Zhou Yang was a lifelong follower of Mao Zedong, overseeing national arts and literature, earning the nickname “Tsar of Literature.” In 1966, during the Cultural Revolution, as Mao pushed further left, Zhou was abandoned, spending nine years unjustly imprisoned. After the Cultural Revolution, he resumed work, reflected on past mistakes, and apologized to victims such as Hu Feng. In 1983, Zhou publicly discussed “Marxist alienation” and humanitarian issues, which Hu Qiaomu criticized, forcing Zhou to issue a self-criticism. By 1984, he fell into severe depression, became a vegetative patient, and died in 1989.

After his death, Zhou remained resentful and melancholic. Hearing that the Jade Emperor was preparing Mao for a public judgment, and that Mao wished to speak with him to seek forgiveness, Zhou wandered to meet Mao one night.

Mao said, “You are Zhou Yang, old comrade. I was just thinking to find you. Even after all these years, your heart remains heavy?”

Zhou replied, “I followed you all my life. Whatever you commanded, I obeyed. But at the start of the Cultural Revolution, you abandoned me. What wrong did I do? Nine years in prison, reflecting, you had changed, twisted Marxism, abandoned humanitarianism. Reports praised me, yet Hu Qiaomu attacked me. Deng Xiaoping concurred, forcing me to self-criticize. I fell into depression, went to Guangzhou to recover, stumbled, returned to Beijing, became a vegetative patient, and suffered four years until my death. How can I rest in peace?”

Mao said, “From Yan’an you followed my literary line. After the founding of the PRC, you were my loyal executor. I recall 1952, I criticized you for not being politically assertive, and removed you as Vice Minister of Culture. Later, you caught up, in 1954 you acted against Hu Feng—writing We Must Fight—and handled dozens of Hu Feng’s associates. When we dealt with Ding Ling, you did well.”

Zhou recounted strictly following Mao’s instructions, reporting names, protecting certain artists, and executing the anti-rightist campaigns, including selecting targets such as Hua Junwu. Mao affirmed, “Your department’s primary task was to catch rightists, and you did well.”

Zhou said that even after the Anti-Rightist Campaign, he continued following Mao’s directives, helping complete projects like the 1964 Dongfang Hong musical-dance epic. But in 1965, as Mao prepared the Cultural Revolution, he abandoned Zhou.

Zhou recalled being attacked in Red Flag magazine in 1967, with more than 80 people implicated in the case, leading to public humiliation, isolation, and eventually imprisonment in Qincheng Prison.

Mao said, “I remember in 1975, when approving general amnesty, I thought of you and suggested leniency.”

Zhou explained his release in 1975, resuming work as a consultant in 1976, but reflecting deeply on his past role in persecuting others. He apologized to victims, and in 1983, delivered a report on “Marxist Theory and Humanitarian Concerns” which sparked controversy, forcing him to publicly defend and self-criticize under political pressure.

Zhou elaborated: Marxism itself had not changed; the problem was the leaders who claimed to embody it. Political power had alienated itself from humanity. Under Mao, basic humanitarian treatment was abandoned—families were kept uninformed of imprisoned or executed relatives. Compared to other nations, even bandits acted more honorably.

Mao responded perfunctorily, “What you say is true. So I lost even basic humanity. I must reflect and repent. Tonight, talking with you, my mind opens widely.”

Zhou Yang’s posthumous conversation with Mao captures his lifelong struggle: loyalty, moral reflection, and the painful recognition of political abuse and loss of human decency under authoritarian power.

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