The Experience and Enlightenment of the Mass Dissemination of Marxism during the Yan’an Period

The Communist Party of China has always attached importance to the mass dissemination of Marxism. The Yan’an period was a crucial period for the maturation and growth of the CPC, and an important historical stage in advancing the popularization of Marxism. Exploring the historical experience of the mass dissemination of Marxism during the Yan’an period has important practical significance for further promoting the dissemination of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times in the New Era, and for persisting in arming the mind and consolidating the soul with Xi Jinping Thought on

中国共产党历来重视马克思主义的大众化传播。延安时期是中国共产党成熟和壮大的关键时期，是推进马克思主义大众化的重要历史阶段。探究延安时期马克思主义大众化传播的历史经验，对于新时代进一步推动马克思主义中国化时代化传播，坚持用习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想武装头脑、凝心铸魂具有重要的现实意义。

Emphasizing Innovation in the Dissemination of Marxist Discourse

注重马克思主义话语传播创新

A discourse system carries specific ideology and ideas; it is both the vehicle for the dissemination of theory and the content of that dissemination. For the scientific theory of Marxism to be grasped by the broad masses of the Chinese people, it must be interpreted and disseminated in the language of China, the language of the nation, and the language of the masses.

话语体系承载着特定的意识形态和思想观念，是理论传播的载体，也是理论传播的内容。马克思主义科学理论要为中国广大人民群众所掌握，就需要用中国的语言、民族的语言、群众的语言来诠释和传播。

Our Party has always attached great importance to the mass line in the propaganda work of newspapers and periodicals, to the innovations and creations of the masses in transforming social practice, and to absorbing the vivid, concrete language of the masses from social practice to report news and propagate the Party’s line, principles, and policies. During the Yan’an period, our Party placed great emphasis on the Sinicization, nationalization, and popularization of Marxism. The vivid manifestation of “adapting Marxism to the Chinese context” in the revolutionary base areas was the organic integration of theory and practice. In the environment of that time, the revolutionary base areas guided by Marxist theory presented a vibrant and flourishing situation. New ideas were embodied in a brand-new language. The language of the masses, after being tempered by the revolutionary movement and utilized by the Party’s newspapers and periodicals, formed a new discursive context for the propaganda of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context. In the revolutionary movement of the base areas, our Party used the propaganda discourse expression of Party newspapers and Party journals with a brand-new Chinese style to build a bridge of communication between theory and the masses, enabling the scientific theory of Marxism to be accepted, recognized, and utilized by the broad masses of the people.

我们党非常重视报刊媒体宣传工作的群众路线，重视来自人民大众改造社会实践的创新创造，重视吸纳社会实践中鲜活、具体的群众语言来报道新闻，宣传党的路线方针政策。延安时期，我们党十分重视马克思主义的中国化、民族化、大众化。“马克思主义中国化”在革命根据地的生动表现就是理论与实践的有机结合。在当时环境下，马克思主义理论指导下的革命根据地呈现朝气蓬勃的局面。新思想以崭新的语言来体现，人民群众的语言经过革命运动的洗礼，经过党的报刊媒体运用，形成了马克思主义中国化的新的宣传话语语境。在根据地的革命运动中，我们党运用具有崭新中国风格的党报党刊宣传话语表达，架起了理论与群众之间沟通的桥梁，使马克思主义科学理论为广大人民群众所接受、认同和运用。

Expanding the Breadth of Marxist Dissemination

拓展马克思主义传播广度

The widespread dissemination of scientific thought and theory cannot be separated from effective dissemination pathways. In 1941, the “Outline of the Propaganda and Agitation Work of the Central Propaganda Department” pointed out that “propaganda and agitation are activities in the realm of ideology and consciousness; all theories, propositions, education, culture, literature, and art fall within the scope of propaganda and agitation activities.” During the Yan’an period, the pathways for the mass dissemination of Marxist theory in the revolutionary base areas presented a multi-channel, multi-level, and all-encompassing situation, including dissemination through large numbers of cadre schools, newspapers, magazines, and radio broadcasts, as well as through propaganda posters, woodcut prints, yangge opera, and traditional opera that were close to the masses.

科学思想理论的广泛传播，离不开有效的传播路径。1941年，《中央宣传部关于党的宣传鼓动工作提纲》中指出，“宣传鼓动是思想意识方面的活动，举凡一切理论、主张、教育、文化、文艺等均属于宣传鼓动活动的范围”。延安时期，革命根据地的马克思主义理论大众化传播的路径呈现出多渠道、多层次、全方位的态势，包括大批干部学校传播、报刊杂志广播传播，以及贴近人民群众传统的宣传画、木刻版画、秧歌剧、戏曲传播等。

A revolutionary theory dissemination matrix with a unique style was formed. In dissemination practice, the different dissemination methods in the revolutionary base areas cooperated with each other, complementing each other’s advantages. For example, cadre schools, newspapers, and magazines were important positions for Party members, leading cadres, and intellectuals to study, research, and propagate Marxism at that time. New yangge opera, New Year pictures, Spring Festival couplets, and drama were important channels for disseminating Marxism to ordinary masses who had less cultural knowledge and lacked theoretical literacy. Radio was an effective pathway to overcome geographical blockades and disseminate the scientific theory of Marxism and the theoretical practice of the Communist Party of China to listeners in the Kuomintang-controlled areas.

形成了具有独特风格的革命理论传播矩阵。在传播实践中，革命根据地的不同传播方式相互合作，优势互补，如干部学校、报刊杂志是当时党员领导干部、知识分子学习、研究、宣传马克思主义的重要阵地，新秧歌、年画、春联、戏剧是面向掌握文化知识较少、理论素养欠缺的普通群众开展马克思主义传播的重要途径，广播是克服地域封锁，使马克思主义科学理论和中国共产党的理论实践向国统区听众传播的有效路径。

The expansion of diversified dissemination channels effectively promoted the popularization of Marxist scientific theory at that time, achieved an all-round mass dissemination of Marxism, fostered inner-Party unity with one heart and one mind, and a Party-mass relationship as close as flesh and blood. It strengthened the cohesive and guiding power of Marxist scientific theory, and played an important role in achieving nationwide political mobilization and striving for revolutionary victory.

多元化传播渠道的拓展有效推动了当时马克思主义科学理论的大众化普及，实现了全方位的马克思主义大众化传播，促成了同心同德的党内团结、血肉联系的党群关系，增强了马克思主义科学理论的凝聚力和引领力，为实现全民族政治动员，争取革命胜利发挥了重要作用。

Enhancing the Effectiveness of Marxist Dissemination

提升马克思主义传播效度

Segmented dissemination is the process by which disseminators provide categorized and differentiated information to different audience groups based on their different characteristics and needs.

分众化传播是将传播者根据受众的不同特点和需求差异，向不同受众群体提供分类化、差异化的信息传播。

The target of Marxist mass dissemination is both a general group and a specific group. Only by clarifying the different group identities of the targets of Marxist dissemination can targeted segmented dissemination strategies be formulated. In February 1942, Mao Zedong pointed out in his speech “Oppose Stereotyped Party Writing” at the Yan’an Cadres’ Meeting: “If a Communist really wants to do propaganda, he must look at his audience, he must think about who his articles, speeches, conversations, and writings are for and who will read or listen to them; otherwise, it is equivalent to making up his mind that no one will read or listen.” During the Yan’an period, the targets of Marxist mass dissemination were numerous, including the working class and its vanguard, the members of the Communist Party of China, and the peasant group, the ally of the working class. The knowledge level, educational attainment, and political consciousness of different dissemination targets varied. Therefore, for Marxist mass dissemination to achieve practical results, different strategies and methods had to be adopted for different groups.

马克思主义大众化传播的对象既是一个泛指群体，更是一个具体群体，只有明确马克思主义传播对象的不同群体身份，才能有针对性地制定分众化的传播策略。1942年2月，毛泽东在延安干部会上的讲演《反对党八股》中指出，“共产党员如果真想做宣传，就要看对象，就要想一想自己的文章、演说、谈话、写字是给什么人看、给什么人听的，否则就等于下决心不要人看，不要人听”。延安时期，马克思主义大众化传播的对象众多，有工人群体及其先锋队中国共产党党员，有工人队伍的同盟军农民群体等，不同的传播对象的知识水平、文化程度以及政治觉悟存在差异，因此，马克思主义大众化传播要取得实际效果，就要针对不同群体采取不同的策略方法。

The diverse forms of Marxist theoretical propaganda achieved remarkable results. In the environment of that time, the general educational level of Party members, cadres, and the masses in the revolutionary base areas was not high, and the Party’s theoretical propaganda and education needed to be carried out in light of this reality. For the group of Party members and cadres, the Communist Party of China established cadre schools and organized various forms of on-the-job cadre education, systematically carrying out the propaganda and education of Marxist theory, and cultivating a group of Party members and cadres who truly studied, understood, believed in, and used Marxist theory. For the peasant group, the Communist Party of China, taking rural social education and folk cultural activities as entry points, launched literacy campaigns, disseminated scientific and cultural knowledge, promoted literary and artistic propaganda and education, and continuously enhanced the peasant group’s basic understanding of Marxist scientific theory and their revolutionary consciousness to follow the Party and participate in the War of Resistance against Japan to save the nation. For the intellectual group, the Communist Party of China carried out related studies such as the Yan’an Rectification Movement [1]1 The Yan’an Rectification Movement (1942–1945) was a Party-wide campaign to study Marxism-Leninism and rectify subjectivism, sectarianism, and stereotyped Party writing, aiming to unify ideology and consolidate Mao Zedong’s leadership. and the Yan’an Forum on Literature and Art [2]2 The Yan’an Forum on Literature and Art (May 1942) was a meeting convened by Mao Zedong to establish the principle that literature and art should serve the workers, peasants, and soldiers and be subordinate to revolutionary tasks., and conducted ideological remolding of them through the Great Production Movement [3]3 The Great Production Movement (1939–1943) was a campaign in the Yan’an base areas to achieve economic self-sufficiency through large-scale farming, manufacturing, and other productive activities by Party and army personnel., enabling intellectuals to truly begin serving the workers and peasants and serving the Party’s revolutionary cause.

形式多样的马克思主义理论宣传取得显著成效。在当时环境下，革命根据地的党员干部群众文化程度普遍不高，党的理论宣传教育需要结合这个实际展开。针对党员干部群体，中国共产党创办干部学校和组织各种形式的在职干部教育，系统化地开展马克思主义理论的宣传与教育，培养了一批真学真懂真信真用马克思主义理论的党员干部。针对农民群体，中国共产党以乡村社会教育、民间文艺活动为切入点，开展扫盲运动，传播科学文化知识，推进文艺宣传教育，不断提高农民群体对马克思主义科学理论的基本认识和跟随党参与抗战救国的革命意识。针对知识分子群体，中国共产党开展延安整风运动、延安文艺座谈会等相关学习，通过大生产运动对他们进行思想改造，使知识分子开始真正为工农群众服务，为党的革命事业服务。

Through mechanisms such as the correspondent system, the Party’s newspapers and periodicals closely integrated the propagation and implementation of the Party’s line, principles, and policies with grassroots revolutionary practice. At that time, the propaganda of our Party’s newspapers and periodicals closely revolved around the development needs of the revolutionary situation, using specific and vivid mass language to implement policies and reflect grassroots development dynamics, enabling the broad masses of revolutionaries in the base areas to understand the Party’s policies well and form a unified will. The Party spirit and people’s nature of the newspapers and periodicals were highly unified in the practical needs of revolutionary development, shaping a high-intensity public opinion atmosphere, mobilizing the enthusiasm for revolution and production, and greatly promoting the great development of the revolutionary cause.

党的报刊媒体通过通讯员机制等使党的路线方针政策的宣传贯彻，与基层革命实践紧密结合起来。当时，我们党报刊媒体的宣传紧密围绕革命形势发展需要，用具体、鲜活的群众话语，贯彻政策，反映基层发展动态，使广大根据地革命群众能够很好地理解党的政策，形成统一意志。报刊的党性与人民性高度统一于革命发展的实践需要，形塑了高强度的舆论氛围，调动了革命生产的积极性，极大促进了革命事业的大发展。

Reviewing the experience of our Party’s Marxist dissemination during the Yan’an period, it can be found that discourse innovation based on practice is the foundation for improving the effectiveness of Marxist dissemination; targeted and effective dissemination mechanisms are necessary conditions for enhancing the effectiveness of Marxist theoretical dissemination. More importantly, having common values and striving for them one after another without hesitation is the ideological guarantee for realizing the effectiveness of Marxist dissemination.

回顾延安时期我们党马克思主义传播的经验可以发现，立足实践的话语创新是提高马克思主义传播成效的基础；具有针对性的行之有效的传播机制，是提升马克思主义理论传播成效的必备条件。更为重要的是，具有共同的价值观并为之前仆后继、不懈奋斗，是实现马克思主义传播效能的思想保证。

The development of internet technology in the New Era has provided new pathways for the mass dissemination of Marxism. In order to effectively promote the innovative theoretical achievements of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times to enter the mind and heart, be seen in action and results, consolidate and strengthen the mainstream ideological public opinion, and gather surging strength for endeavor, mainstream media should adhere to the Two Integrations [4]4 The Two Integrations refers to the combination of the basic tenets of Marxism with China’s specific realities and with the best of China’s traditional culture., base themselves on practice, innovate the dissemination discourse system and dissemination strategies, actively use online media to carry out the mass dissemination of Marxist scientific theory, draw the concentric circle of online and offline unity, and effectively enhance the dissemination effectiveness of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context and the needs of the times.

新时代互联网技术的发展为马克思主义大众化传播提供了新路径。为了有效推动马克思主义中国化时代化创新理论成果入脑入心、见行见效，巩固壮大主流思想舆论、凝聚奋进磅礴力量，主流媒体应坚持“两个结合”，立足实践，创新传播话语体系与传播策略，主动运用网络媒介开展马克思主义科学理论大众化传播，画好网上网下同心圆，切实增强马克思主义中国化时代化传播效能。

(The author is a doctoral student at the School of Marxism, Shaanxi Normal University)

（作者系陕西师范大学马克思主义学院博士研究生）

Online Editor: Huihui

网络编辑：慧慧