I had heard a sad rumor last week regarding Granite Studio fave Chairman Hua Guofeng, and sent a message out through my new favorite procrastination device “Twitter”:
Hearing a rumor that former Chairman (and Granite Studio fave) Hua Guofeng has passed away in a Beijing hospital. Tracking…
I couldn’t confirm it and my source said that the CCP was probably sitting on the news to get their political ducks in a row and to not upset the happy-happy clappy-clappy atmosphere of the Olympics.
Well, the Chinese media is declaring that China has already “won” the Games (how somebody ‘wins’ a celebration of sport and culture is a whole other topic…) and with Liu Xiang limping off the Olympic stage, Xinhua probably figured now is as good at time as any.
Hua Guofeng, who briefly ruled China as communist founder Mao Zedong’s successor but was pushed aside by Deng Xiaoping as a prelude to reforms that launched an economic boom, died Wednesday, state-run media reported.
Sad day indeed here at the Studio. I’ll write a more fitting tribute later, until then, see below for previous articles on Hua Guofeng:
“Come Back Hua Guofeng, All is Forgiven” (October 11, 2007)
“This Date in History: Hua Guofeng” (October 6, 2006)
10 responses so far ↓
1 Sam // Aug 20, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Let’s remember, he held more formal power than any other individual in the history of the PRC. He was simultaneously Prime Minister, Chairman of the CCP, and Chair of the Party Military Commission. Head of Government, Head of Party, Head of Military: no one, not even Mao, ever had such a resume. Of course, when it came to wielding that formal, institutional power all we can say is, not so much. He was undone by the more skillful Deng Xiaoping.
2 zhwj // Aug 20, 2008 at 10:13 pm
I saw the news headline and immediately wondered what you’d post. I’ve enjoyed your Hua-related writings in the past, so I’ll be looking forward to reading what you’ll come up with in remembrance.
3 Frog in a Well - The China History Group Blog // Aug 20, 2008 at 10:46 pm
[...] that a historic figure like Chairman Hua leaves us, and while I can’t possibly compete with Jeremiah in my reverence for the red, red (well, light pink) sun of Chairman Hua, I did think I would post [...]
4 alvin // Aug 20, 2008 at 10:50 pm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-08/20/content_9545861.htm
it’s confirmed!
5 Namesless // Aug 21, 2008 at 2:33 am
Why are you so obsessed with this person? Nobody cares about him. He is extremely 平庸 in every conceivable way. No 才能, as he could only “uphold the so-called ‘two whatever’s’.” No 魄力, as if not for Deng Xiaoping, he would have led China down to a DPRK-kind of path where isolation, famine, and 僵化左倾 is the norm.
High time to wake up and let go. Who cares if he dies or lives.
6 Jeremiah // Aug 21, 2008 at 6:53 am
Namesless,
I love that they teach irony in PRC schools…
I support Hua for the same reason people still flock to Frank Stallone concerts. It’s one of those “If you have to ask ‘why?’, you’re probably not going to understand the answer” kind of things. Short form: Somebody’s got to do it.
For the record, and I’ll write more on this later, it’s worth noting that some of the policies which would form the core of the Reform and Opening Period were actually formulated on Hua’s watch. But, of course, Sad Sack Hua never gets any of the credit.
And of course, let’s all remember that it’s only 46 more shopping days until Hua Guofeng Appreciation Day 2008, though obviously this year’s celebration will have more of a somber tone than in years past.
7 China Journal : Best of the China Blogs: August 21 // Aug 21, 2008 at 12:15 pm
[...] man who would be Mao’s successor has passed away. On Hua Guofeng’s death and the rumor that preceded it. [Jottings from a Granite [...]
8 Hua Guofeng: Kinas mest anonyme leder er død 87 år gammel | KINABLOG.dk // Aug 21, 2008 at 2:05 pm
[...] øje med Granite Studio de næste par dage, for ph.d. og historielærer Jemiah Jenne er en stor fan af Hua, og [...]
9 Frog in a Well - The China History Group Blog // Aug 21, 2008 at 10:30 pm
[...] we wait for Jeremiah at Jottings from the Granite Studio to say something substantive, I’d like to put in another [...]
10 DavidofSanGabriel // Aug 25, 2008 at 2:24 am
Hua Guofeng, Millard Fillmore, Jeff Weaver and the 1962 New York Mets…I love ‘em all. As to why, you’d have to ask a shrink, but at least I seem to have a lot of company.
Leave a Comment