinary people. However, in Yan'an, foreigners saw a completely different scene: the CPC leaders displayed a completely new concept of power. In their eyes, CPC leaders were not "officials" in the traditional sense, but true public servants, and the exercise of power was for the interests of the people. The British journalist Guenther Stein [6]6 Guenther Stein (1900–1988): British journalist who visited Yan'an in 1944 and wrote *The Challenge of Red China*. discovered that terms like "official" were ridiculed in Yan'an; cadres did not wear insignia indicating rank, nor did they have official titles; everyone was addressed as "comrade." This egalitarian atmosphere could be seen everywhere in Yan'an. The American officer Evans Carlson [7]7 Evans Carlson (1896–1947): American Marine officer who visited Yan'an in 1937–1938 and later led the "Carlson's Raiders" in the Pacific War, adopting tactics inspired by the CPC's guerrilla warfare. remarked with emotion that the Eighth Route Army [8]8 Eighth Route Army: The main military force of the CPC during the Anti-Japanese War, nominally part of the National Revolutionary Army but under CPC command. cadres in Yan'an were as close as brothers to ordinary soldiers. When not on duty, subordinates and superiors were on an equal footing; they could sit down and chat without restraint. The American diplomat John S. Service [9]9 John S. Service (1909–1999): American diplomat and China specialist who served in the U.S. Embassy in Chongqing and visited Yan'an in 1944 as part of the Dixie Mission. faithfully recorded what he saw in Yan'an: "There were also no bodyguards, no gendarmes, and none of the ostentatious bombast of the Chongqing bureaucratic class." After his investigation in Yan'an, the American journalist Theodore H. White [10]10 Theodore H. White (1915–1986): American journalist who reported from China during the 1940s and later wrote *The Making of the President* series; visited Yan'an in 1944. asserted: "The Communist Party shines brilliantly in comparison with the Kuomintang."

“共产党在和国民党相形之下是光耀四射的。”在西方资本主义社会和旧中国封建统治体系下，权力往往被视为获取个人利益、享受特权的工具，“官”与普通民众之间存在着明显的阶层差异和权力鸿沟。然而，外国人士在延安看到了截然不同的景象，中国共产党领导人展现出的是一种全新的权力观。在他们眼中，中国共产党领导人不是传统意义上的“官”，而是真正的人民公仆，权力的行使是为了人民的利益。英国记者斯坦因发现，“官”之类的名词是受到延安人们嘲笑的，干部不佩戴表示等级的徽章，也没有官衔，每个人都称“同志”。这种平等的氛围在延安随处可见。美国军官卡尔逊感慨，延安的八路军干部与普通战士情同手足。在不执勤时，下级和上级处于平等地位，他们可以坐下来聊天，毫无拘束。美国外交官谢伟思如实记录了他眼中的延安：“这里也完全没有贴身保镖、宪兵和重庆官僚阶层中的哗众取宠的夸夸其谈。” 美国记者白修德在延安考察后断言：“共产党在和国民党相形之下是光耀四射的。”

The Communist Party's oft-repeated "serve the people" was "the real thing." The CPC leaders' pragmatic style of serving the people left a deep impression on the foreigners who visited Yan'an. Stein clearly remembered Mao Zedong stressing to him that if Party cadres genuinely worked for the interests of the broad masses, they would have countless opportunities to listen to the people. Mao Zedong was always willing to set aside routine trivialities, strolling through the streets of Yan'an, talking heart-to-heart with Party cadres from various fields, members of democratic parties, and even the most ordinary peasants. Anyone with doubts or who wished to seek his advice had the opportunity to ask for his help. The American journalist Israel Epstein [11]11 Israel Epstein (1915–2005): Polish-born Jewish journalist who became a Chinese citizen; reported from Yan'an during the war and wrote *The Unfinished Revolution in China*. found that through long revolutionary practice, Mao Zedong had developed a character trait of deep reflection, paying close attention to China's actual conditions and adhering to the ideological line of seeking truth from facts. In the eyes of the American journalist Anna Louise Strong [12]12 Anna Louise Strong (1885–1970): American journalist and author who visited Yan'an in 1946 and interviewed Mao Zedong; known for her Communist sympathies., Zhu De was "kind, plain, looking like a peasant," and "had no airs at all." The scene of Zhu De interacting with the local populace left a deep impression on the American journalist Agnes Smedley [13]13 Agnes Smedley (1892–1950): American journalist and writer who reported extensively on the CPC and lived in Yan'an; known for *The Great Road: The Life and Times of Chu Teh*.: "I had never before seen anyone so attached to life and so democratic in style." The head of the U.S. Army Observer Group, David D. Barrett [14]14 David D. Barrett (1892–1977): American army colonel who headed the U.S. Army Observer Group in Yan'an., mentioned that the CPC leaders demonstrated a very high spirit of pragmatism in their work. They did not boast, but actually formulated plans and solved problems based on the actual situation. The American journalist Harrison Forman [15]15 Harrison Forman (1904–1978): American journalist and photographer who visited Yan'an in 1944 and wrote *Report from Red China*. described scenes of the CPC leaders caring about the living conditions of the masses: "In Yan'an, I saw CPC leaders personally working in the fields, helping peasants harvest crops; they also frequently went deep into villages and factories to understand the production and living conditions of the masses and to promptly solve their difficulties." In Strong's writing, the word most often heard in Yan'an was "the people"; the slogans "go to the people" and "learn from the people" expressed "an eternal love and an ultimate conviction." The American journalist A. T. Steele [16]16 A. T. Steele (1901–1991): American journalist who reported from China for the *Chicago Daily News* and visited Yan'an in 1944., after a ten-day visit and investigation in Yan'an, said with deep feeling: "I savored what the Communist Party often calls 'serve the people'; from the various concrete facts I saw in Yan'an, I think it was the real thing." Before leaving, he sighed with emotion: "Truly, if I stayed in Yan'an for eleven days, I would surely have turned into a Communist!" In the reports and descriptions of these foreigners, the CPC leaders were approachable, cared about the people, were upright and honest, did not fear difficulties in realizing revolutionary goals, and worked hard in a down-to-earth manner. "The Communist Party is winning the support of the entire Chinese people."

共产党常常说的“为人民服务”是“货真价实”的。中国共产党领导人为民务实的作风，给到访延安的外国人士留下深刻印象。斯坦因清晰地记得，毛泽东向他强调，假若党的干部是真心实意地为广大人民的利益而工作，那他们就有倾听人民群众的无数机会。毛泽东总是愿意推脱掉日常的琐碎事务，漫步在延安的街头，和各个领域的党员干部、民主党派人士乃至最普通的农民谈心谈话。任何心有疑惑和有意向他求教的人，都有机会向他寻得帮助。美国记者爱泼斯坦发现，在长期的革命实践中，毛泽东形成了深思熟虑的性格特点，高度关注中国现实状况，坚持实事求是的思想路线。在美国记者斯特朗眼中，朱德“和蔼、朴素，看上去像农民一样的人”，“一点也没有架子”。朱德与驻地老百姓的互动场景给美国记者史沫特莱留下了深刻印象，“像他那样执著于生活，而又有民主作风的人，我过去就从未见到过”。美军观察组组长包瑞德提到，中共领导人在工作中展现出极高的务实精神。他们不会夸夸其谈，而是切实地根据实际情况制定计划、解决问题。美国记者福尔曼描述了中国共产党领导人关心群众生活的情景，“在延安，我看到中共领导人亲自下地劳动，帮助农民收割庄稼；他们还经常深入农村、工厂，了解群众的生产生活情况，及时解决群众的困难”。在斯特朗笔下，在延安，最常听到的词汇是“人民”，“到人民中去”、“向人民学习”的口号，“表达了一种永恒的爱和一种最终的信念”。美国记者斯蒂尔在延安体验考察了十天，深有感触地说，“我体味到共产党常常说的‘为人民服务’，在延安所亲见的各种具体事实，我认为这是货真价实的”。他临走时不胜感慨：“真的，我要是在延安住上十一天，那我一定也将变成一个共产主义者！”在外国人士的报道和描述中，中国共产党领导人平易近人、关心百姓、正直诚实，为了实现革命目标不畏艰难，脚踏实地地努力工作，“共产党正在得到全中国人民的支持”。

"The various organs of the government of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region [17]17 Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region: The CPC-controlled base area centered on Yan'an, established in 1937 and serving as the main revolutionary base during the Anti-Japanese War. are all elected by the people." During the Yan'an period, the CPC attached great importance to democratic political construction, making useful explorations in democratic elections, democratic consultation, democratic decision-making, democratic management, and democratic oversight, turning the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region into a national model anti-Japanese democratic base area. In response to the Kuomintang's slander that "the unity in Yan'an is a kind of totalitarianism," after his actual observations, Theodore H. White believed: "I could find no trace of any such repressive apparatus in Yan'an; I was there only a few weeks, but other Americans who stayed for months also could find nothing in the CPC like the dictatorial and autocratic apparatus in Chongqing." In their decision-making process, the CPC leaders attached importance to listening to the opinions of the masses, allowing ordinary people to participate in political life. The British journalist James Bertram [18]18 James Bertram (1910–1993): British journalist and author who visited Yan'an in 1937 and wrote *North China Front*. believed that "the politics of the Border Region are the closest to genuine democratic politics in all of China," because "now all classes have the right to vote and participate in government affairs." After attending a joint meeting of the Border Region government and the Border Region Senate, the American journalist M. S. Bates [19]19 M. S. Bates (1905–1974): American missionary and journalist who visited Yan'an in 1944 and reported on the Border Region government. was convinced that "the various organs of the government of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region are all elected by the people," and "the principle that Communist Party members should occupy only one-third of government posts seems to be strictly observed." In the understanding of these foreigners, the CPC leaders had broken traditional hierarchical concepts and created an egalitarian social environment.

“陕甘宁边区的政府的各种机构，都是由人民选举的。”延安时期，中国共产党高度重视民主政治建设，在民主选举、民主协商、民主决策、民主管理、民主监督等方面进行了有益探索，使陕甘宁边区成为全国抗日的民主模范区。针对国民党所污蔑的“延安的团结是一种极权性的”论调，白修德经过实际观察认为，“我在延安却找不出这种压制性机构的任何迹象；我在那里只有短短的几个星期，但是其他留在那儿几个月之久的美国人，也同样找不出中共有任何像重庆那种独裁专制性的机构”。中国共产党领导人在决策过程中注重听取群众意见，让普通民众参与到政治生活中来。英国记者詹姆斯·贝特兰认为，“边区的政治是全中国最接近于真正民主政治的”，因为“现在一切阶级都有选举和参政的权利了”。美国记者武道在参加边区政府和边区参议会联席会议后确信，“陕甘宁边区的政府的各种机构，都是由人民选举的”，“共产党员只占政府人员三分之一的原则，看来是严格地遵守着的”。在外国人士的认知中，中国共产党领导人打破了传统的等级观念，营造了一个平等的社会环境。

The image narrative of "only public servants, no officials" is essentially a concrete expression of the Yan'an work style. The elements it embodies—hard struggle, close ties with the masses, clean and honest dedication to public duty, and opposition to privilege—will forever be the heirloom of Chinese Communists. On the new journey of the New Era, we should vigorously inherit and carry forward the Party's fine traditions and work style represented by the Yan'an work style, draw from it the strength to forge ahead, firmly take the people's stand, always maintain the flesh-and-blood bond with the masses, maintain the tenacity and perseverance that the work style construction is always on the road, unswervingly implement the spirit of the Eight-Point Regulations, and promote the normalization and long-term effect of work style construction.

“只见公仆不见官”的形象叙事，本质是延安作风的具象化表达，其蕴含的艰苦奋斗、密切联系群众、廉洁奉公、反对特权思想等要素，永远是中国共产党人的传家宝。新时代新征程，我们应大力传承和弘扬以延安作风为代表的党的优良传统和作风，从中汲取奋进的力量，站稳人民立场，始终保持同人民群众的血肉联系，保持作风建设永远在路上的坚韧和执着，锲而不舍落实中央八项规定精神，推进作风建设常态化长效化。

(The author is an assistant professor at the School of Marxism, Beihang University.)

（作者：北京航空航天大学马克思主义学院助理教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心