Chronicle of Mao Zedong’s Life

The Chronicle of Mao Zedong’s Life is divided into two series (1893-1949) and (1949-1976), which were both compiled by the Documentary Research Office of the Central Committee of the CPC.

The Chronicle of Mao Zedong’s Life (1893-1949), edited by Pang Xianzhi, began to be written in 1985 and took 8 years to complete, and was published by the Central Literature Publishing House in December 1993.

It was revised and reprinted in 2002 and 2013 respectively. It is the first chronological work at home and abroad that details the development of Mao Zedong's thought and life achievements from 1893 to 1949. It is divided into 3 volumes of 1,390,000 words. The work is based on a large number of archival materials. While detailing Mao's life activities, it embodies his scientific thought system in a multi-faceted and multi-dimensional manner and shows the trajectory of his theoretical development. At the same time, it reflects the difficult and tortuous road and glorious course of the CPC leading the New-Democratic Revolution, as well as the specific process of combining the universal principles of Marxism with the concrete practice of the Chinese Revolution. Plus, it reflects his mind, sentiment, temperament and appearance as the core of the first generation of the CPC leadership. This chronicle, which combines information, scholarship and ideology, is an important book for understanding and studying Mao Zedong, as well as for understanding and studying the history of the Communist Party of China.

As for the Chronicle of Mao Zedong’s Life (1949-1976), it was published by the Central Literature Publishing House in December 2013. The six volumes and nearly 3 million words reflect the 27-year history of Mao Zedong's leadership in establishing New China, building the Chinese socialist system, and exploring the road of Chinese socialist construction, and provide rich historical materials for studying Mao Zedong Thought, theory and work practice after the founding of New China, the historical achievements and lessons learned by the CPC in leading the socialist revolution and socialist construction, and the formation of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The book collection is rich in content and informative in history; the narrative is coherent and consistent; the background materials are taken and discarded in an appropriate manner; the interaction between the genealogist and others is reflected as far as possible; the commentary is more detailed. It provides a key for us to understand and learn Mao Zedong and Mao Zedong Thought and presents us with a colorful historical picture.