The Moon Over the West River · Autumn Harvest Uprising [Mao’s Poems]

– Mao Zedong · 1927

Our army is the Workers’ and Peasants’ Revolutionary Army,
Our banner bears the sickle and axe.
We shall not linger around Kuanglu,
But march straight toward the land of Xiao and Xiang.

Landlords have oppressed us deeply,
And peasants share a common hatred for the foe.
Amid autumn harvest, evening clouds hang heavy and low;
Like a clap of thunder, the uprising bursts forth.

Note

In September 1927, Mao led the Autumn Harvest Uprising in Hunan and Jiangxi regions, marking an important beginning of the Communist Party of China’s independent leadership of armed struggle.

Ci Poetry (Song Lyric)

A classical Chinese poetic form with fixed tonal patterns. Xijiang Yue (The Moon Over the West River) is a common cipai (tune title), suitable for expressing heroic, narrative or revolutionary feelings.

Workers’ and Peasants’ Revolutionary Army

The revolutionary army led by the CPC during the Autumn Harvest Uprising, the predecessor of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army.

Red Political Poetry

Poetry that reflects revolutionary struggles, reflects the spirit of the times, and inspires the masses, typical of modern Chinese revolutionary literature.

Sickle and Axe

Symbols of the workers’ and peasants’ revolutionary alliance, representing the revolutionary forces led by the Communist Party of China.

Kuanglu

Another name for Lushan Mountain, used here to refer to the Jiangxi area.

Xiaoxiang

Refers to the Xiao River and Xiang River basins, representing Hunan Province.

Common hatred

Derived from The Book of Songs · Qin Feng · Wu Yi: “We share the same hatred for the enemy”, expressing the unity and fighting will of peasants against landlords.

Thunderclap uprising

A vivid metaphor describing the sudden, powerful outbreak of the Autumn Harvest Uprising.

西江月·秋收起义

毛泽东 · 一九二七年

军叫工农革命，旗号镰刀斧头。
匡庐一带不停留，要向潇湘直进。

地主重重压迫，农民个个同仇。
秋收时节暮云愁，霹雳一声暴动。