四十四, Without the Kuomintang there would be no China
The 20th century could be described as an age of propaganda. While the regimes most associated with propaganda were Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, even democratic countries saw the value of propaganda. The Republic of China was no stranger to propaganda, before, during, or after Chiang Kai-shek’s presidency. Much of the propaganda was centered around the greatness of China and Chinese civilization. There were themes of working to create a better and more prosperous China. During the Second World War, resisting Japan was obviously a major theme in Chinese propaganda. In 1953, posters celebrating the victory over Communists were placed in every city. Chiang Kai-shek played an important role in propaganda, as a minor cult of personality sprung up around him.
(Propaganda poster featuring Chiang Kai-shek)
Anti-Communism was the most common theme of Chinese propaganda during the Chiang Kai-shek years. Such propaganda had two purposes. First, it was to discourage Chinese citizens from becoming Communists. Second, it was to convince anti-Communist Chinese that it was Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang that stood between China and Communism. Communism was portrayed as a foreign ideology that would lead to the destruction of 5,000 years of Chinese culture. Chinese Communists were often portrayed as doing the bidding of Russians or Germans. The Communists’ nefarious agenda was always thwarted by the brave Chinese soldier, who proclaimed his loyalty to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. The Soviet Union was often attacked in Chinese propaganda, though not during times when China and the USSR were trying to improve relations.
Positive propaganda was important as well. It wasn’t enough to convince China that Communism was bad, the people needed to be convinced that Kuomintang and Chiang Kai-shek were good. Both were portrayed as responsible for the victory over Japan and the Communists. Chiang Kai-shek was portrayed as carrying on the legacy of Sun Yat-sen (something the Communists and other anti-KMT groups also claimed about themselves). Chiang Kai-shek often spoke of Sun’s Three Principles of the People. These principles are 民族 or nationalism, 民權 or democracy, and 民生 or people’s welfare (or socialism, depending on who you were talking to). Chinese Propaganda emphasized the success of land reform, the build-up of the navy, and other successes in the nation.
(Poster promoting the Three Principles of the People)
Though posters remained a common form of propaganda, music and film played a huge role as well. In 1961, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Republic of China, the slogan Without the Kuomintang there would be no China, was made into a song. There was also the White Sun in the Sky song, which was a tribute to Chiang Kai-shek. It was used in the 1965 National Assembly elections but became more popular after Chiang’s death. In the 1960s, China produced movies on a much higher budget, and color films became much more common. A series of high-budget historical dramas were made during the decade, depicting the Wuchang Rebellion, the life of Sun Yat-sen, and the various wars that China fought in.
These movies were typically over three hours long and contained an intermission. They were inspired by American Epics like The Ten Commandments, a movie which was promoted by First Lady Soong Mei-ling. The subject of these films were not always pro-government propaganda, but they were more often than not. For every historical film that was set before the Sun Yat-sen, there were at least two set in or after. Even the movies that ostensibly had no connection to the Republic of China often had themes of resisting foreign (whether Mongol or British) imperialism. The most popular movie of that era was The Battle of Siping, released in 1966, which told the story of the 1946 battle that many historians believe was decisive for the Nationalists to win the war. The film follows a nationalist soldier played by pop singer Liu Chia-chang, a native of the Northeast who spoke in a Northeastern accent throughout most of the movie. The film has been criticized for omitting any mention of Du Yuming, the general who led the Nationalists at the actual battle of Siping and was on bad terms with Chiang Kai-shek at the time of the film’s production.
Propaganda efforts in China were overseen by two organizations. The first was the Government Information Office, which was overseen by the Executive Yuan. The Second was the Propaganda Department of the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang, which was overseen by the Kuomintang. During the 1960s, the KMT Propaganda Department began to focus increasingly on propaganda directed towards Mongols and Uyghurs. The Government Information Office was associated most of the domestic and foreign propaganda. The organization’s most famous director during the 1960s was James Shen, a Shanghai reporter and newspaper editor who also worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Wang Shijie. He was known for his strong support of Chiang Kai-shek, his pro-American sentiments, and his effective use of media.
(James Shen)
(Propaganda poster featuring Chiang Kai-shek)
Anti-Communism was the most common theme of Chinese propaganda during the Chiang Kai-shek years. Such propaganda had two purposes. First, it was to discourage Chinese citizens from becoming Communists. Second, it was to convince anti-Communist Chinese that it was Chiang Kai-shek and the Kuomintang that stood between China and Communism. Communism was portrayed as a foreign ideology that would lead to the destruction of 5,000 years of Chinese culture. Chinese Communists were often portrayed as doing the bidding of Russians or Germans. The Communists’ nefarious agenda was always thwarted by the brave Chinese soldier, who proclaimed his loyalty to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. The Soviet Union was often attacked in Chinese propaganda, though not during times when China and the USSR were trying to improve relations.
Positive propaganda was important as well. It wasn’t enough to convince China that Communism was bad, the people needed to be convinced that Kuomintang and Chiang Kai-shek were good. Both were portrayed as responsible for the victory over Japan and the Communists. Chiang Kai-shek was portrayed as carrying on the legacy of Sun Yat-sen (something the Communists and other anti-KMT groups also claimed about themselves). Chiang Kai-shek often spoke of Sun’s Three Principles of the People. These principles are 民族 or nationalism, 民權 or democracy, and 民生 or people’s welfare (or socialism, depending on who you were talking to). Chinese Propaganda emphasized the success of land reform, the build-up of the navy, and other successes in the nation.
(Poster promoting the Three Principles of the People)
Though posters remained a common form of propaganda, music and film played a huge role as well. In 1961, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Republic of China, the slogan Without the Kuomintang there would be no China, was made into a song. There was also the White Sun in the Sky song, which was a tribute to Chiang Kai-shek. It was used in the 1965 National Assembly elections but became more popular after Chiang’s death. In the 1960s, China produced movies on a much higher budget, and color films became much more common. A series of high-budget historical dramas were made during the decade, depicting the Wuchang Rebellion, the life of Sun Yat-sen, and the various wars that China fought in.
These movies were typically over three hours long and contained an intermission. They were inspired by American Epics like The Ten Commandments, a movie which was promoted by First Lady Soong Mei-ling. The subject of these films were not always pro-government propaganda, but they were more often than not. For every historical film that was set before the Sun Yat-sen, there were at least two set in or after. Even the movies that ostensibly had no connection to the Republic of China often had themes of resisting foreign (whether Mongol or British) imperialism. The most popular movie of that era was The Battle of Siping, released in 1966, which told the story of the 1946 battle that many historians believe was decisive for the Nationalists to win the war. The film follows a nationalist soldier played by pop singer Liu Chia-chang, a native of the Northeast who spoke in a Northeastern accent throughout most of the movie. The film has been criticized for omitting any mention of Du Yuming, the general who led the Nationalists at the actual battle of Siping and was on bad terms with Chiang Kai-shek at the time of the film’s production.
Propaganda efforts in China were overseen by two organizations. The first was the Government Information Office, which was overseen by the Executive Yuan. The Second was the Propaganda Department of the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang, which was overseen by the Kuomintang. During the 1960s, the KMT Propaganda Department began to focus increasingly on propaganda directed towards Mongols and Uyghurs. The Government Information Office was associated most of the domestic and foreign propaganda. The organization’s most famous director during the 1960s was James Shen, a Shanghai reporter and newspaper editor who also worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Wang Shijie. He was known for his strong support of Chiang Kai-shek, his pro-American sentiments, and his effective use of media.
(James Shen)
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