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The Art of the Party: Jinggang Mountain Octagon House
CGTN/Special Series
02:20

In 1973, Chinese artist Song Wenzhi created "Jinggang Mountain Octagon House." 

The painting depicts Octagon House and surrounding scenery on Jinggang Mountain.

Octagon House is the former residence of Mao Zedong. 

The Jinggang Mountain range is the one of the early rural revolution bases of the Communist Party of China (1927-1937). It's located in the remote border region of Hunan and Jiangxi Provinces in Central and Eastern China.  

In 1927, Mao Zedong launched the Autumn Harvest Uprising at the Jinggang Mountain border area. 

Mao also led the peasants in the fight against local nobilities to seize their land. 

He established the Red Regime, formed the Red Army and built the revolution base.  

Mao Zedong and his Red Army successfully repelled assaults by Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist Army.

Eventually, the enormous size of the Nationalists overwhelmed the Red Army. They found themselves surrounded and outnumbered by the Nationalist forces. 

The Red Army suffered significant casualties.

During this difficult time, Mao spent his days reflecting at the Octagon House. He wrote several major articles there including "Why is It That Red Political Power Can Exist in China?," "The Struggle in the Jinggang Mountain" and "A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire."

The works provided guidance to the Communist Party members. By sharing his own experience and his vision, Mao inspired a plan for how the revolution should be carried forward. 

Mao and his Communist Party decided to make a strategic move. They broke through the blockade of Nationalist forces encircling them.

And they embarked on a new journey. It would become known as The Long March. 

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