Serve the People

"Serve the People" or "Service for the People" (Chinese: 为人民服务; pinyin: wèi rénmín fúwù) is a political slogan which first appeared in Mao Zedong-era China, and the unofficial motto of China. It originates from the title of a speech by Mao Zedong, delivered on 8 September 1944. The slogan also became very popular in the United States due to the strong Maoist influence on the New Left, especially among the Red Guard Party, the Black Panther Party and the Yellow Brotherhood of West Los Angeles.

For the Norwegian communist political organization, see Serve the People (Norway). For Yan Lianke's novel, see Serve the People! (novel).
"Wei Renmin Fuwu" redirects here. For the Taiwanese film, see The Candidate (1998 film).
The slogan displayed at Sun Yat-sen University

Origins

Mao Zedong wrote this speech to commemorate the death of a PLA soldier, Zhang Side, a participant in the Long March who died in the collapse of a kiln. In the speech, he quoted a phrase written by the famous Han Dynasty historian Sima Qian: "Though death befalls all men alike, it may be heavy as Mount Tai or light as a feather" (人固有一死，或轻于鸿毛，或重于泰山). Mao continued: "To die for the people is weightier than Mount Tai, but to work for the fascists and die for the exploiters and oppressors is lighter than a feather. Comrade Zhang Side died for the people, and his death is indeed weightier than Mount Tai".

The concept of "Serving the People", together with other slogans such as "Never benefit oneself, always benefit others" and "Tireless struggle" became core principles of the Communist Party of China.

Role during the Cultural Revolution

During the Cultural Revolution, the speech was widely read. Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai was frequently seen wearing a pin emblazoned with the slogan "Serve the People" next to a portrait of Mao Zedong.

Roles in modern society

Ceremonial role

Although less often used in China today, the phrase still plays some important ceremonial roles. It is inscribed on the screen wall facing the front entrance of the Zhongnanhai compound, which houses the headquarters of the Central People's Government and the Communist Party of China.

Since 1984, during inspections of troops in the People's Liberation Army, the following ceremonial exchange is carried out:

Inspecting official: "Greetings, Comrades!" (同志们好 tóng zhì men hǎo)
Troops: "Greetings, Leader [or Chairman]!"[note 1][1] (首长 [主席] 好 shǒu zhǎng [zhǔ xí] hǎo)
Inspecting official: "Comrades, you have worked hard." (同志们辛苦了 tóng zhì men xīn kǔ le!)
Troops: "Serving the people!" (为人民服务! wèi rén mín fú wù!)

Cultural role

In 2007, actress Cameron Diaz caused a minor controversy by carrying a bag with the "Serve the People" slogan in Chinese on a tour of Peru. Many Peruvians felt the bag to be a show of support for the Maoist movement Shining Path.[2]

Writer Yan Lianke wrote a satirical novel set during the Cultural Revolution titled Serve the People about an affair between the wife of a military officer and a peasant soldier.[3][4]

See also

Notes
  1. The traditional greeting 首长好 ("Greetings, Leader!") was used during troop inspections for all-level leaders since Chairman Mao's era. However, since 2017, a distinguished 主席好 ("Greetings, Chairman!") started to be used only when the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (Xi Jinping) is inspecting.

References
  1. "改慣例「首長好」變「主席好」". Apple Daily. 2017-07-01.
  2. Davis, Caris (25 June 2007), "Cameron Diaz Apologizes for Fashion Faux Pas", People Magazine, retrieved 28 April 2010
  3. Toy, Mary-Anne (28 July 2007), "A pen for the people", The Age, retrieved 28 April 2010
  4. Schillinger, Liesl (4 May 2008), "Kissing the Cook", The New York Times, retrieved 28 April 2008
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