Big-Character Posters at the Xidan Democracy Wall in Beijing (Dec. 1978)

This section gives an interesting insight into the early stage of the Beijing Democracy Wall, just a few days after Deng Xiaoping had given - in several conversations with visiting foreign journalists and politicians - his approval of criticism and open debates on political issues. Many of the posters dealt with personal grievances over injustice done during the time of the Cultural Revolution. Demands for "rehabilitation" were often raised in "open letter" to the party leadership. There were also debates on general political issues, like the freedoms of expression and the press, democratization, the bad behavior of the police and other functionaries, and demands for a political re-evaluation of the Cultural Revolution and the Mao era (which had not been officially allowed yet).

The photos in this section have been provided by the French sinologist Alain Peyraube who visited the Beijing Democracy Wall in the last week of December 1978.

"A Warning Shot for Comrade Lin Hujia"

58 workers of the "Beijing Internal Combustion Engine Plant" complain to the Municipal Party Committee that the newly appointed mayor of Beijing was not really able to talk to workers (but only to selected team leaders) during a factory visit. They say he thus was shielded from "real problems" such as corruption...

"How the Anti-Zhou Clown Got Caught - Protect Prime Minister Zhou, Protect the Democracy Wall like Your Own Eyeballs"

Criticizing a dubious person who had shouted slogans against the former prime minister Zhou Enlai (who had died in January 1976) and against free expression at the Democracy Wall. Writers of big-character posters are compared to the Gang of Four. The person had also mentioned that he was not acting on his own, and that he was "mentally ill".

"Beijing Public Security Office: Give Me My Life Back! (What Happened to a Youth of the New China)"

"The Tiananmen Incident - China and its Secret Police"

A poster by well-known dissident Ren Wanding comments on the role of "secret police" in dealing with the so-called Tiananmen Incident of 1976. "Secret police", says Ren, is a sign of dictatorship, the more sophisticated a network of secret police becomes, the more difficult it will be to create "democracy and legality" (using a term coined by the famous "Li Yizhe" manifesto from Guangzhou).

"A Small-Character Poster"

Gong Nianzhou (龚念周) from the Academy of Chinese Opera (and publisher of an independent journal) is forwarding a letter he has received to the Ministry of Public Security and the "internal service" of the "New China News Agency" (so that higher cadres could also read it). The letter criticizes that plain-cloth policemen at the Democracy Wall were noting the licence plates of parked bicycles in order to identify readers and bystanders. But the people, the letter says, are not an enemy, authorities should rather protect them!

"A common folk that does not dare to stick out his head..."

"Netted by the Blue-Haired Dog"

"... We Do Not Need a Personality Cult"

Unfortunately the first page of this dazibao (and part of the headline) are missing. But the poster talks on the excessive and "un-Marxist" personality cult around Mao. But is is not a single person who could stage such a revolution: "It is the people who has written this history, the Chinese revolution is a result of the common effort of thousands and millions of people."

"Open Letter to Chairman Hua"

Fu Yumian, a 32 year old "poor peasant" from Henan Province complains about the inactivity of authorities. Her husband has beaten her, he has run away with another woman, but refuses to divorce. She has already written more than a hundred letters, has brought court charges eighty times, and contacted in person the authorities. Fu demands that her husband should be punished, he should pay alimony, and women should be protected from physical violence.

"The Party Committee of the Navy has to Take the Initiative to Rehabilitate the Victims"

This dazibao seems to be written also by Fu Yumian, complaining about her unfaithful husband and his new mate. (It is not clear though which role the navy plays in that.)

"To the Readers"

"Dialogue: Debate on Education"

A few thoughts on formation, teachers, talents and the role of parents ...

"Oh, Party! Give Me Another Pen! An Open Letter to the Party Organization of the Chinese Writers' Association"

An (amateur) poet complains that he has not been allowed to publish anything for twenty years. Yes, it has happen that he once quoted four lines from somebody else, and he was then punished for copyright infringement and illegally claiming royalties. But now he ask for being allowed to write again ...

The note scribbled below this text just complains that the offices put up to receive the large numbers of "petitioners", are not efficient and they put too little effort into following up all the grievances.

"In Praise of the Democracy Wall"

Using the pseudonym "Zhi Yan" ("direct speech"), the author points to the important role of dazibaos in advocating human rights and democracy in the spirit of the April 5th Movement of 1976.

The first edition of the journal "Jintian" (The Moment/Today) with original wood block prints by Ma Desheng

Most of the independent journals in Beijing were not only sold at the Democracy Wall. Usually one complete copy was also glued to the Wall for those readers who did not manage (or want) to buy one.