–Mao Zedong, November 17, 1961
Since storm and thunder first swept o’er the earth,
Sprung evil sprites from piles of bones of dearth.
The monk, misled, may yet be taught his worth;
But fiends and ghosts must bring destruction’s mirth.
The Golden Monkey swings his rod of great might,
Clear skies sweep clean the dust from endless height.
Today we cheer Great Sage Sun, shining bright –
For evil mists again shroud day’s fair light.
Note
A responsive poem to Guo Moruo’s Seven-Character Octave – Watching the Opera “Sun Wukong Three Times Beats the White Bone Demon” (1961). It was composed amid the Sino-Soviet split, rising tensions with Soviet “revisionism,” and ideological struggles within global communism. Mao uses the Journey to the West myth to distinguish between misled allies (monk) and malignant enemies (demons).
Seven-Character Octave (Qilu)
Classical Chinese poetic form: 8 lines, 7 characters each, strict tonal patterns, parallel couplets, end rhymes.
Responsive Poem
A poem written in reply to another, following the same rhyme scheme – an ancient scholarly tradition.
Guo Moruo (1892–1978)
Prominent poet, historian, and revolutionary intellectual. Mao’s close literary and political friend. His original poem harshly condemned the Tang Monk as deserving death; Mao’s reply corrected this by distinguishing between the naive monk and evil demons.
Monk (Tang Sanzang)
Protagonist of Journey to the West. Represents well-meaning but naive, misled people/revolutionaries who can be educated.
Golden Monkey / Great Sage Sun (Sun Wukong)
Hero of Journey to the West. Symbolizes Mao Zedong, the Chinese Communist Party, and revolutionary forces – sharp-sighted, resolute, and capable of defeating evil.
White Bone Demon / Evil Spirits
White Bone Demon, the villainess with three lives from Journey to the West. Metaphor for Soviet revisionism, imperialism, and reactionary forces.
Ghosts and Goblins
Ancient Chinese term for treacherous, hidden enemies; classic metaphor for sinister schemers.
Opera Adaptation
Based on the Shaoxing Opera performance of Sun Wukong Three Times Beats the White Bone Demon (1961).
Mythic Political Allegory
Mao’s signature style: using classical Chinese myths/fables to comment on modern politics and ideology.
“Since storm and thunder first swept o’er the earth”
Alludes to the rise of revolutionary movements and communist storms worldwide.
“Sprung evil sprites from piles of bones”
Direct reference to the White Bone Demon, born from accumulated bones. Metaphor: evil/revisionism arises from decay and crisis.
“The monk, misled, may yet be taught his worth”
Mao’s key correction to Guo: naive/misled allies are redeemable (united front strategy).
“Fiends and ghosts must bring destruction’s mirth”
Ancient “ghosts and goblins” metaphor: malignant enemies must be destroyed.
“Golden Monkey swings his rod of great might”
Golden-Haired Monkey (Sun Wukong) with his Ruyi Jingu Bang (magic iron staff, “thousand-catty rod”). Symbol of revolutionary power to crush evil.
“Clear skies sweep clean the dust from endless height”
Pure heavens = pure Marxist ideology; dust = corruption/revisionism. Vision of ideological purity restored.
“Evil mists again shroud day’s fair light”
“Demon mists” = resurgence of revisionism/imperialism. Justifies renewed revolutionary struggle.
Political Metaphor (1961 Context)
- Monk: Naive, wavering communists misled by Soviet rhetoric.
- White Bone Demon / Fiends: Soviet revisionism, anti-China forces.
- Sun Wukong: CCP, Mao, revolutionary Marxism.
- Demon Mists: Renewed ideological attacks from the West and USSR.
《七绝-和郭沫若同志》
一从大地起风雷，
便有精生白骨堆。
僧是愚氓犹可训，
妖为鬼蜮必成灾。
金猴奋起千钧棒，
玉宇澄清万里埃。
今日欢呼孙大圣，
只缘妖雾又重来。
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