Biography of Zhou Yili

Name: Biography of Zhou Yili
ISBN: 9787516681312

李迎建Xinhua Publishing House · ChinaFeb 2026

3.0

Word count: 39K words
Chapters: 14
ISBN: 9787516681312

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Summary

This biography offers a detailed account of the brilliant life of Zhou Yili, an early revolutionary of the Communist Party of China. A leader of the Hunan workers and peasants movement, he held such key posts as Secretary of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee and Director of the General Political Department of the First Front Army of the Red Army, took part in leading the three counter-encirclement campaigns, served as the first Minister of Internal Affairs of the Chinese Soviet Republic and the first chief writer of Red China, and was one of the founders of the early cause of Xinhua News Agency. Through authoritative research, this book for the first time confirms that Zhou Yili died in February 1935 while on the move, making him the first of the "Xinhua martyrs." The biography vividly portrays his revolutionary course from a patriotic educator to a steadfast Marxist, highlighting his unshakable ideals and convictions, his unwavering patriotism, and his unyielding spirit of sacrifice. It is an important Party history work that carries forward the red gene.

Editor's review

This book is the first authoritative biography to systematically chronicle the life of the martyr Zhou Yili. Drawing on meticulous research, it clarifies the intellectual trajectory of its subject from patriotic educator to Marxist and for the first time confirms the historical fact that he died in February 1935 while on the move, establishing his place in history as the first of the "Xinhua martyrs." The book carefully lays out his many roles—successively Secretary of the CPC Henan Provincial Committee, Director of the General Political Department of the First Front Army of the Red Army, first Minister of Internal Affairs of the Chinese Soviet Republic, and first chief writer of Red China—interweaving his personal fate with major historical developments such as the three counter-encirclement campaigns, the construction of the Soviet areas, and the beginnings of the red journalism cause. It combines the rigor of Party history research with the readability of biographical writing. Restrained yet full of respect, the narrative is well suited as a primary source for understanding the inner world of early revolutionaries and the origins of Xinhua News Agency. Readers may wish to note the logic behind the subject's transitions among education, propaganda, and internal affairs, which vividly illustrate the revolutionary-era cadre principle of "going wherever needed."

Who it's for

A good fit for

Scholars and archivists engaged in research on Party history and revolutionary history
Teachers and students of journalism and communication, and employees of the Xinhua News Agency system
Party school teachers and ideological and political educators in need of materials for red education
General readers interested in biographies of early revolutionary figures

Not a good fit for

Casual readers who prefer fiction and strongly plot-driven narratives
Readers looking for light reading in the form of heavily illustrated picture books

Reading tips

Begin with the chronological table and the research notes in the appendix, then return to the main text to grasp the factual framework and the basis for the author's judgments.
Read in sections according to the regions where the subject held office, using maps to trace spatial threads such as Henan and the Central Soviet Area.
When reading content related to Red China and Xinhua News Agency, consult materials on the history of red journalism for fuller understanding.
After each chapter, summarize in three to five sentences the subject's main contributions and circumstances at that stage to reinforce memory.

About the publisher

Xinhua Publishing House China · Founded in 1979

Xinhua Publishing House is known for books on politics, journalism, biography and the social sciences. Its 519 titles in the catalog cover world history, social culture, history reading, military affairs, language and writing, and applied psychology. Representative books include Winston Churchill's multi-volume A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, John Dewey's Art as Experience, Wayne Booth's The Craft of Research, and The Chicago Guide to Writing About Research, as well as military history such as Defeat into Victory: The Decisive Campaign in Burma and India, 1942–1945. Its authors range from international figures such as Churchill, Dewey and Booth to Chinese writers including Wu Hao, Luo Dingzi, Li Xuehua and Zhao Hong, giving the press a distinctive profile that balances classic translation with practical writing and emphasizes both history and the social sciences.

版权信息
作者简介
前言
人物简介
第一章从小发奋求学矢志教育救国
第二章倡导五四精神激发青年觉醒
第三章领导湖南工农运动动摇反动军阀统治
第四章筹办武昌农讲所培育农运骨干力量
第五章组织中原工农暴动狱中坚持对敌斗争
第六章放弃坚持攻打中心城市支持以弱胜强作战方针
第七章投身苏维埃政权建设担任《红色中华》报主笔
第八章劳累过度肺病复发转移途中壮烈牺牲
参考资料
致谢

FAQ

Are the historical sources for this book reliable?

In this book, the author Li Yingjian conducts authoritative research, in particular making the first confirmation of the time and place of Zhou Yili's death: he died in February 1935 while on the move. The main narrative is based on comparison of archives and documents, and readers can assess the line of argument through the research notes in the book. Overall, it represents rigorous Party history biography writing.

Can readers without knowledge of early Party history understand it?

Yes. The biography follows the subject's personal experience as its main thread and provides background on the Hunan workers and peasants movement, the three counter-encirclement campaigns, and the construction of the Chinese Soviet regime, so non-specialist readers can follow the timeline. For smoother reading, browse the chronological table at the front first to gain a general impression of the sequence of major events.

Why is Zhou Yili called the first of the "Xinhua martyrs"?

According to this book, Zhou Yili was one of the founders of the early cause of Xinhua News Agency and served as the first chief writer of Red China. Through research, the book confirms that he died in February 1935 and is therefore regarded as the first in the lineage of Xinhua News Agency martyrs. This formulation rests on his connection with the red journalism cause, and the book provides a dedicated explanation.

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About the author

李迎建 Author

Information about Li Yingjian is limited in publicly available sources, and few details about the author's identity can be confirmed at present. Li's writing centers mainly on biography. One work by this author is held in the collection, namely A Biography of Zhou Yili. The book falls under the general category of biography and takes a person's life as its narrative core, offering a fairly systematic account centered on the figure of Zhou Yili. In terms of subject matter, Li Yingjian focuses on the relationship between the life course of historical figures and the historical context of their times, with the text relying primarily on the organization of source materials and factual narration in an effort to present the subject's experiences and image clearly. Because public information about the author's own life, education, and professional background is limited, a complete assessment of Li's writing as a whole is difficult to make. As far as the existing work is concerned, A Biography of Zhou Yili reflects the author's engagement with biographical writing and provides readers with a useful volume for learning about the figure concerned.