On the Reissue of the «Three Main Rules of Discipline» and the «Eight Points for Attention»
#PUBLICATION NOTE
This edition of On the Reissue of the «Three Main Rules of Discipline» and the «Eight Points for Attention» has been prepared and revised for digital publication by the Institute of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism under the Central Committee of the Communist Party in Switzerland on the basis of the following editions:
- On the Reissue of the «Three Main Rules of Discipline» and the «Eight Points for Attention», in the Selected Works of Mao Zedong, First English Edition, Vol. 4, Foreign Languages Press, Beijing, 1965.
- The General Headquarters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Promulgates the «Three Main Rules of Discipline» and the «Eight Points for Attention», in Mao's Road to Power, First English Edition, Vol. 10, Routledge, New York and London, 2023.
#INTRODUCTION NOTE
This is an order drafted by Comrade Mao Zedong for the General Headquarters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Shenchuanbao, Jiaxian, Shaanxi, China. It was first published in the Renmin Ribao (10th of October, 1947).
The «Three Main Rules of Discipline» and the «Eight Points for Attention» were the rules of discipline laid down by Comrade Mao Zedong for the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army during the Agrarian Revolutionary War. They formed an important part of the political work of the Red Army and played a great role in building the people's armed forces, handling relations within the army correctly, forging unity with the masses of the people, and laying down the correct policy of the people's army toward captives. From the earliest days of the Red Army, Comrade Mao Zedong required the soldiers to speak politely to the masses, pay fairly for all purchases, and never impress people into forced labour or hit or swear at people. In the spring of 1928, when the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army was in the Jinggang Mountains, Comrade Mao Zedong set down three rules of discipline:
- Obey orders in your actions.
- Don't take anything from the workers and peasants.
- Turn in all things taken from local tyrants.
In the summer of 1928, he put forward six points for attention:
- Put back the doors you have taken down for bed-boards.
- Put back the straw you have used for bedding.
- Speak politely.
- Pay fairly for what you buy.
- Return everything you borrow.
- Pay for anything you damage.
After 1929, Comrade Mao Zedong made the following changes: Rule 2 became «Don't take a single needle or piece of thread from the masses», and Rule 3 was changed first to «Turn in all money raised» and then to «Turn in everything captured». To the «Six Points for Attention», he added two more: «Don't bathe within sight of women» and «Don't search the pockets of captives». This was the origin of the «Three Main Rules of Discipline» and the «Eight Points for Attention».
#Workers and oppressed people of the world, unite!
#ON THE REISSUE OF THE «THREE MAIN RULES OF DISCIPLINE» AND THE «EIGHT POINTS FOR ATTENTION»
#ORDER OF THE GENERAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY
#Mao Zedong
#Before the 10th of October, 1947
#★
#To Military and Political Commanders at All Levels of the Chinese People's Liberation Army
Comrades!
Because there have been discrepancies in the content of the «Three Main Rules of Discipline» and the «Eight Points for Attention» as they have been applied over the years in various places and army units, the General Headquarters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army is separately promulgating them once again on the Double-Tenth Festival to achieve uniformity. The full text is as follows:
#1
Our Army's Three Main Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention have been practised for many years, but their contents vary slightly in army units in different areas. They have now been unified and are hereby reissued. It is expected that you will take this version as the standard one for thorough education and strict enforcement. As to other matters needing attention, the high command of the armed forces in different areas may lay down additional points in accordance with specific conditions and order their enforcement.
#2
The «Three Main Rules of Discipline» are as follows:
- Obey orders in all your actions.
- Don't take a single needle or piece of thread from the masses.
- Turn in everything captured.
#3
The «Eight Points for Attention» are as follows:
- Speak politely.
- Pay fairly for what you buy.
- Return everything you borrow.
- Pay for anything you damage.
- Don't hit or insult people.
- Don't damage crops.
- Don't take sexual liberties with people.
- Don't ill-treat captives.