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Draft:Gao Yuhan

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Gao Yuhan (1887–1948), originally named Gao Chao, was an educator and political activist during the Republic of China period. He was born in Shouxian, Anhui Province.[1][2] Gao was an early member of the Chinese Communist Party.[1]

Biography

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Early life and career

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Gao Yuhan was born in Yandian Alley, Zhengyangguan, Shouxian , Anhui Province. In his early years, he studied at the Jing Shi School in Fengyang County . In 1905, during the 31st year of the Guang Xu [zh] Emperor's reign, he was admitted to the Army Surveying and Mapping School in Anqing. In 1908, he took part in the rebellion led by Xiong Chenji [zh] ) of the 马炮营起义 [zh] . Shortly thereafter, he assisted Han Yan in founding the newspaper Popular News . In 1911, following Anqing’s declaration of independence during the 1911 Revolution , Gao was appointed Secretary-General of the Anhui Youth Army and became acquainted with Chen Duxiu. In April 1912, after Han Yan was assassinated, Gao moved to Qingdao to take up a teaching position and changed his name to “Gao Yuhan.”[2]


At the end of the 3rd year of the Republic of China (1914), Gao Yuhan went to Shanghai and joined Chen Duxiu and others in initiating the New Culture Movement. He subsequently published a series of articles in New Youth, including Youth and the Nation’s Future , The Enemy of Youth, and A Painful Memory of Qingdao . In the autumn of the 5th year of the Republic (1916), Gao moved to Wuhu, where he served as the academic inspector of 安徽省立第五中学 [zh] and also taught English. From 1917 to 1918 (the 6th to 7th year of the Republic), he and Liu Xiping [zh] co-founded several educational and civic institutions, including a student self-governance association, a work-study school, a night school for common citizens, and a commercial night school, all promoting the ideals of the New Culture Movement. During this period, he also initiated the founding of an anarchism-oriented group called An Du [zh] An Society, whose core members included Jiang Guangci, A Ying, and Li Kean [zh]. He also edited and published the journal Flower of Freedom.[2]

The Era of the Great Revolution

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After the outbreak of the May Fourth Movement in 1919, Gao Yuhan actively mobilized students at Anhui Provincial No. 5 Middle School to connect with other schools and delivered public speeches both on campus and beyond, urging merchants, workers, and students to strike in solidarity with the protesting students in Beijing. In July 1919 (the 8th year of the Republic), under pressure from Ma Lianjia, the military commander of southern Anhui, Gao was dismissed from his position at the school. Later that autumn, he took on the role of director of academic affairs at the Anhui Provincial Second Type-A Agricultural School (安徽省立第二甲种农业学校 [zh]), but conflicts with the principal led him to leave for Shanghai. In August 1920 (the 9th year of the Republic), Gao traveled to Beijing, where, through introductions by Li Dazhao and Zhang Shenfu, he joined the Beijing Communist Group and the Marxism Research Society. By late October that same year, Gao accepted an invitation from Liu Xiping, the newly appointed principal of Anhui Provincial No. 5 Middle School, to return as a teacher. He later recommended Dong Yixiang [zh], Shen Zemin, and others to join the faculty, transforming the school into a prominent hub for promoting Marxism during the May Fourth Movement period.[2][1]

In January 1921 (the 10th year of the Republic of China), Gao Yuhan published his book Letters in Vernacular Chinese (Baihua Shuxin), which gained widespread popularity. The book went through multiple revisions and reprintings, with more than 100,000 copies distributed. Originally written as a teaching manual for students at the Wuhu Commercial Night School, it addressed a broad range of topics, including society, politics, ethics, philosophy, love, marriage, education, culture, social interaction, and commerce.In May of the same year, through the efforts of Gao and others, the Wuhu Student Association Bulletin was launched. Gao also organized the Wuhu Study Society and established the semi-monthly journal Wuhu.[2]


After the outbreak of the 安庆“六·二”学潮 [zh] (Anqing "June 2nd" Student Movement) in 1921, Gao Yuhan led teachers and students in Wuhu in expressing their support. Together with prominent figures in the education and cultural sectors, he helped initiate the establishment of the June 2nd Anqing Tragedy Relief Committee.From August to October 1921, Gao led students from Wuhu to Anqing to participate in the movement to overthrow the Third 安徽省议会 [zh]（Anhui Provincial Assembly） and remove Governor Li Zhaozhen [zh]. The movement ultimately succeeded.In late October, Gao traveled to Shanghai and recommended two students from Anqing—Song Huinian [zh] andTang Daohai [zh]—to Zhou Fohai as delegates to attend the 远东各国共产党及民族革命团体第一次代表大会 [zh](First Congress of the Communist Parties and National Revolutionary Organizations of the Far East).[2][1]

In August 1922 (the 11th year of the Republic of China), Gao Yuhan traveled to Germany for further studies, accompanied by Zheng Taipu [zh], Zhang Bojun, and others. He enrolled at the University of Göttingen, where he studied philosophy. That same year, Gao joined the German Branch of the CCP European General Branch. In June 1924 (the 13th year of the Republic), he wrote a preface for Jiang Guangci's new poetry collection New Dream (Xin Meng). In the spring of 1925 (the 14th year of the Republic), Gao returned to China. Not long afterward, he and Xue Zhuohan [zh]introduced Zhu Yunshan to the Chinese Communist Party. In August of the same year, Gao returned to Anhui, where he was assigned by the Party Central Committee to oversee the work of the 中国国民党安徽省党部 [zh]（Anhui Provincial Branch of the Kuomintang） and assist in the development of the Communist Youth League in the province. After arriving in Wuhu, he recruited Wang Tanfu [zh]—who would later become the first Secretary of the Wuhu Prefectural Committee of the Youth League—along with others into the Party.[1]


In December 1925 (the 14th year of the Republic of China), Gao Yuhan left Anhui for Guangzhou, where he was appointed a political instructor at the Republic of China Military Academy, teaching political science. He was regarded as one of the most popular political instructors among the students. On January 16, 1926 (the 15th year of the Republic), Gao attended the 2nd National Congress of the Kuomintang, where he served as secretary of the Chinese Communist Party delegation and was elected to the Central Supervisory Committee of the Kuomintang. On March 20 of the same year, the Canton Coup occurred. Chiang Kai-shek accused Gao Yuhan, Yun Daiying, Deng Yanda, and Zhang Zhizhong of being the “Four Evils of Whampoa” and ordered their arrest, though the order was later rescinded. Gao subsequently relocated to Shanghai. In the autumn of that year, he introduced A Ying to the Chinese Communist Party.[2][1]


After the start of the Northern Expedition, Gao Yuhan was appointed chief secretary to Zhang Fakui, commander of the 国民革命军第二方面军 [zh]（Second Front Army of the National Revolutionary Army）. Shortly afterward, he traveled to Wuhan with Chen Duxiu, where he became editor-in-chief of the newspaper Minguo Ribao (Republic Daily) and also served as principal of the Anhui Party Cadre School, which had been established in the city. In early April 1927 (the 16th year of the Republic of China), Gao attended the 1st Anhui Provincial Congress of the Kuomintang, held in Wuhan, where he was elected as a member of the executive committee. Following the congress, under Gao’s direction, a publication titled Outline for Propaganda on the March 23 Incident was issued.[2]

After 1927

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After the 八七会议 [zh]（August 7th Conference） in 1927 (the 16th year of the Republic of China), Gao Yuhan went to Shanghai and joined the Chunye Branch, which had been formed by A Ying, Jiang Guangci, Li Kenong, and others. He also represented the Party Central Committee in overseeing the literary activities of the 太阳社 [zh] （Sun Society）. During this period, his ideological stance gradually shifted toward Trotskyism. In November 1929 (the 18th year of the Republic), Gao Yuhan was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party. On December 15 of the same year, he co-signed the Statement of Our Political Views (Women de Zhengzhi Yijianshu) together with Chen Duxiu and 81 others.[2]

On October 15, 1932 (the 21st year of the Republic of China), Chen Duxiu was arrested in Shanghai, prompting Gao Yuhan to flee to Hong Kong. After the outbreak of the Battle of Shanghai (August 13 Incident) in 1937 (the 26th year of the Republic), Chen was released from prison. Gao traveled from Hong Kong to Nanjing, where he reestablished contact with Chen Duxiu and subsequently acted as his spokesperson. During this period, he also held a meeting with Chiang Kai-shek. In September of the same year, Gao accompanied Chen to Wuhan. In May 1938 (the 27th year of the Republic), he followed Chen to Sichuan, where they went into seclusion.[2]

From 1938 to 1942 (the 27th to 31st years of the Republic of China), Gao Yuhan lived in seclusion in Jiangjin County, Sichuan Province. During this period, he frequently published poetry and essays in Ta Kung Pao and Xinmin Evening News in Chongqing. At the end of March 1942, Chen Duxiu severed ties with Gao, reportedly under the influence of others. After Chen’s death on May 27 of the same year, Gao took responsibility for his funeral arrangements. On May 29, he wrote an article titled Reflections on Participating in the Funeral of Mr. Chen Duxiu, and subsequently published a series of essays evaluating Chen’s life and legacy.[2]

From 1943 to 1945 (the 32nd to 34th years of the Republic of China), Gao Yuhan relocated from Jiangjin to Chongqing, where he lived in the home of Chen Mingde, president and editor-in-chief of the Xinmin Daily. The newspaper launched a special column titled Recent Poems by Yuhan (Yuhan Jinshi), featuring Gao’s poetry written in classical Chinese. These works included nostalgic reflections as well as poems expressing anti-Japanese sentiment. In the spring of 1946 (the 35th year of the Republic), Gao moved to Nanjing along with the Xinmin Daily. At the time, he was suffering from both illness and poverty. Many of his former students from Anhui Provincial No. 5 Middle School and the Anhui Provincial Second Type-A Agricultural School offered him financial support.[2]

In 1948 (the 37th year of the Republic of China), Gao Yuhan passed away in Nanjing. His tomb is located near Huashen Temple, just outside the South Gate of Nanjing.[2]

Works

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Works and Translations by Gao Yuhan

  • Colloquial Letters
  • Techniques of Chinese Composition
  • Travel Notes from Guangzhou
  • Theory and Practice
  • The Modern Citizen
  • Modern Love Letters
  • By the Hundred Flowers Pavilion
  • Six Lectures on the Treasures of Dream of the Red Chamber
  • Classics of Dialectics
  • Kant's Dialectics

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "高语罕" [GAO YUHAN]. 中共芜湖党史网. 2012-08-08.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "高语罕---安徽频道新闻中心" [GAO YUHAN]. www.ah.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-02. Retrieved 2025-06-20.

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