Historical Studies (Chinese Edition)

No.1, 2017

 

Zhang Xueliang’s Reading and Studying of Marxist-Leninist Theories during His Imprisonment in the Mainland

(Abstract)

 

Guo Shuanglin

 

In the Zhang Xueliang book collection stored at Columbia University Library in the US, there are a large number of “red” and leftist books. Zhang Xueliang directly purchased some of them, and Liu Yiguang, who was responsible for the care of him, and others purchased others on his behalf. While he was imprisoned in the Mainland, Zhang Xueliang carefully studied some of the Marxist-Leninist theoretical works. He made detailed notes from Bianzheng weiwulun yu lishi weiwulun (Dialectical Materialism and Historical Materialism), vol. 1, Zhexue xuanji (A philosophical Anthology), and theoretical articles published in some magazines, leaving a large number of note cards. Looking at the content the cards record and Zhang’s diary of the same period, we can see that at the time Zhang not only had a comprehensive and in depth understanding of Marxism-Leninism, but also consciously used its theories and methods to observe and analyze problems. This discovery not only helps to understand the ideological situation of Zhang Xueliang at that time, but also benefits us in understanding certain of his actions in the course of the Xi’an Incident.