The Unique Contributions of Female Delegates to the Seventh National Congress of the CPC during the War of Resistance Against Japan

The Seventh National Congress of the Communist Party of China (hereinafter referred to as the “Seventh Congress”) was the only National Congress convened by the CPC during the War of Resistance Against Japan. It was a “congress of unity and a congress of victory” held on the eve of victory in the War of Resistance. Fifty-two female delegates (including 18 alternate female delegates) attended this congress, accounting for 6.9% of all delegates. In terms of age, their average age when elected as delegates to the Seventh Congress was 33, with the oldest being 48 and the youngest 21. In terms of place of origin, they came from 14 provinces across the country. In terms of family background, those from peasant families were the most numerous, accounting for approximately 37% of all female delegates. In terms of educational level, those who had received secondary education (middle school education) were the most numerous, accounting for 52% of all female delegates. During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the female delegates to the Seventh Congress, despite differences in age, place of origin, family background, and educational level, displayed a drive and tenacity that matched that of men, [1]1 “巾帼不让须眉” (jinguo bu rang xumei) is a Chinese idiom meaning that women are not inferior to men; literally, “women’s headdresses do not yield to men’s eyebrows and beards.” were active on various fronts, and played an important role in the War of Resistance.

中国共产党第七次全国代表大会（以下简称“七大”）是抗日战争时期中国共产党召开的唯一一次全国代表大会，是在抗战胜利前夕召开的“团结的大会、胜利的大会”。52位女性党代表（包括18位候补女性党代表）出席这次大会，占全体党代表的6.9%。从年龄上看，她们当选七大党代表时的平均年龄为33岁，年龄最大的48岁，最小的21岁；从籍贯上看，她们来自全国14个省份；从家庭出身上看，农民家庭出身者最多，约占全部女性党代表人数的37%；从受教育程度上看，接受中等教育（中学教育）人数最多，占全部女性党代表人数的52%。抗日战争时期，年龄、籍贯、家庭出身、受教育程度均存在差异的七大女性党代表以巾帼不让须眉的拼劲与韧劲，活跃在各条战线上，在抗日战争中发挥了重要作用。

Strengthened the forces resisting the Japanese invaders

增强了抗击日寇的力量

After the outbreak of the War of Resistance Against Japan, the CPC was the first to raise the banner of resistance. Responding to the Party’s call and submitting to the Party’s arrangements, the female delegates to the Seventh Congress engaged in a life-and-death struggle against the Japanese aggressors on the front lines; on the covert front, they engaged in intelligence gathering, material transport, and other work, thereby adding strength to the resistance against the Japanese invaders.

抗日战争爆发后，中国共产党率先举起了抗日大旗。七大女性党代表响应党的号召、服从党的安排，在前线战场，与日本侵略者展开殊死搏斗；在隐蔽战线，从事情报搜集、运送物资等工作，为抗击日寇增添力量。

Faced with the large-scale offensive of the Japanese army, some female delegates to the Seventh Congress, disregarding their personal safety, went on campaign as ordered. Li Zhen, then head of the Organization Department of the Second Front Army of the Red Army, after enduring countless hardships to reach Yan’an, soon followed the army to the front line of the War of Resistance, contributing her strength to the resistance against the Japanese aggressors and the salvation of the Chinese nation. To coordinate operations on the main battlefield, some female delegates to the Seventh Congress opened up revolutionary base areas behind enemy lines, created anti-Japanese guerrilla forces, and participated in combat operations against the enemy. In 1938, Liu Yaxiong created the first guerrilla detachment in Shanxi. Serving as its political instructor, she led the detachment in liberating the Tienan region of Pingyao, establishing the East Road Anti-Japanese County Government, and coordinating with the Eighth Route Army to smash the enemy’s nine-route encirclement. In leading the anti-Japanese guerrilla forces in struggle against the enemy, she took the lead and was willing to sacrifice her life. Around the time of the Spring Festival in 1939, Liu Yaxiong personally reconnoitered and commanded in Qinyuan, where the Party, government, and military of the Shanxi Taiyue base area were located, leading the guerrilla detachment in a direct engagement with the Japanese invaders in Gengbi Village, Zhaocheng. They killed more than 60 Japanese invaders and captured one flat-trajectory gun, two machine guns, and over ten rifles.

面对日军大举进攻，部分七大女性党代表不顾个人安危，奉命出征。时任红二方面军组织部部长的李贞，历尽千辛万苦到达延安后不久，又随军奔赴抗日前线，为反抗日本侵略者、拯救中华民族贡献力量。为配合正面战场作战，部分七大女性党代表在敌后开辟革命根据地、创建抗日游击队，参与对敌作战。1938年，刘亚雄在山西创建第一支游击队，担任教导员的她率领游击队解放了平遥铁南地区，建立了路东抗日县政府，配合八路军粉碎了敌人的九路围攻。在领导抗日游击队对敌斗争中，她身先士卒，舍生忘死。1939年春节前后，刘亚雄在山西太岳根据地党政军所在地沁源亲自侦察和指挥，领导游击队与赵城耿壁村的日寇展开正面交战，击毙了60余名日寇，缴获了一门平射炮、两挺机枪、十余支步枪。

When the Japanese army attacked the anti-Japanese base areas behind enemy lines, some female delegates to the Seventh Congress threw themselves into the struggle against the “mopping-up” campaigns. [2]2 “扫荡” (saodang, “mopping-up”) refers to the large-scale, brutal search-and-destroy campaigns launched by the Japanese army against CPC-led anti-Japanese base areas behind enemy lines. In August 1941, Zhang Ruihua, then secretary of the Women’s Committee and an officer in the Northern Bureau, participated in the struggle against the “mopping-up” campaigns in the Beiyue and Pingxi base areas of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei region, successfully breaking through the Japanese army’s encirclement together with the anti-Japanese military and civilians of the base areas. In May 1942, the Japanese invaders carried out a large-scale “mopping-up” campaign against the Central Hebei anti-Japanese base area that lasted two months. An Jianping, who worked in the Organization Department of the Central Hebei District Committee, assisted the district Party committee in organizing the military and civilians of the base area to move from place to place, waging a tenacious struggle against the Japanese invaders. During a night march, they were suddenly surrounded by Japanese and puppet troops. An Jianping led all the officers and soldiers in a life-and-death struggle with the Japanese army, fighting desperately to break out. Even though her leg was wounded and bleeding profusely, she endured the pain and persisted, ultimately leading the troops out of the encirclement. However, because she fought while wounded and did not receive timely medical treatment, she was left with a permanent disability.

当日军进攻敌后抗日根据地时，部分七大女性党代表投身反“扫荡”斗争。1941年8月，时任北方分局机关干事兼妇女委员会书记的张瑞华参加了晋察冀北岳与平西根据地的反“扫荡”斗争，跟随根据地抗战军民成功突出了日军包围圈；1942年5月，日寇对冀中抗日根据地进行了长达两个月的大“扫荡”，在冀中区委组织部工作的安建平协助区党委组织根据地军民转战各地，与日寇进行顽强斗争。在一次夜行军过程中，突然遭到日伪军包围，安建平带领全体官兵与日军展开了殊死搏斗，奋力突围，即便腿部受伤，血流不止，依然忍痛坚持，最终带领部队突出重围。但是，她却因为带伤作战，医治不及时，落下终身残疾。

In addition to direct combat against the Japanese invaders on the front lines, some female delegates to the Seventh Congress also risked exposure at any time to gather intelligence on the covert front, making unique contributions to enabling the Party to grasp the enemy’s movements in a timely manner and coordinate front-line operations. During the summer vacation of 1938, for the needs of the revolutionary struggle, Peng Yutai, who had just graduated from high school, gave up the opportunity to pursue further education and went to teach at Zuoxiu Primary School, using her identity as a teacher as a cover to carry out underground work. After the Xi’an Incident, [3]3 The Xi’an Incident (December 1936) was a pivotal event in which Generals Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng detained Chiang Kai-shek to force him to form a united front with the CPC against Japan. the CPC Central Committee decided to restore the Shaanxi Provincial Committee. Bai Qian, then head of the Women’s Department of the Sanbian (Jingbian, Anbian, and Dingbian) Special Committee, was transferred to the provincial Party committee organs to carry out underground work. After the full outbreak of the War of Resistance, Xian Fofo, who worked in the Propaganda Department of the Rear Services Department of the Central Military Commission, was transferred to Xi’an to do underground work.

除了在前线战场与日寇进行正面作战外，部分七大女性党代表还冒着随时暴露的危险，在隐蔽战线搜集情报，为党及时掌握敌人动向，配合前线作战作出独特贡献。1938年暑假，为了革命斗争的需要，刚高中毕业的彭毓泰，放弃升学机会去作秀小学任教，以教师身份作掩护，开展地下工作。西安事变后，中共中央决定恢复陕西省委，时任三边（靖边、安边和定边）特委妇女部长的白茜被调到省委机关开展地下工作。抗战全面爆发后，在中央军委后方部宣传部工作的蹇先佛被调到西安做地下工作。

The female delegates to the Seventh Congress also engaged in material transport work on the covert front. In March-April 1937, in order to withdraw a large sum of money raised by the Communist International for the Chinese people’s War of Resistance from Shanghai and bring it back to Xi’an, Wei Gongzhi, who was responsible for political transportation between Xi’an and Shanghai and also served as head of the Women’s Department of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee, was ordered to go with Qian Zhiguang and Qian Xi, under the leadership of Mao Zemin, to disguise themselves, exchange this large sum of money for fabi, [4]4 Fabi was the legal tender currency issued by the Nationalist government of the Republic of China from 1935. and bring it back to Xi’an in batches. During the transport process, Wei Gongzhi, with her high vigilance and characteristic efficiency, frequently traveled back and forth between Xi’an and Shanghai, cleverly shaking off secret agent surveillance on several occasions. With the personal welcome, escort, and cover of the head of the liaison office, she successfully completed this arduous task.

七大女性党代表还在隐蔽战线从事物资运送工作。1937年三、四月间，为了将共产国际给中国人民抗战募集的一笔巨款从上海提取出来带回西安，负责西安到上海政治交通兼陕西省委妇女部长的危拱之奉命与钱之光、钱希一起，在毛泽民的带领下，乔装后将这笔巨款兑换为法币分批带回西安。在转运过程中，危拱之以高度的警觉和特有的干练，频繁往返于西安和上海之间，数次机智地摆脱特务盯梢，在联络处首长的亲自迎送和掩护下，顺利地完成了这次艰巨的任务。

Actively participated in united resistance against Japan

积极投身团结抗日

Faced with a militarily powerful Japan, achieving complete victory in the War of Resistance required a nationwide war of resistance. After the September 18th Incident, [5]5 The September 18th Incident (1931) was a Japanese false-flag attack that served as a pretext for the Japanese invasion and occupation of Northeast China (Manchuria). the CPC advocated for the establishment of an anti-Japanese national united front. Under the Party’s leadership, the female delegates to the Seventh Congress used propaganda materials, anti-Japanese speeches, theatrical performances, and other methods to carry out anti-Japanese propaganda, mobilizing all forces that could be mobilized, especially the broad masses of women, to resist aggression and save the nation.

面对战争力量强大的日本，要想取得抗日战争的完全胜利，必须实行全民族抗战。九一八事变之后，中国共产党倡导建立抗日民族统一战线。七大女性党代表在党的领导下，利用宣传材料、抗日演讲、戏剧演出等方式开展抗战宣传，动员一切可以动员的力量，尤其是广大妇女御辱救亡。

To inspire the military and civilians across the country to unite in resisting Japan, female delegates to the Seventh Congress such as Zhang Lanying and Liu Sufei engaged in propaganda activities for national salvation and resistance against Japan in the propaganda departments of Party committees and various organs and units at all levels in the anti-Japanese base areas. Liu Sufei, then head of the Propaganda Department of the Women’s National Salvation Federation of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, compiled and printed large quantities of propaganda materials for distribution to the women’s organizations under her jurisdiction, publicizing the Party’s Ten-Point Program for Resisting Japan and Saving the Nation [6]6 The Ten-Point Program for Resisting Japan and Saving the Nation was a policy platform adopted by the CPC in 1937 outlining its comprehensive strategy for national resistance against Japan. and its policies, and mobilizing and organizing the broad masses of women to participate in activities for national salvation and resistance against Japan. To ignite the patriotic fervor of youth and the people, He Yi, then head of the United Front Work Department and the Mass Movement Department of the New Fourth Army’s Ji’an Liaison Office, personally led propaganda teams to give speeches in schools, factories, and on the streets, explaining the anti-Japanese situation to all sectors of society and helping them form various types of anti-Japanese organizations.

为激励全国军民团结一致抗日，张兰英、刘素菲等七大女性党代表在抗日根据地各级党委、各机关单位宣传部门，从事抗日救亡的宣传活动。时任陕甘宁边区妇女救国联合会宣传部部长的刘素菲，编印了大批宣传材料送给下辖的妇女组织，宣传党的抗日救国十大纲领和方针政策，动员和组织广大妇女投身抗日救亡活动。为激发青年和民众的爱国热情，时任新四军驻吉安通讯处统战部长、民运部长的贺怡，亲自带领宣传队到学校、工厂、街道演讲，向社会各界宣传抗日形势，帮助他们组建各类抗日团体。

The female delegates to the Seventh Congress used diverse propaganda media, seized every possible opportunity, and adopted flexible methods to carry out anti-Japanese propaganda. To achieve a nationwide war of resistance, the female delegates to the Seventh Congress conducted mobilization for the War of Resistance among different groups. Liao Siguang, deputy director of the “Yangtze River Bureau” Work Committee, united in Wuhan with the influential “Chinese Labor Association,” headed by Zhu Xuefan, which operated in the Kuomintang-controlled areas, to jointly organize the “Preparatory Committee of the Chinese Workers’ General Association for Resisting the Enemy,” which received an active response from over 40 workers’ organizations nationwide. Deng Yingchao, who had led the women’s anti-Japanese national united front work in Wuhan and Chongqing, used individual conversations to mobilize Kang Daisha (formerly named Kang Jing) to return to the Kuomintang-controlled areas to carry out anti-Japanese activities. After Kang Daisha returned to Chongqing, her family’s residence in Chongqing became an important stronghold for our Party’s united front work.

七大女性党代表借助多样化宣传媒介，利用一切可能时机，采取灵活机动的方式开展抗日宣传。为了实现全民族抗战，七大女性党代表在不同群体中开展抗战动员。担任“长江局”工委副主任的廖似光在武汉团结在国统区颇有影响的、以朱学范为首的“中国劳动协会”，共同组织“中国工人抗敌总会筹备会”，得到了全国40多个工人团体的积极响应。曾在武汉和重庆领导妇女界抗日民族统一战线工作的邓颖超采用个别谈话方式，动员康岱沙（原名康静）回到国统区开展抗日活动。康岱沙回到重庆后，她家在重庆的一所住宅成为我们党开展统战工作的重要据点。

In the mobilization for the War of Resistance, the female delegates to the Seventh Congress were most concerned with the women’s group. Cai Chang, then acting secretary of the Central Women’s Committee, provided guidance on women’s participation in the War of Resistance in different regions: “Sisters in the rear areas can more extensively participate in all anti-Japanese women’s organizations, carry out national and democratic education among the women masses, to enhance their enthusiasm for the War of Resistance and strengthen internal unity; sisters in the enemy-occupied areas can skillfully use every opportunity to unite and educate the women masses, to raise their national consciousness and confidence in the War of Resistance; sisters in the anti-Japanese base areas, who have always been the vanguard of the national women’s movement, should use every method to mobilize broader masses of women to actively participate in the War of Resistance mobilization.” To mobilize women to join the War of Resistance, according to incomplete statistics: 44 of the 52 female delegates to the Seventh Congress successively carried out anti-Japanese national salvation movements in women’s organizations at various levels. Zhang Xiuyan, then a member of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee, head of the Women’s Department, and secretary of the Women’s Work Committee, together with other women cadres, established the Shaanxi Provincial Women’s Comfort Corps, organized anti-Japanese organizations such as sister groups, comfort groups, propaganda teams, first-aid teams, and night schools, founded anti-Japanese publications, and held training classes. When Li Guizhi served as head of the Second Work Group of the Penglai County Women’s National Salvation Association Preparatory Committee in Shandong, she established women’s national salvation associations in thirteen villages and two townships under Penglai County’s jurisdiction, and formed anti-Japanese organizations such as women’s literacy classes, women’s self-defense forces, and children’s corps.

在抗战动员中，七大女性党代表最关注妇女群体。时任中央妇委代理书记的蔡畅对不同地区妇女抗战提出指导，“在大后方的姊妹们，可以更多地参加一切抗日妇女团体，开展妇女群众的民族民主教育，以提高抗战的积极性，加强内部的团结；敌占区的姊妹们，可以利用一切的机会，很巧妙地团结和教育妇女群众，以提高她们的民族意识和抗战信心；抗日根据地的姊妹们，我们一贯是全国妇女运动的先导，更应该利用一切方法，动员更广泛的妇女群众，积极参加抗战动员”。为了动员妇女投身抗战，据不完全统计：52位七大女性党代表中有44位先后在各级各类妇女机构开展抗日救亡运动。时任陕西省委常委兼妇女部长、妇女工作委员会书记的张秀岩同其他妇女干部一起，成立陕西省妇女慰劳会，组织姊妹团、慰问团、宣传队、救护队、夜校等抗日组织，创办抗日刊物，举办训练班。李桂枝任山东蓬莱县妇救会筹备会第二工作团团长时，在蓬莱县下辖的十三个村和两个乡成立妇救会，组建妇女识字班、妇女自卫军、儿童团等抗日组织。

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the female delegates to the Seventh National Congress, as an independent force in the fight against the Japanese invaders, went to the front lines and bravely ventured into enemy-occupied areas with the spirit of "sacrificing one's life to meet the national crisis" [7]7 A classical Chinese expression of patriotic self-sacrifice, from the poem "The White Horse" by Cao Zhi (192–232 CE) of the Three Kingdoms period., and used the delicate sensibility of "a heart as still as water, unmoved by waves" [8]8 A phrase evoking calm, unruffled emotion, often used to describe a composed and empathetic demeanor. to reach out to the broad masses and approach trainees, making indelible contributions to resisting the Japanese aggressors, building base areas, and ultimately achieving victory in the War of Resistance.

抗日战争时期，七大女性党代表作为抗击日寇的一支独立力量，以“捐躯赴国难”的视死如归精神奔赴抗日前线、勇闯敌后，以“心如止水不成波”的细腻情感深入广大民众、走近培训学员，为抗击日本侵略者、开展根据地建设，最终取得抗战胜利作出不可磨灭的贡献。

(This article is a phased result of the National Social Science Fund general project "Research on the Historical Evolution and Experience of the Chinese Communist Party's Marriage Policy")

（本文系国家社科基金一般项目“中国共产党婚姻政策历史演进与经验启示研究”阶段性成果）

(The author is an associate professor at the School of Marxism, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics)

（作者系江西财经大学马克思主义学院副教授）

Online editor: Tongxin

网络编辑：同心