Mao Anying: A Life of Sacrifice and Revolutionary Spirit

 Mao Anying: A Life of Sacrifice and Revolutionary Spirit

 By Liu Xinbang（刘欣邦） (Benjamin)

Mao Anying (1922–1950), the eldest son of Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, lived a life marked by resilience, ideological devotion, and ultimate sacrifice. His story reflects both personal tragedy and the broader struggles of modern China. Below is a detailed account of his life and legacy, contextualized for international readers.

 

Early Life and Hardships

Born in October 1922 in Changsha, Hunan Province, Mao Anying’s childhood was overshadowed by political turmoil. In 1930, at age eight, he and his mother, Yang Kaihui (a revolutionary martyr), were imprisoned by the Kuomintang (Nationalist) authorities. Yang was executed later that year, leaving Mao Anying traumatized and homeless . For five years (1931–1936), he wandered Shanghai’s streets, working as a ragpicker, newsboy, and rickshaw puller—experiences that ingrained in him a deep empathy for the working class .

 

In 1936, the Communist Party arranged for him to study in the Soviet Union, where he attended the Lenin Military-Political Academy and later the Frunze Military Academy. During World War II, he volunteered for the Soviet Red Army, serving as a political instructor in a tank battalion and participating in the liberation of Berlin .

 

Return to China and Ideological Training

Mao Anying returned to Yan’an in 1946, where Mao Zedong insisted he undergo “re-education” through manual labor. For months, he lived in a rural village, working alongside peasants—plowing fields, harvesting crops, and sleeping on heated mud beds. This period aimed to solidify his connection to the masses and Marxist principles .

 

From 1947, he joined land reform campaigns in Shanxi, documenting farmers’ struggles and composing poems that reflected his revolutionary zeal. Mao Zedong repeatedly emphasized to him: “Serve the people first; personal glory is secondary” .

 

The Korean War and Heroic Sacrifice

In October 1950, shortly after the outbreak of the Korean War (1950–1953), Mao Anying—newly married and working at a Beijing factory—volunteered to join the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army (CPV). He served as a Russian interpreter and secretary at CPV headquarters, a role critical for coordinating with Soviet advisors. 

On November 25, 1950, U.S. P-51 Mustangs bombed the CPV headquarters in North Korea. A napalm strike engulfed the operations room where Mao Anying was working, killing him instantly at age 28.

His death occurred just 34 days after his arrival in Korea and 34 days after his wedding

Mao Zedong’s Grief and Legacy.

When news of his son’s death reached Beijing, Mao Zedong reportedly sat in silence for hours, chain-smoking, his meals left untouched. Yet, he insisted Mao Anying be remembered not as a leader’s son but as “an ordinary soldier” among the 197,000 CPV martyrs. 

Refusing special treatment, he declined to retrieve his son’s remains, stating: “Wherever a hero falls, that mountain is sacred. Why must his body return wrapped in horsehide?”

Mao Anying’s death symbolized the sacrifices of countless Chinese families during the war. His widow, Liu Siqi, later visited his grave in North Korea, reflecting on his idealism: “He gave everything for the people”.

Mao Anying's wife and Mao Anying