Movement of Learning from Lei Feng

The movement launched in 1963 throughout the country implemented by mass mobilization to achieve communist ideological education, whose basic content was to learn from the model of Lei Feng. Lei Feng (1940-1962), a native of Changsha, Hunan Province, was a squad leader of a transportation company in Shenyang Military Region of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Lei Feng was born in a poor family and was orphaned at the age of seven. After graduating from elementary school, he joined the workforce. Before joining the army, he was awarded as an advanced worker and model worker for many times. He served the army for two years and eight months and was awarded second-class and third-class merits once and twice, and he was also elected as a People’s Representative for the Fushun City.

On August 15, 1962, Lei Feng died on duty at the age of 22. In the short life of Lei Feng, he assumed ordinary tasks and he combined the communist spirit with the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation, implemented the spirit of "voluntarily willing to be a screw", by displaying the conduct of undertaking the most difficult tasks, he became outstanding model in practicing communist morality and he selflessly realized putting his limited life into unlimited service for the people. After Lei Feng's sacrificial death, his deeds aroused strong repercussions both within the military and beyond.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army General Political Department, the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League, the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and the All-China Women's Federation issued calls for learning from Lei Feng's merits, and the major newspapers and periodicals also published successive stories of Lei Feng's life.

On March 5, 1963, the headlines of the capital newspapers simultaneously printed Mao Zedong's autograph inscription titled "Learn from Comrade Lei Feng". Liu Shaoqi, Zhou Enlai, Zhu De, Deng Xiaoping and other older generations of proletarian revolutionists made inscriptions for him one after another. From then on, the activity of learning from Lei Feng vigorously carried out throughout the country, educating and inspiring the people of all walks of life, and numerous advanced Lei Feng-like figures have emerged, which not only promoted the sound development of socialist morality, but also stimulated the enthusiasm of the broad masses of people in building socialism, by generating a tremendous spiritual power.

Xi Jinping pointed out that Lei Feng has displayed the "energy of lofty belief and firm convictions, the mind of great love for the people, selfless spirit and enterprising spirit," which were the best manifestations of our national spirit. Since 1963, March 5 of each year is celebrated as the "Learn from Lei Feng Memorial Day”.