Cognitive Shaping and Revolutionary Discourse Construction in the Exhibition Narratives of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region — A Textual Analysis Based on Major CPC Newspapers and Periodicals

During the Yan’an period, the CPC led the organization of various exhibitions with different themes and diverse forms in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region. These exhibitions were endowed with the political significance of “serving the War of Resistance and production.” They not only effectively shaped the image of the CPC but also profoundly shaped the cognition of the border region’s populace in areas such as economic and cultural construction, the popularization of science and technology, and propaganda and mobilization for the War of Resistance, thereby strengthening the revolutionary narrative of national unity in resistance against Japan.

延安时期，中共在陕甘宁边区领导举办了各类主题不一、形式多样的展览会。这些展览会被赋予“服务抗战与生产”的政治意涵，不仅有效塑造了中共形象，而且深刻塑造了边区民众在经济文化建设、科技知识普及、抗战宣传动员等方面的认知，强化了全民族团结抗战的革命叙事。

Exhibitions were an effective mode of operation for the CPC to conduct policy propaganda and an important arena for promoting the political identity of the populace. The exhibition itself is an open “narrative text”; its rich forms, such as the state of exhibits, spatial layout, and ritual performances, constitute the core elements of the “narrative text,” effectively shaping popular cognition and constructing revolutionary discourse. The study of the CPC’s exhibition work is an important topic, but the cognitive shaping function it contains has not yet attracted sufficient attention. This article attempts, from the perspective of cognitive shaping and revolutionary discourse construction, through an excavation of detailed reports on exhibitions in major CPC newspapers and periodicals such as *Liberation Daily* and *New China Daily*, to explore the modes of presentation, main content, and value implications of the CPC’s use of exhibitions for cognitive shaping and revolutionary discourse construction in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region during the Yan’an period, with the aim of enriching academic research.

展览会是中共进行政策宣传的有效运作方式，也是促进民众政治认同的重要场域。展览会本身是一个开放的“叙事文本”，其展品样态、空间布局、仪式展演等丰富形式构成了“叙事文本”的核心要素，能够有效塑造民众认知、建构革命话语。中共展览工作的研究是一个重要课题，但其所蕴含的认知塑造功能尚未引起足够关注。本文试图从认知塑造和革命话语建构的视角，通过对《解放日报》《新中华报》等中共主要报刊关于展览会翔实报道的挖掘，探讨延安时期中共在陕甘宁边区利用展览会进行认知塑造和革命话语建构的呈现方式、主要内容和价值意蕴等，以期丰富学界研究。

I. The Diversified Presentation of Exhibition Narratives in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region

一、陕甘宁边区展览叙事的多样化呈现

During the Yan’an period, the exhibition work led by the CPC was inseparable from the context of the War of Resistance at that time. On the one hand, organizing exhibitions was an urgent need for the CPC to smash the reactionary propaganda of the Kuomintang. During this period, the Kuomintang implemented cultural despotism, carried out a “cultural encirclement and suppression,” [1]1 “一打日寇，二建设新中国” (yī dǎ Rìkòu, èr jiànshè xīn Zhōngguó) — a slogan encapsulating the dual tasks of fighting the Japanese invaders and building a new China during the War of Resistance. manipulated news agencies to vigorously spread rumors and slander the CPC leaders and various CPC policies, attempting to demonize the CPC’s image. To objectively display the work achievements of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region government, publicize the rich and diverse social life of the border region, and “expand the border region’s external propaganda and influence,” the CPC urgently needed to use exhibitions to showcase the achievements of the border region’s production and construction, and to display its own model image of actively resisting Japan. On the other hand, organizing exhibitions also reflected the CPC’s important considerations for propagating new cultural concepts and ideology. After arriving in northern Shaanxi, the CPC actively led the construction of the border region. It needed not only to publicize the economic and cultural development achievements but also to use exhibitions to convey its new cultural concepts and ideology to the outside world. As a microcosm of border region social life, exhibitions, through vivid and multi-dimensional display methods, produced a strong visual impact and spiritual inspiration on the border region populace, helping them form a profound revolutionary cognition, ultimately achieving the goals of educating the populace and enhancing political identity.

延安时期，中共领导开展的展览工作与当时的抗战背景密不可分。一方面，组织展览会是中共粉碎国民党反动宣传的迫切需要。这一时期，国民党实施文化专制，进行“文化围剿”，操控新闻机构极力造谣和诽谤中共领导人及中共各项政策，试图妖魔化中共形象。为客观展示陕甘宁边区政府的工作成绩，宣传边区丰富多彩的社会生活，“扩大边区对外宣传与影响”，中共亟需借助展览会来展示边区生产建设成就，展示自身积极抗战的模范形象。另一方面，组织展览会也体现了中共宣传新文化观念和意识形态的重要考虑。中共到达陕北后积极领导边区建设，既要宣传取得的经济文化发展成就，也需要借助展览会向外界传递自身的新文化观念和意识形态。作为边区社会生活的缩影，展览会以形象生动的多维展示方式，对边区民众产生强烈视觉冲击和精神感召，帮助他们形成深刻革命认知，最终达到教育民众、增强政治认同等目的。

(A) Ritual Display Arrangement and the Reconstruction of “Text” Space

（一）仪式展陈编排与“文本”空间再造

The arrangement of exhibits, spatial organization, scene setting, and ritual performances together constitute the main elements of the exhibition “text” and are also important modes of expression for the exhibition’s content. From the moment the populace enters the exhibition, they begin to “read” the exhibition as a special “text.” The CPC used concrete images at the exhibitions for intuitive expression, carrying out political propaganda and ideological education for the populace.

展品陈列、空间编排、场景布置和仪式展演共同构成了展览“文本”的主要元素，也是展会内容的重要表达方式。民众自进入展会伊始，就展开了对展览这一特殊“文本”的“阅读”。中共借助展览会上具体形象进行直观性表达，对民众进行政治宣传和思想教育。

Although material conditions in the border region were limited, exhibitions could still flexibly choose their venues, being held in public spaces such as government auditoriums, school classrooms, cave dwellings of Party and government organs, and various temple fairs. The spatial field of the exhibition and the diverse presentation of exhibits brought a strong appeal to the populace, which was difficult for other forms of political propaganda to match. At the 1939 Border Region Industrial Exhibition, a memorial archway was built with green cypress leaves, with a banner reading “Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Industrial Exhibition” hung in the middle. The exhibition site was surrounded by inscriptions from leaders, forming a spatially impressive display that helped the populace deepen their cognition of the exhibition. At the 1943 Border Region Production Exhibition, “a large red five-pointed star was hung high above the main exhibition hall, with color portraits of Chairman Mao and Commander-in-Chief Zhu De on the left and right.” Color portraits of labor heroes such as Wu Manyou and Zhao Zhankui were also hung simultaneously with those of the Party and border region leaders in front of the main exhibition hall, inspiring the masses’ spiritual motivation and labor enthusiasm to learn from the labor heroes, thereby aiding the populace in forming a revolutionary cognition. At the 1944 Yan’an Health Exhibition, visitors “first saw Chairman Mao’s inscription — ‘Serve the Entire Military and Civilian Population’ upon entering the exhibition,” “on both sides of the inscription hung portraits of the model doctor Alov and the memorial portrait of Dr. Norman Bethune,” “followed by various exhibits displayed in sequence.” Such an arrangement of exhibits clearly expressed the exhibition’s theme.

尽管边区物质条件有限，展览会仍能灵活选择会址，在政府礼堂、学校课堂、机关窑洞、各种庙会等公共空间举行。展览会的空间场域和展品的多样呈现，给民众带来强烈感召力，是其他政治宣传形式所难以比拟的。1939年边区工业展览会用青翠的柏叶搭建牌楼，牌楼中间悬挂“陕甘宁边区工业展览会”横幅，展会四周布满领导人的题字，形成具有视觉冲击力的空间展示，帮助民众加深对展览会的认知。1943年边区生产展览会上，“总展门前高悬大红色五角星，左右为毛主席及朱总司令彩色画像”，劳动英雄吴满有、赵占魁等人的彩色画像也同党和边区领导人的彩色画像同时悬挂于总展门前，激发群众向劳动英雄学习的精神动力和劳动热情，助益民众形成革命认知。1944年延安市卫生展览会上，参观者“踏进展览会首先看到毛主席的题字——‘为全体军民服务’”，“题字两旁悬有模范医生阿洛夫像及白求恩医生遗像”，“接着顺序陈列各类展览品”。这样的展陈排列鲜明表现出展览主题。

Some exhibitions also included award and commendation sessions. Regarding the objects of reward, the focus was mostly on individuals and their achievements who had contributed to the border region’s construction and the struggle against the enemy. For example, at the First Border Region Agricultural Products Competition Exhibition in January 1939, five special prizes were awarded, including Sun Xuejian’s black-purple breeding sheep from Yanchi County and Feng Dapin’s cotton from Gulin County. Another example: at the Yan’an Workers’ Manufactured Products Competition Exhibition in January 1938, the director of the arsenal, Hao Xiying, and the deputy director, Zhou Jianxiang, were awarded honorary certificates for their numerous inventions in the military industry. In May 1939, the Border Region Industrial Exhibition also adopted “having special contributions to the national defense industry” as an important criterion for awarding prizes when selecting outstanding exhibits. Through evaluation and commendation, the exhibitions, while setting examples for the masses, carried out the cognitive shaping of “glory in labor.”

有的展览会上还设置嘉奖表彰环节。在奖励对象方面，多侧重于为边区建设和对敌斗争作出贡献的个体及其成果。比如，1939年1月边区首届农产竞赛展览会上评出特等奖5名，包括盐池县孙学间的黑紫种羊、固林县冯大品的棉花等。再如，1938年1月延安工人制造品竞赛展览会上，兵工厂厂长郝希英和副厂长周鉴祥因军事工业发明甚多而被授予名誉奖状；1939年5月，边区工业展览会在评选优秀展品时也将“对国防工业有特殊贡献”作为重要奖励标准等。通过评奖和表彰，展览会在为群众树立榜样的同时进行了“劳动光荣”的认知塑造。

(B) Textual Propaganda such as Slogans, Mottos, and Inscriptions

（二）标语、口号、题词等文字宣传

Slogans, mottos, and inscriptions were important forms for the CPC to guide the visiting populace. By propagating terms such as “production,” “War of Resistance,” and “construction,” the CPC provided discursive guidance to the populace, strengthening social mobilization.

标语、口号、题词等是中共对参观民众进行引导的重要形式。通过宣传“生产”“抗战”“建设”等语词，中共对民众进行话语引导，强化社会动员。

At the exhibitions, propaganda slogans, mottos, inscriptions, and other discourses helped the populace understand the Party’s policies and strengthen their revolutionary cognition. In January 1938, the propaganda slogans for the Yan’an Workers’ Manufactured Products Competition Exhibition included “Go to the Exhibition,” “The Yan’an Workers’ Manufactured Products Competition Exhibition Has Opened,” and Mao Zedong’s inscription “Pioneer of National Defense Economic Construction.” In May 1939, at the First Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Industrial Exhibition, there were also inscriptions from central leading comrades such as Mao Zedong and Chen Yun, as well as the red slogan “Labor Creates Everything” and other discursive presentations. To further strengthen the audience’s memory, the venue was filled with slogan banners such as “Go to the Industrial Exhibition” and “Follow the inevitable process of industrial development, establish raw material industries first.” At the Third Anniversary Commemorative Exhibition of the Central Hospital, the venue was covered with pennants and various slogans, among which the slogan “Master Technology, Improve Technology” left a deep impression. At production-themed exhibitions, different specific slogans were presented inside the exhibition rooms according to the exhibition’s theme. In November 1943, at the Production Exhibition of Organs Directly Under the Central Committee and the Military Commission, the venue posted Mao Zedong’s inscription “Mass production, mass interests, mass experience, mass sentiments,” and Zhu De’s inscription “This year achieve ample food and clothing, next year achieve establishing a household with ample food and clothing.” In December of the same year, at the Border Region Production Exhibition, the public factory exhibition room had the eight-character slogan “Self-sufficiency, ensure supply,” and the organ production exhibition section had slogans such as “Well-trained troops and ample provisions, people live long and harvests are abundant,” “Strong soldiers and sturdy horses,” and “Do it ourselves, ample food and clothing.” These slogans, mottos, inscriptions, and other discourses vividly elucidated the specific policies of the CPC, complemented the physical exhibits, and played a subtle role in publicizing the exhibition’s main theme, enhancing its political implications, and shaping the populace’s revolutionary cognition.

在展览会上，宣传标语、口号、题词等话语有助于民众了解党的政策，加强其革命认知。1938年1月，延安工人制造品竞赛展览会的宣传标语有“到展览会去”“延安工人制造品竞赛展览会开幕了”以及毛泽东的题词“国防经济建设的先锋”等。1939年5月，陕甘宁边区首届工业展览会上，也有毛泽东、陈云等中央领导同志的题词及“劳动创造一切”的红色标语等话语呈现。为进一步强化观众记忆，会场布满了“到工展会去”“按工业发展的必然程序，尽先建立原料工业”等标语横幅。中央医院三周年纪念展览会在会场四周挂满锦旗及各式标语，其中“掌握技术、提高技术”的口号令人印象深刻。在生产类展览会上，展室内部根据展览的主题呈现不同的具体标语。1943年11月，中直军直生产展览会的会场张贴了毛泽东的题词“群众生产，群众利益，群众经验，群众情绪”，以及朱德的题词“今年做到丰衣足食，明年要做到建立丰衣足食的家务”。同年12月，边区生产展览会的公营工厂展室中有“自给自足，保障供给”的八字标语，机关生产展览部有“兵精粮足，人寿年丰”“兵强马壮”“自己动手，丰衣足食”等标语。这些口号、标语、题词等话语生动阐释了中共具体方针政策，并和实物展品形成互补，对于宣传展会主旨、增强展会政治意蕴和塑造民众革命认知起到了潜移默化作用。

(C) Rich and Diverse Physical Exhibits

（三）丰富多彩的实物展品

Physical exhibits were the main display form of exhibitions, with a rich variety and broad scope. In January 1938, the Yan’an Workers’ Manufactured Goods Competition Exhibition displayed physical exhibits including mortars, anti-aircraft machine guns, rifles, box guns, hand grenades and other weapons, as well as ink, nail polish, gun oil, and gasoline produced in the border region, along with salt from the Dingbian salt fields and coal from the mines, “with a total of 115 types of exhibits, 420 pieces.” [2]2 “公家人” (gōngjiā rén) — a colloquial term used in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region referring to personnel working for the Communist-led government or military. In March 1940, at the Second Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, the agricultural section included local specialties from various parts of the border region, mainly grains, cotton, vegetables and fruits, forestry, medicinal herbs, etc. The industrial section’s exhibits included soap, tooth powder, chalk, ink, and paste produced by the Guanghua Chemical Industry Cooperative; more than ten types of medicines such as cough pills, brain-tonifying pills, Eight Route Marching Powder, infant-preserving pills, dysentery pills, stomach-soothing powder, menstruation-regulating pills, Victory Tea, and fever-reducing powder produced by the Guanghua Pharmaceutical Cooperative; and seven types of paper—straw paper, hemp paper, wheat-stalk paper, millet-straw paper, rag paper, iris paper, and drawing paper—produced by the Zhenhua Paper Industry Cooperative. In addition, there were basketballs, footballs, leather shoes, woolen cloth, air force uniforms, farm tools, leather garments, and cloth. The rich variety of physical exhibits allowed the visiting masses to intuitively perceive the achievements of the CPC’s leadership in the War of Resistance and production, thereby shaping revolutionary cognition.

实物展品是展览会的主要展示形式，种类丰富、涉及广泛。1938年1月，延安工人制造品竞赛展览会展出的实物展品有迫击炮、高射机关枪、步枪、盒子枪、手榴弹等武器，还有边区自制的油墨、甲油、擦枪油、汽油，以及定边盐场的盐、矿场的石炭等，“统计展览品一一五种，四二〇件”。1940年3月，在陕甘宁边区第二届农工业展览会上，农业部门的展览包括了边区各地的特产，主要有谷物类、棉花、菜蔬果品、林业、药材等，工业部门的展览品有光华化学工业合作社生产的肥皂、牙粉、粉笔、墨水、香糊，光华制药合作社生产的止咳丸、补脑丸、八路行军散、保婴丸、痢疾丸、平胃散、调经丸、胜利茶、退热散等10余种药品，以及振华制纸工业合作社出品的稻草纸、麻纸、麦秆纸、糜草纸、破布纸、马兰纸、画图纸 7种，此外，还有篮球、足球、皮鞋、毛呢、空军服、农具、皮衣与布匹等。丰富多彩的实物展品使参观民众直观感受到了中共领导抗战和生产的成就，从而塑造了革命认知。

(4) Pictorial Expression to Enhance Communication Effects

（四）增强传播效果的图像性表达

Icons, photographs, statistical charts, and supplementary written explanations are important pictorial display methods that can explain issues more vividly and accurately, leaving a deep impression on the masses.

图标、照片、统计图表、文字补充说明等，是重要的图像性展示方式，能够更形象、准确地说明问题，给民众留下深刻印象。

During the Yan’an period, exhibitions generally used statistical charts and employed before-and-after comparisons to vividly reflect the economic development of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, facilitating the masses’ viewing and forming deep impressions. At the 1943 Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Production Exhibition, “nearly a hundred charts had already been drawn, including a statistical table of class changes in the border region, a statistical table of land reclamation area, a statistical table of cultivated land area, a statistical table of cotton-planting area, and a comparative statistical table of collective and individual labor achievements,” showcasing the outstanding achievements of the military and civilians in production and construction. The 1943 Second Production Exhibition of the Central Organs and Directly Affiliated Military Units displayed more than 230 types of physical objects, accompanied by various charts and photographs. “The walls of the exhibition rooms were covered with various charts, such as total figures for agricultural production, drawings showing the quality improvement of paper mills, comparative charts of ample food and clothing among various organs, and comparative tables of grain savings by various organs.” The exhibitions also creatively used serial pictures popular among the masses for narration. The 1943 Second Production Exhibition of the Central Organs and Directly Affiliated Military Units displayed “eight sets of various serial pictures, including ‘Huang Lide’s Production,’ ‘Do It Ourselves,’ ‘Ample Food and Clothing,’ and health serial pictures.” At the December 1944 Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Construction Exhibition, “including charts, portraits, cloth paintings, serial pictures, woodcuts, paper-cuts, and picture albums, there were a total of 3,545 sheets.” This pictorial display method was not only more intuitive but also highly interesting, making it easier for the masses to accept and understand, and it was widely welcomed.

延安时期展览会一般采用统计图表，运用前后对比方式形象反映陕甘宁边区经济发展，便于群众观览和形成深刻印象。1943年陕甘宁边区生产展览会上，“各种图表已绘就者有边区阶级变化统计表、开荒面积统计表、耕地面积统计表、植棉面积统计表、集体劳动与个体劳动成绩比较统计表等近百幅”，展示了军民生产建设的优异成绩。1943年中直军直第二届生产展览会展出了230多种实物，并配有各种图表和照片，“展览室四壁张贴各种图表，如农业生产之总数字，如纸厂质量增高之绘图，如各机关丰衣足食比较图，如各机关粮食节省之比较表格等”。展览会还创造性地运用群众喜闻乐见的连环画进行叙事。1943年中直军直第二届生产展览会展出“各种连环画如《黄立德之生产》《自己动手》《丰衣足食》，卫生连环画等共八套”。1944年12月陕甘宁边区建设展览会上，“连图表、人像、布画、连环画、木刻、剪纸、画册在内，一共有三千五百四十五张”。这种图像性展示方式不仅更加直观，而且趣味性强，更易于群众接受、理解，受到了广泛欢迎。

The exhibitions also combined pictures with physical objects and text, directly influencing the audience’s senses and cognition spatially and visually. In November 1938, the Border Region Agricultural Products Competition Exhibition mainly featured agricultural resources such as livestock, hunting, major crops, fruits, and medicinal herbs, supplemented by charts for explanation, and received favorable reviews from the masses. *Liberation Daily* [3]3 “一揽子会议” (yī lǎnzi huìyì) — a type of mass meeting in the border regions where all participants, regardless of class or occupation, discussed issues together, reflecting the united front approach. also commented on this: “The artistic design and components of the exhibition were highly praised by the audience. For example, in the first exhibition room of the agricultural section, besides physical objects, the general overview, cotton planting, and pest control were presented with concise charts, and the design was also artistic.”

展览会还将图片和实物、文字相结合，在空间和视觉上给观众感官和认知形成直接影响。1938年11月，边区农产竞赛展览会展品主要有畜牧、狩猎、主要农作物、果类药材等农产资源，并加以图表辅助说明，获得了民众好评。《解放日报》还对此评论道：“展览会的艺术设计及组成部分，极得观众称赏。如农业部分第一展室总的概况、植棉、防虫害，除实物外，图表简明，设计亦很艺术。”

(5) Textual Dissemination by Mainstream Newspapers and Periodicals

（五）主流报刊的文本传播

Newspapers connect society and are an important medium for the re-dissemination of exhibition information, playing a significant propaganda role.

报纸联结社会，是展览信息再次传播的重要媒介，发挥了重要的宣传作用。

During the Yan’an period, major newspapers and periodicals such as *Liberation Daily* and *New China Daily* actively promoted exhibitions organized by the CPC. According to incomplete statistics, from 1936 to 1946 alone, *Liberation Daily* and *New China Daily* published as many as 168 reports, editorials, speeches, and other articles related to exhibitions. *Liberation Daily* focused on reports, communications, and thematic summaries of exhibitions in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, promoting major exhibits to the border region masses from different angles, introducing exhibition content and labor models, and summarizing the main achievements and important experiences of the border region’s War of Resistance and construction. In addition, it specially opened a column “Exhibition Highlights” to introduce in detail various production techniques and professional knowledge on pest prevention and improved seed varieties to the masses. After the first Yan’an Workers’ Manufactured Goods Competition Exhibition in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, *New China Daily* published articles such as “Record of the Yan’an Workers’ Manufactured Goods Competition Exhibition,” detailing the exhibition process, exhibit conditions, competition results, and visitor opinions.

延安时期，《解放日报》《新中华报》等一批主要报刊积极宣传中国共产党组织的展览会，据不完全统计，仅1936年至1946年间《解放日报》《新中华报》刊登有关展览会的报道、社论、讲话等就多达168篇。《解放日报》重点集中了关于陕甘宁边区展会信息、通讯和专题综述的报道，从不同角度向边区民众推广主要展品，介绍展会内容及劳动模范，总结边区抗战建设主要成就和重要经验。此外，还专门开辟“展览品集锦”专栏，向群众详细介绍展会各种生产技术和良种防害等方面专业知识。《新中华报》在陕甘宁边区首次延安工人制造品竞赛展览会之后，刊登了《延安工人制造品竞赛展览会志》等文章，详细介绍了展会流程、展品情况、竞赛结果以及参观者意见等。

It is worth mentioning that the CPC also published special publications based on the needs of holding exhibitions. In April 1943, when the Central Administration Bureau decided to hold the Production Exhibition of the Central Organs and Directly Affiliated Military Units, it proposed to promptly publish a special weekly *Ample Food and Clothing* to strengthen leadership over the production movement. The weekly’s “content includes detailed reports and instructions on all production work and the improvement of living standards,” objectively becoming an important medium for introducing the theme and content of the production exhibition to the broad masses of military and civilians in the border region, expanding the dissemination channels for exhibition information.

值得一提的是，中共还根据展览会举办需要出版专门的刊物。1943年4月，中央管理局在决定举行中直军直生产展览会之际，提出要尽快专门出版《丰衣足食》周刊以加强对生产运动的领导。该周刊“内容系包括全部生产工作，与改善生活之详细报道与指示”，客观上成为向边区广大军民宣介生产展览会主题和内容的重要媒介，拓展了宣传展览会信息的传播渠道。

(6) Interpersonal Dissemination by Groups and Organizations

（六）群体和组织的人际传播

Explanations by exhibition staff, symposiums held during exhibitions, and positive evaluations by democratic personages and international friends were important ways to promote exhibition content and shape the CPC’s image in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region. When preparing the Border Region Agricultural Products Competition Exhibition in 1938, staff “utilized various mass gatherings, temple fairs, or went to the countryside” to conduct extensive and in-depth propaganda about the exhibition to local farmers. At the exhibitions, receptionists were indispensable, responsible for explaining various exhibits to the masses. For example, at the November 1943 Border Region Directly Affiliated Production Exhibition, “the receptionist standing next to the spinning spindle designed by the Higher Court and the new hand-cranked thread-winding machine invented by Yan’an University was the busiest,” constantly answering various questions raised by people. While holding exhibitions, the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region also paid attention to holding related symposiums, combining “exhibition” with “meeting” to strengthen communication effects. In December 1943, after visiting the Third Agricultural and Industrial Production Exhibition, Mao Zedong invited 17 labor heroes, including Wu Manyou and Shen Changlin, for a symposium to promote labor experience.

展会人员解说、展会期间举办座谈会，以及民主人士和国际友人的积极评价，是陕甘宁边区宣传展览内容与塑造中共形象的重要方式。1938年陕甘宁边区筹备农产竞赛展览会时，工作人员“利用群众的各种集会、庙会，或下乡”，向当地农民就展会作广泛而深入的宣传。在展览会上，招待员是必不可少的角色，负责向民众讲解各种展品。比如在 1943年11月边直生产展览会上，“站在高等法院设计的纺锭子和延大发明的新式手摇倒线机旁边的招待员，是最忙碌的一个”，要不断地回答人们提出的各种问题。在举办展览会的同时，陕甘宁边区还注重举办相关座谈会，使“展”与“会”相结合，强化传播效果。1943年 12月，毛泽东参观第三届农工业生产展览会后，邀请吴满有、申长林等17位劳动英雄进行座谈，推广劳动经验。

International friends also played a “hetero-shaping” role that cannot be ignored. In November 1943, Professor William Band of Yenching University, after visiting the Second Production Exhibition of the Central Organs and Directly Affiliated Military Units, commented that this exhibition was “an unparalleled example of political leadership.” In July 1944, the Border Region Army Construction Exhibition displayed the border region troops’ grain, vegetables, clothing, and other daily necessities. After visiting, international friends gave high praise: “This exhibition is very good and precisely proves that the people’s government is the best government.” In January 1945, when a foreign delegation visited the Border Region Construction Exhibition, they saw in the judicial work exhibition room a previous comment by Fu Lude, a representative of the World Student Federation, on the border region’s judicial work: “The judicial system of the border region is filled with the spirit of equality and justice,” “It is a model for the whole world.” Through the positive evaluations of foreign friends, the exhibitions of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region were further disseminated, and the CPC’s image was positively shaped.

国际友人也发挥了不可忽视的“他塑”作用。1943年11月，燕京大学班威廉教授在参观中直军直第二届生产展览会后留言称，这次展览会是“一个无可比拟的起政治领导作用的范例”。1944年7月，边区部队建设展览会展出了边区部队的粮食、菜蔬、被服和其他日用品，国际友人参观后予以高度评价：“这个展览会是很好的，并且确切地证明：人民的政府是最好的政府。”1945年1月，外国参观团参观边区建设展览会时，在司法工作展览室看到了世界学联代表傅路德此前对边区司法工作的评论：“边区的司法系统中充满着平等与正义的精神”，“它是全世界的一个模范”。通过外国友人的积极评价，陕甘宁边区的展览会得到进一步传播，中共形象也得到了正面的塑造。

II. Main Content of Cognitive Shaping and Revolutionary Discourse Construction in the Exhibition Narratives of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region

二、陕甘宁边区展览叙事中认知塑造和革命话语建构的主要内容

Exhibitions were an important means of the CPC’s War of Resistance narrative during the Yan’an period, presenting various aspects of production, resistance, and education in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region under CPC leadership, fully demonstrating the CPC’s image of persisting in the War of Resistance and its purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, effectively transmitting the CPC’s revolutionary concepts and cultural values to the masses, and shaping the masses’ revolutionary cognition.

展览会是延安时期中共抗战叙事的重要手段，呈现了中共领导下陕甘宁边区的生产、抗战、教育等多方面情况，充分彰显出中共坚持抗战的形象和全心全意为人民服务的宗旨，向民众有效传递了中共革命观念和文化价值观，塑造了民众的革命认知。

(1) “The Most Advanced Political Party”

（一）“最先进的政党”

During the Yan’an period, exhibitions held in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region used terms such as “War of Resistance,” “liberation,” “people,” and “democracy” to interpret the CPC’s class stance and governance philosophy, shaping the image of the CPC as “the most advanced political party,” enhancing the political identity of the border region masses, and further consolidating the foundation of its governance.

延安时期，陕甘宁边区举办的展览会借助“抗战”“解放”“人民”“民主”等语词诠释了中共的阶级立场与执政理念，塑造了中共“最先进的政党”形象，增强了边区民众的政治认同，进一步夯实了执政基础。

As a form of mass assembly, exhibitions propagated the CPC’s party image to the entire populace of the border region and shaped the masses’ cognitive perception of the CPC. In May 1939, Mao Zedong emphasized at the opening ceremony of the Border Region Industrial Exhibition that “fighting the Japanese aggressors and building a new China are the two major tasks at present,” [1]1 “一打日寇，二建设新中国” (yī dǎ Rìkòu, èr jiànshè xīn Zhōngguó) — a slogan encapsulating the dual tasks of fighting the Japanese invaders and building a new China during the War of Resistance. demonstrating the CPC’s unwavering attitude in promoting the nationwide War of Resistance.

作为一种群众性集会，展览会面向边区全体民众宣传中共政党形象，塑造群众对中共的形象认知。1939年5月，毛泽东在边区工业展览会开幕典礼大会上强调“一打日寇，二建设新中国，是目前的两大任务”，彰显了中共坚定不移推动全民族抗战的态度。

Exhibitions paid attention to highlighting the CPC’s fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly. In July 1944, an elderly woman surnamed Li, after visiting the health exhibition, emotionally stated, “Every public servant here is good; they think of every tiny detail for the common people,” adding, “I lived in Henan for nearly seventy years… the people there (referring to the rulers) would be good enough if they didn’t eat you or kill you!” [2]2 “公家人” (gōngjiā rén) — a colloquial term used in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region referring to personnel working for the Communist-led government or military. In November of the same year, the Yan’an City Exhibition used charts to vividly depict the participation of Yan’an’s people in democratic political life, such as “in the photographs of the democratic activities of the people of Xinshi Township, those workers, peasants, merchants, and women were discussing state affairs at the township-level ‘one-basket’ meeting.” [3]3 “一揽子会议” (yī lǎnzi huìyì) — a type of mass meeting in the border regions where all participants, regardless of class or occupation, discussed issues together, reflecting the united front approach.

展览会注意凸显中共坚持全心全意为人民服务的根本宗旨。1944年7月，一位姓李的老婆婆在参观卫生展览会后动情表示，“这里的公家人个个都好，给老百姓想得这样细枝细节”，“我在河南活了平七十……那里的人（指统治者）不吃你不杀你就够好了！”同年11月，延安市展览会以图表生动展现了延安人民参与民主政治生活的情况，如“新市乡人民民主活动的摄影上，那些工人、农民、商人、妇女们，正在乡级一揽子会议上，讨论国家大事”等。

Exhibitions also focused on showcasing the spiritual outlook of the Chinese Communist Party in uniting the people to rely on themselves, work hard, and endure hardship. In June 1943, the Border Region’s Eighth Route Army Rear Troops held a production exhibition, displaying the journey of the entire army achieving ample food and clothing from 1941 to 1943, an achievement described as “truly rare in the whole world.” [4]4 “实为全世界所罕见” (shí wéi quán shìjiè suǒ hǎnjiàn) — a phrase used in contemporary reports to emphasize the extraordinary nature of the production achievements under difficult conditions. In September of the same year, the production exhibition of the Rear Troops directly under the Headquarters “gave the broad audience a profound impression of the combination of production and combat, demonstrating the incomparably mighty strength of the Eighth Route Army, thereby further strengthening the broad audience’s confidence in victory in the War of Resistance.” [5]5 “留守兵团” (liúshǒu bīngtuán) — the Eighth Route Army’s rear garrison troops responsible for defending the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region and engaging in production.

展览会也注重展现中国共产党团结人民自力更生、艰苦奋斗的精神面貌。1943年6月，边区八路军留守兵团举行生产展览会，展示了自1941年至1943年全军实现丰衣足食的历程，可谓创造了“实为全世界所罕见”的事迹。同年9月，留守兵团直属队生产展览会“给予广大观众以生产与战斗结合的深刻印象，表示八路军无比雄伟的力量，由此更加增强了广大观众抗战胜利的信心”。

(2) “Supporting the War of Resistance and Construction”

（二）“支持抗战建设”

During the Yan’an period, promoting national defense economic construction to serve the overall situation of the War of Resistance was an important purpose for holding exhibitions in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region.

延安时期，促进国防经济建设以服务抗战事业大局，是陕甘宁边区举办展览会的一个重要目的。

Various types of exhibitions prominently displayed the achievements of CPC-led border region construction, which could both encourage production and promote the spirit of the War of Resistance, enhancing the people’s confidence in victory and fostering the cohesion of the nationwide War of Resistance. In January 1938, the Yan’an Workers’ Manufactured Goods Competition Exhibition explicitly proposed “supporting the War of Resistance and construction,” emphasizing that the exhibition’s purpose was “to promote national defense economic construction and fulfill the vanguard task of the working class in national defense economic construction and the national self-defense war.” [6]6 “生产的国防化普遍化” (shēngchǎn de guófáng huà pǔbiàn huà) — a slogan calling for the orientation of production toward national defense needs and its widespread implementation. In April 1939, Yan’an held the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Industrial Exhibition to support the War of Resistance economic construction, “hoping it could raise the industrial interest of the border region and complete national defense economic construction.” [7]7 “改良品质” (gǎiliáng pǐnzhì) — a term used in the context of industrial exhibitions to refer to improving the quality of manufactured goods. Related inscriptions at the exhibitions also directly expressed this appeal. For example, in November 1938, Mao Zedong’s inscription for the Border Region Agricultural Exhibition read, “We fight while we produce; we will surely defeat the enemy.” In May 1943, Li Fuchun’s inscription for the production exhibition of the Central Committee and Military Commission directly subordinate units was, “Production is the foundation of the War of Resistance; to defeat the enemy, we must strive to produce.” In December of the same year, Zhu De’s inscription for the Central Committee directly subordinate units’ individual production exhibition was, “Everyone pitching in is truly a good method for the War of Resistance and national construction,” and so on. [8]8 Li Fuchun (1900–1975) was a senior CPC leader and economist who oversaw economic work in the border region; Zhu De (1886–1976) was the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army.

各种类型的展览会突出表现中共领导边区建设的成就，既能鼓励生产，又能宣传抗战精神，增强民众抗战胜利的信心，推动形成全民族抗战的凝聚力。1938年1月，延安工人制造品竞赛展览会明确提出“支持抗战建设”，强调展会宗旨是“促进国防经济建设，完成工人阶级在国防经济建设中，在民族自卫战争的先锋任务”。1939年4月，延安举行陕甘宁边区工业展览会以支持抗战经济建设，“希望它能提高边区工业志趣，完成国防经济建设”。展览会上相关题词也直接表达了这一诉求。比如，1938年11月，毛泽东为边区农展会所作题词为“我们一面战斗，一面生产，一定能够战胜敌人”；1943年5月，李富春给中直军直生产展览会的题词是“生产是抗战的基础，要战胜敌人就要努力生产”；同年12月，朱德为中直个人生产展览会所作的题词是“一齐动手真正是抗战建国的好方法”；等等。

(3) “Labor Creates Everything”

（三）“劳动创造一切”

At various exhibitions, a core concept of the CPC’s political mobilization and ideological guidance of the people was “labor is glorious,” thereby effectively shaping the labor consciousness of the border region’s people and inspiring their aspiration and pursuit of the new society under CPC leadership.

各类展览会上，中共对民众进行政治动员和思想引导的一个核心理念就是“劳动光荣”，以此有力塑造边区民众的劳动意识，激发民众对中共领导下新社会的向往与追求。

In the process of organizing and publicizing exhibitions, the CPC repeatedly emphasized the importance of labor. For instance, the Border Region Industrial Exhibition held on May Day 1939 had the main purpose of “propagating a new understanding of labor, making people know the true meaning of labor.” [9]9 “劳动新认识” (láodòng xīn rènshi) — a concept promoted by the CPC to reframe labor as a dignified and essential activity, countering traditional Confucian disdain for manual work. The “new understanding of labor” meant changing the long-standing concept of looking down on labor, emphasizing the importance of labor, and establishing the correct attitude that labor is glorious. At the 1943 Border Region directly subordinate units’ production exhibition, the prominent slogan “Labor Creates Everything” was hung, making the concept of “labor is glorious” run through the entire exhibition process. Through participating in this exhibition, many people truly felt: “Our labor heroes are more glorious than the top scholars of ancient times,” and “Everyone participates in production, all become labor heroes; see how glorious it is!” [10]10 “劳动英雄” (láodòng yīngxióng) — a title awarded to outstanding workers and peasants in the border regions as part of the labor hero movement to encourage production. The promotion of the scientific concept of “labor is glorious” conveyed the progressive idea that labor creates value.

在组织、宣传展览会的过程中，中共反复强调了劳动的重要性。比如，1939年五一劳动节举办的边区工业展览会，主要目的就是要“宣传对劳动之新认识，使之知道，劳动之真正意义”。“劳动新认识”即改变过去长期以来存在的轻视劳动观念，强调劳动的重要性，树立劳动光荣的正确态度。1943年边直生产展览会现场挂出了“劳动创造一切”的醒目标语，使“劳动光荣”的理念贯穿展会全过程。通过参加这次展览会，很多民众真切感受到：“我们的劳动英雄比古时的状元还光荣”，“人人参加生产，都做个劳动英雄，你看光荣不光荣！”“劳动光荣”这一科学理念的推广，传递了劳动创造价值的进步思想。

(4) “Improving Production Techniques and Production Tools”

（四）“改良生产技术和生产工具”

During the Yan’an period, scientific research achievements emerged in various industries. The CPC fully utilized this advantage by organizing various thematic exhibitions to popularize and promote new technologies to the border region’s military and civilians, enlightening and disseminating scientific knowledge, so as to better promote industrial and agricultural development.

延安时期，各行业科研成果争相涌现。中共充分利用这一优势，组织各类专题展览会向边区军民普及和推广新技术，启蒙和传播科学知识，以更好促进工农业发展。

Exhibitions presented rich scientific technology and knowledge, serving as important venues for promoting scientific dissemination. At military products and industrial-agricultural exhibitions, what most attracted the people were the promotion and utilization of various new technologies, inventions, and methods. For example, in January 1938, the Yan’an Workers’ Manufactured Goods Competition Exhibition became an important window for publicizing national defense industrial achievements, selecting a large number of outstanding technical workers, promoting the “universalization of production for national defense” in the border region, and playing an important role in “improving production techniques and production tools, strengthening national defense production, and enriching the wartime economy.” [11]11 “生产的国防化普遍化” — see note [6] above. Another example: in May 1939, the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Industrial Exhibition, for the main purpose of “improving quality,” encouraged workers and factory workshops to adopt new technologies, especially displaying military products such as rifles, machine guns, anti-aircraft machine guns, and mortars. According to recollections, Mao Zedong said of this: “We’re using guns we made ourselves! The guns are made very well! Very beautiful! We must create conditions to produce more and strike the Japanese aggressors hard.” [12]12 “使上我们自己造的枪啦！” (shǐ shàng wǒmen zìjǐ zào de qiāng la!) — a colloquial exclamation attributed to Mao Zedong expressing pride in locally produced weapons. At industrial and agricultural exhibitions, technological innovation achievements were widely promoted. For instance, in January 1940, the Second Agricultural and Industrial Exhibition effectively promoted the technological innovation achievements and production experience of the border region’s agriculture and industry. Various crop experiments and improvement achievements of the Border Region Agricultural School, such as “southern loofah, garland chrysanthemum, and American corn, have all been successfully tested,” and “livestock improvement and the manufacture of food products like beef jerky and beef powder have also achieved considerable results.” [13]13 “南方之丝瓜，茼莴及美国之玉米等” (nánfāng zhī sīguā, tóngwō jí Měiguó zhī yùmǐ děng) — examples of crop varieties introduced or tested in the border region, indicating agricultural experimentation. In November 1943, the Rear Troops directly under the Headquarters held a production exhibition, displaying the troops’ improvements and inventions in irrigation, leather manufacturing, and medicinal materials, “showing outstanding achievements.” [14]14 “留守兵团直属队” (liúshǒu bīngtuán zhíshǔ duì) — units directly under the command of the Eighth Route Army’s rear garrison headquarters.

展览会呈现了丰富的科学技术与科学知识，是推动科技传播的重要场所。在军工产品和工农业展览会上，最吸引民众的是各类新技术、新发明和新方法的推广和利用。比如，1938年1月，延安工人制造品竞赛展览会成为国防工业成果宣传的重要窗口，评选了大批优秀技术工人，推动了边区“生产的国防化普遍化”，在“改良生产技术和生产工具，加强国防生产，充实战时经济”等方面发挥了重要作用。再如，1939年5月，陕甘宁边区工业展览会出于“改良品质”等主要目的，鼓励工人和工厂作坊采用新的技术，特别展示了步枪、机关枪、高射机关枪、迫击炮等军工产品。据回忆，毛泽东对此说：“使上我们自己造的枪啦！”“枪造得很好嘛！很漂亮啊！要创造条件，多生产，狠狠打击日寇。”在工农业方面展览会上，技术革新成果获得普遍推广。比如，1940年1月，第二届农工业展览会有力推广了边区农工业的技术革新成果和生产经验，边区农校的各种农作物试验与改进成果如“南方之丝瓜，茼莴及美国之玉米等均已试验成功”，“畜产之改良及牛肉干，牛肉粉等食品的制造也获有相当成绩”。1943年11月，留守兵团直属队举行生产展览会，展出了部队在水利灌溉、皮革制造和药材的改造与发明，“表现了卓著的成绩”。

The various production exhibitions in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region during the Yan’an period undertook the important task of publicizing and promoting new technologies and achievements to the people. During this period, terms such as “production,” “technology,” “economy,” and “revolution,” “national defense,” “War of Resistance” often appeared together in various reports on production exhibitions, clearly reflecting the CPC’s urgent need to develop science and technology and ensure victory in the War of Resistance.

延安时期陕甘宁边区的各类生产展览会，承担着向民众宣传推广新技术新成果的重要任务。该时期“生产”“技术”“经济”与“革命”“国防”“抗战”等语词时常结伴见诸关于生产展览会的各种报道中，鲜明体现了中共发展科学技术、保障抗战胜利的迫切需要。

(5) “Advancing the Border Region Health Campaign”

（五）“推进边区卫生运动”

The CPC attached great importance to the life and health safety of the people, placing significant emphasis on using health exhibitions and production exhibitions to conduct general knowledge popularization. By publicizing health and epidemic prevention knowledge, it aimed to enhance the people’s public health and cultural-educational knowledge, “so as to advance the border region health campaign.” [15]15 “推进边区卫生运动” (tuījìn biānqū wèishēng yùndòng) — a campaign to improve public health and hygiene in the border region, often targeting superstition and disease.

中共高度重视百姓生命和健康安全，非常注重借助卫生展览会和生产展览会进行常识性科普，通过宣传卫生防疫知识提升民众的公共卫生和文教常识，“以便推进边区卫生运动”。

During the Yan’an period, epidemics frequently occurred in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region. To effectively prevent and control epidemics and ensure the safety of the border region’s military and civilians, the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region Government actively mobilized the masses to carry out health and epidemic prevention campaigns, taking “attention to the prevention and elimination of social diseases and infectious diseases” as an important goal. It organized a series of health exhibitions and production exhibitions, effectively improving the health knowledge of the border region’s people and promoting the health campaign to achieve significant results. In May 1939, the health exhibition prepared by the Eighth Route Army Medical Department, with the theme of “health exhibition,” focused on “raising the health knowledge of the military and civilians and promoting national health work.” [16]16 “八路军军医处” (Bālù Jūn jūnyī chù) — the medical department of the Eighth Route Army, responsible for military and civilian health services. In July of the same year, the Eighth Route Army Medical School prepared the “July 7” health exhibition, producing “over a hundred pieces of anatomical charts and other health charts.” [17]17 “七七” (qī qī) — refers to the July 7, 1937 Marco Polo Bridge Incident, which marked the start of the full-scale Sino-Japanese War; exhibitions were often named after this date. In November 1942, the Central Hospital held a health exhibition focusing on the prevention and treatment of various diseases using pictures and charts, which “was very beneficial for enhancing health knowledge, so visitors all praised it endlessly.” [18]18 “中央医院” (Zhōngyāng Yīyuàn) — the Central Hospital in Yan’an, a key medical institution serving CPC leaders and the local population. In July 1944, the Yan’an City Health Exhibition, with the theme of “carrying out the health campaign to enhance the health of the military and civilians,” emphasized “cooperation between Chinese and Western medicine, opposing witch doctors, and promoting epidemic prevention and hygiene.” Using physical objects, charts, comic strips, stories, and various statistical comparisons, it helped audiences understand the harm of diseases and various health knowledge, “alerting people to the dangers of disease and death and actively rising up to eliminate them,” and so on. [19]19 “巫神” (wū shén) — traditional folk healers or shamans, whom the CPC targeted in its health campaigns as obstacles to modern medical practices.

延安时期，陕甘宁边区疫病频发。为有效预防和控制疫病，保障边区军民生命安全，陕甘宁边区政府积极动员群众开展卫生防疫运动，把关注“社会病及传染病的预防及消灭”作为重要目标，组织了一系列卫生展览会和生产展览会，有效提高了边区民众的卫生常识，推动卫生运动取得显著成效。1939年5月，八路军军医处筹备的卫生展览会，以“卫生展览”为主题，着力“提高军民卫生常识，推动全国卫生工作”；同年7月，八路军卫生学校筹备“七七”卫生展览会，制有“解剖图及其他卫生图表共百余幅”；1942年11月，中央医院举办以图画图表为主的预防和治疗各种疾病的卫生展览，“对增进卫生常识甚有裨益，故参观者，均称道不置（止）”；1944年7月，延安市卫生展览会以“开展卫生运动增进军民健康”为主题，强调“中西医合作，反对巫神，推行防疫卫生”，借助实物、图表、连环画、故事以及各种统计对比帮助观众了解疾病的危害及各种卫生常识，“提醒了大家对疾病死亡的警惕和注意而积极起来扑灭它们”等。

During the Yan’an period, the propaganda exhibitions organized by the government of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region under the leadership of the CPC, with main contents such as “popularizing medical knowledge,” “how to prevent and treat diseases,” and “oppose witch doctors, believe in medicine,” conveyed the CPC’s work philosophy of “serving all military and civilian personnel” and strengthened the image of a party that is close to and cares for the people.

延安时期中共领导下的陕甘宁边区政府所组织的以“普及医学知识”“如何预防、治疗疾病”“反对巫神，相信医学”等为主要内容的宣传展览，传递了中共“为全体军民服务”的工作理念，强化了亲民爱民政党形象。

(6) “The Glory of the Women’s Circles of the Whole Country”

（六）“全国妇女界的光辉”

Women’s liberation was an important component of the CPC’s propaganda and practice of new revolutionary thought during the Yan’an period. During this period, the government of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region repeatedly held exhibitions themed on women’s production and daily life, propagating progressive ideas and modern concepts to help women in the border region “be liberated from the shackles of feudalism.”

妇女解放是延安时期中共进行新的革命思想宣传和实践的一项重要内容。这一时期，陕甘宁边区政府多次举办以妇女生产生活为主题的展览会，宣传进步思想和现代理念，帮助边区妇女“从封建的枷锁中被解放出来”。

During this period, the CPC used exhibitions to encourage the broad masses of women to actively participate in the Great Production Movement [20]20 The Great Production Movement was a large-scale campaign for economic self-sufficiency launched by the CPC in the base areas during the War of Resistance against Japan (1937-1945), most famously in Yan’an, to overcome severe material shortages caused by the Japanese blockade and the Kuomintang’s economic encirclement. through various means. For example, in 1940, the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region held an exhibition on Women’s Day, which used pictures, photographs, and physical objects to display content reflecting women’s work, such as women’s life in history, the current women’s movement, women’s life in various countries, and women’s production. The visiting masses not only “saw the dark past of women’s life, but could also glimpse the bright future” and recognized that the border region’s women’s work was “the glory of the women’s circles of the whole country.” Another example is the special exhibition held by the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region on Women’s Day in 1941, which included three sections: “Women and Children,” “Women’s Production Achievements,” and “Female Comrades’ Academic Achievements.” Among these, the “Women’s Production Achievements” section mainly covered their achievements in handicraft production and educational learning. As another example, the “March 8th” commemorative exhibition in 1945, themed on maternal and child health and women’s textile work, used methods such as picture and specimen displays, model explanations, and yangge [21]21 Yangge is a popular Chinese folk dance and performance form, often involving singing and dancing, which was adapted by the CPC in Yan’an for mass propaganda and education. performances to guide women in learning advanced textile techniques and health knowledge. Large numbers of visiting women “left the exhibition hall brimming with enthusiasm.”

这一时期，中共通过展览会鼓励广大妇女积极通过各种方式投身到大生产运动中去。比如，1940年陕甘宁边区在妇女节举办展览会，通过图画、照片、实物等展现了历史上的妇女生活、当前的妇女运动、各国的妇女生活以及妇女生产等反映妇女工作的内容，参观民众不但“见到了妇女生活黑暗的过去，同时也可遥望到光明的未来”，认识到边区的妇女工作是“全国妇女界的光辉”。再如，1941年陕甘宁边区在妇女节举办的专题展览会，包括了“妇女与儿童”“妇女生产的成绩”“女同志的学习成绩”三个部分，其中，“妇女生产的成绩”部分主要包括她们在手工业生产、学习教育方面的成绩。又如，1945年的“三八”纪念展览会，以妇孺卫生和妇女纺织为主题，通过图片标本展示、模范讲解、秧歌表演等形式引导妇女学习先进纺织技术和卫生知识，大批参观妇女“步出展览会时，莫不兴致勃勃”。

By holding exhibitions targeting women, the CPC increasingly linked words containing the spirit of modernity, civilization, and science—such as “production,” “hygiene,” “culture,” and “education”—with “women.” This not only brought about a profound transformation in the traditional understanding of women among the broad masses in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, but also tapped into the latent powerful strength of women in the border region, promoted the gradual awakening of their consciousness of self-reliance and self-improvement, and provided an important opportunity for fully unleashing the historical role of women.

通过举办以妇女为对象的展览会，中共将“生产”“卫生”“文化”“教育”等蕴含现代、文明、科学精神的语词越来越多地与“妇女”联系起来，不仅使得陕甘宁边区广大民众对妇女的传统认识发生深刻转变，也发掘了边区妇女潜在的强大力量，推动了其自立自强意识的逐渐觉醒，为充分发挥妇女的历史作用提供了重要契机。

3. The Value Implications of Cognitive Shaping and Revolutionary Discourse Construction in the Exhibition Narratives of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region

三、陕甘宁边区展览叙事中认知塑造和革命话语建构的价值意蕴

Holding exhibitions during the Yan’an period was a new type of propaganda method and image-building approach. Through the cognitive shaping of the masses and the construction of revolutionary discourse via exhibitions, the new appearance of the base areas was highlighted, the political identity of the masses was enhanced, new social customs and values were cultivated, the horizons of the masses were broadened, economic and cultural exchanges in the border region were promoted, external propaganda was advanced, support from various quarters was won for the CPC, and ultimately the goal of political integration was achieved.

延安时期举办展览会是一种新兴的宣传手段和形象建构方式。通过展览会对民众的认知塑造和革命话语建构，彰显了根据地的崭新面貌，增强了民众的政治认同，培育了新型社会风气和价值观念，开阔了民众视野，促进了边区经济文化交流，推动了对外宣传，为中共争取到了各方支持，最终达到了政治整合的目的。

(1) Effectively Shaped the CPC’s Image and Consolidated the People’s Strength for the War of Resistance and Construction

（一）有效塑造了中共形象，凝聚了抗战和建设的人民力量

Exhibitions are closely interwoven with discourse construction. Through means such as ritual display, pictorial presentation, textual dissemination, physical exhibition, and discursive mobilization, exhibitions subtly shaped the masses’ cognition of revolutionary discourses such as “construction,” “War of Resistance,” and “nation,” becoming a powerful tool for the CPC to promote revolutionary discourse construction and cognitive shaping. Through the presentation of various elements such as spatial arrangements, slogans and inscriptions, physical exhibits, and charts, exhibitions highlighted the brilliant achievements of the CPC in leading border region construction in political, economic, social, and cultural aspects, enhanced the political identity of the border region masses with the CPC, promoted their enthusiasm for participating in production and construction and their support for the CPC’s policies, and consolidated more people’s strength for the cause of the War of Resistance and construction.

展览会与话语建构紧密互嵌。借由仪式展陈、图像性展示、文本传播、实物展览和话语动员等方式，展览会在潜移默化中塑造了民众对“建设”“抗战”“民族”等革命话语的认知，成为中共推动革命话语建构和认知塑造的有力手段。通过空间排列、口号题词、实物展品、图表等各类元素的呈现，展览会突出了中共在政治、经济、社会、文化等方面领导边区建设的光辉业绩，增强了边区民众对中共的政治认同，促进其参与生产建设的热情和对中共方针政策的支持，为抗战和建设事业凝聚更多人民力量。

(2) Broadened the Horizons of the Masses and Promoted the Dissemination of Cultural Knowledge

（二）开阔了民众视野，促进了文化知识传播

An exhibition was a “mass education meeting.” Through the cognitive shaping and narrative construction of the masses, it popularized scientific knowledge, changed the values of the masses, raised their scientific and cultural level, and elevated the “customs, habits, laws, and degree of cultural and educational development” of the entire Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region. For example, the Border Region Agricultural Competition Exhibition aimed to enable the “conservative” peasant masses to accept “the strengths of others, improved methods, or scientific guidance,” “to educate and motivate the masses, improve products, and increase production.” The exhibition was also a vivid classroom. During this period, themed exhibitions such as the border region production exhibition, health and medical exhibition, and women’s life exhibition mostly used pictures, charts, photographs, and physical objects as exhibits, broadening the horizons of the masses, challenging their backward ideas and feudal concepts, promoting the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the exchange of technical experience, and enabling new ideas and culture to take root in the border region.

展览会是一场“民众教育会”，通过对民众的认知塑造和叙事建构，普及科学知识，改变民众价值观念，提高民众科学文化水平，提升了整个陕甘宁边区的“风俗习惯法律及文化教育程度”。比如，边区农产竞赛展览会就旨在让“保守性”的农民群众接受“别人的长处，改良的方法，或科学的指示”，“以教育群众激励群众，改良产品，提高生产”。展览会也是一个生动的课堂，这一时期举办的边区生产展览、卫生医疗展览、妇女生活展览等主题展会多以图画、图表、照片、实物等为展品，开阔了民众视野，冲击了民众的落后思想和封建观念，推动了科学知识传播和技术经验交流，使新的思想文化在边区扎根。

(3) Promoted External Propaganda and Won Support from Various Quarters for the CPC

（三）推动了对外宣传，为中共争取到了各方支持

As a window for external display, exhibitions, through spatial design, discursive presentation, and physical display, disseminated to the Kuomintang-controlled areas and the international community discourses such as Yan’an as a “paradise,” “a symbol of truth,” “a beacon of light,” and “a revolutionary holy land,” and showcased the glorious image of “the people’s government is the best government” under the leadership of the CPC. They were an important window for the outside world to better understand the CPC’s policies. Many Kuomintang personnel and foreign friends changed their views on the CPC and the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region through the exhibitions. One Kuomintang officer pointed out: “I think that a desolate and backward border region, under the leadership of the Communist Party, could develop to this extent. If it were to lead the whole of China, there would be progress beyond my imagination.” In December 1944, international friends praised the Border Region Army Construction Exhibition, saying, “You can overcome difficulties like this, solving your own food and supplies. Such an army that endures hardships is rare,” and “This extremely fine exhibition is merely opening the door to the true ‘treasure trove’ of this extraordinary place and its people.” The exhibition “conclusively proves: the people’s government is the best government.” In January 1945, a foreigner visiting the exhibition sincerely remarked: “I have traveled through nine provinces of ‘Free China,’ but I have never seen such astonishing achievements as here (the border region). For you to have such accomplishments under such difficult conditions, we should learn from you.”

作为对外展示的窗口，展览会通过空间设计、话语呈现、实物展示等，向国统区和国际社会传播了延安“乐园”“真理的标志”“光明的象征”“革命圣地”等话语，展现了中共领导下的“人民的政府是最好的政府”等光辉形象，是外界更好认识了解中共政策的重要窗口。很多国民党人和国外友好人士通过展览会改变了对中共和陕甘宁边区的看法。一位国民党军官指出：“我觉得一个荒凉落后的边区，在共产党领导下，能发展到这样，如果领导全中国，将有我想像不到的进步。”1944年12月，国际友人盛赞边区部队建设展览会，“你们能这样克服困难，食用都自己解决，这样艰苦的军队是少有的”，“这个极优美的展览会，仅仅是展开了走向这非凡的地方与人民的真正‘宝藏’的大门”。展览会“确切地证明：人民的政府是最好的政府”。1945年1月，一位外籍人士参观展览会时由衷感慨道：“我曾经在‘自由中国’的九个省份走过，可是从没有看到像这里（边区）的惊人成绩。你们在如此艰难的条件下，有如此成就，我们是应该向你们学习的。”

In summary, the exhibitions held in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region were an important part of the CPC’s leadership of revolutionary cultural work during the New Democratic Revolution period. They fully demonstrated the fiery combat life and great achievements in the War of Resistance of the military and civilians in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region under the leadership of the CPC, effectively mobilized the initiative and enthusiasm of the broad masses of military and civilians to actively participate in the cause of the War of Resistance, strengthened the revolutionary fighting spirit of the border region military and civilians and their confidence in winning the War of Resistance, and reinforced the revolutionary narrative of the whole nation uniting in the War of Resistance. They were a vivid embodiment of the CPC “telling the story of the War of Resistance well.”

总之，陕甘宁边区举办的展览会是新民主主义革命时期中共领导革命文化工作的重要组成部分，充分展现了中共领导下陕甘宁边区军民的火热战斗生活和取得的伟大抗战业绩，有效调动了广大军民积极参加抗战事业的主动性和积极性，增强了边区军民的革命斗志和争取抗战胜利的信心，强化了全民族团结抗战的革命叙事，是中共“讲好抗战故事”的生动体现。

Online Editor: Jing Mu

网络编辑：静穆