— Mao Zedong, February 1930
The whole sky turns white;
We march through snow, our purpose burning bright.
High mountains o’er our head,
We storm great passes, red flags by wind widespread.
Where are we bound today?
To where the Gan River’s lost in snow and spray.
Orders went out last night:
A hundred thousand workers, peasants march on Ji’an!
Note
In February 1930, Mao led the Red Army back from western Fujian to southern Jiangxi, marching in heavy snow toward Ji’an, and composed this poem on the way.
Ci poetry: Jianzi Mulanhua
Jianzi Mulanhua (Shortened Magnolia Blossoms) is a structured cipai (tune pattern) in classical Chinese poetry, compact and powerful, suitable for describing military marches and heroic resolve.
Red Army’s march on Ji’an
Ji’an was an important strategic town in Jiangxi. The “hundred thousand workers and peasants” refers to the Red Army and revolutionary armed masses advancing to expand revolutionary bases.
Guangchang
A county in eastern Jiangxi, a key location on the Red Army’s march route.
Military march poetry in Chinese tradition
Describing marches in harsh natural conditions (wind, snow, mountains, passes) to show courage and determination is a classic theme in Chinese military poetry.
Whole sky turns white
A vivid scene of heavy snow, showing the harshness of the environment while highlighting the army’s fearlessness.
Wind sweeps red flags past great passes
A powerful image of the Red Army breaking through dangerous barriers with high morale.
Gan River
The major river of Jiangxi Province, symbolizing the direction of the military objective.
March on Ji’an
Represents the strategic action to attack enemy‑controlled cities and develop the revolutionary situation.
减字木兰花·广昌路上
毛泽东, 一九三〇年二月
漫天皆白，
雪里行军情更迫。
头上高山，
风卷红旗过大关。
此行何去？
赣江风雪迷漫处。
命令昨颁，
十万工农下吉安。
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