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Selected Works of Mao Tse-tung
LETTER TO THE
YENAN PEKING OPERA THEATRE
AFTER SEEING
'DRIVEN TO JOIN THE LIANGSHAN MOUNTAIN REBELS'January 9, 1944
[The Peking opera 'Driven to Join the Liangshan Mountain Rebels' is an episode from Shui Hu Chuan ('Heroes of the Marshes', 'Water Margin' or 'All Men Are Brothers'), the fourteenth-century classical novel. It tells how Lin Ch'ung spurred on by the strength shown by the people, resolved to join their rebellion against the reactionary rulers.]
Having seen your performance, I wish to express my thanks to you for the excellent work you have done. Please convey my thanks to the comrades of the cast! History is made by the people, yet the old opera (and all the old literature and art, which are divorced from the people ) presents the people as though they were dirt, and the stage is dominated by lords, and ladies and their pampered sons and daughters. Now you have reversed this reversal of history and restored historical truth, and thus a new life is opening up for the old opera. That is why this merits congratulations. The initiative you have taken marks an epoch-making beginning in the revolutionization of the old opera. I am very happy at the thought of this. I hope you will write more plays and give more performances, and so help make this practice a common one which will prevail throughout the country.