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''Yanhuang Chunqiu'' (), sometimes translated as ''China Through the Ages'', was a monthly journal in the
People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...
commonly identified as liberal and reformist. It was started in 1991, with the support of
Xiao Ke Xiao Ke (; July 14, 1907 – October 24, 2008) was a general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, former vice chairman of the CPPCC, as well as principal of the University of Military and Politics. Biography Early life Xiao was born in ...
, a liberal general of the Chinese
People's Liberation Army The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the principal military force of the China, People's Republic of China and the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The PLA consists of five Military branch, service branches: the People's ...
. Du Daozheng served as the founding director of the publisher. The traditional version of the journal was regarded as one of the most influential liberal journals in China, issuing some 200,000 copies per month. It ceased its operations in 2016, however, due to the crackdown from
Xi Jinping Xi Jinping ( ; ; ; born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and thus as the paramount leader of China, ...
's administration–even though Xi Zhongxun, the father of Xi Jinping, had publicly supported the publisher. A new management team with pro-Xi editors continue to make publications.


History


Founding

In 1990,
Xiao Ke Xiao Ke (; July 14, 1907 – October 24, 2008) was a general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, former vice chairman of the CPPCC, as well as principal of the University of Military and Politics. Biography Early life Xiao was born in ...
, a liberal General of the Chinese
People's Liberation Army The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the principal military force of the China, People's Republic of China and the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The PLA consists of five Military branch, service branches: the People's ...
and standing member of the Central Advisory Commission, began to organize the launch of a history journal together with other officials. In March 1991, the credentials for publication were approved, and in April all personnel of the publisher started to work in
Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), Chinese postal romanization, alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the Capital city, capital of the China, People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's Li ...
. On July 1, 1991, the ''Yanhuang Chunqiu'' journal made its first issue. Du Daozheng served as the founding director of the publisher. In early 1992, after Deng Xiaoping's southern tour, ''Yanhuang Chunqiu'' began to publish articles in support of the Reforms and Opening-up program. In 2001, Xi Zhongxun, a leading reformist and father of
Xi Jinping Xi Jinping ( ; ; ; born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and thus as the paramount leader of China, ...
, publicly supported and praised the journal.


Political interference

In July 2010, ''Yanhuang Chunqiu'' published a memoir by retired
Politburo A politburo () or political bureau is the executive committee for communist parties. It is present in most former and existing communist states. Names The term "politburo" in English comes from the Russian ''Politbyuro'' (), itself a contracti ...
member Yang Rudai praising
Zhao Ziyang Zhao Ziyang ( zh, 赵紫阳; pronounced , 17 October 1919 – 17 January 2005) was a Chinese politician. He was the third premier of the People's Republic of China from 1980 to 1987, vice chairman of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from 19 ...
. It marked a rare break of the long-standing taboo in China against mentioning the former leader since he was ousted after the
Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 The Tiananmen Square protests, known in Chinese as the June Fourth Incident (), were student-led demonstrations held in Tiananmen Square, Beijing during 1989. In what is known as the Tiananmen Square Massacre, or in Chinese the June Fourth ...
. In January 2013, ''Yanhuang Chunqiu'' website was temporarily shutdown by the Chinese government after it published an editorial urging the implementation of constitutional rights. In July 2015, founding publisher Du Daozheng, had taken up the role of
editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies. The highest-ranking editor of a publication may also be titled editor, managing ...
, when Yang Jisheng was forced to resign. In connection with his resignation, Yang published two letters: the first explained the reasons for his resignation to the members of Yanhuang Chunqiu and its readers; the second was sent to the
General Administration of Press and Publication General Administration of Press and Publication (GAPP; ) is the administrative agency responsible for regulating and distributing news, print and Internet publications in China. This includes granting publication licenses for periodicals and book ...
and criticized intensified government restrictions on topics the journal was permitted to cover. In 2016, China's media regulator, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television declared 37 recent news items in breach of political guidelines.


Closure of publication

Long considered influential among liberals and reformists, in July 2016, the entire editorial team resigned following the sacking of long-time publisher Du Daozheng and demotion of chief editor Xu Qingquan, by order of the Chinese National Academy of Arts, amid intensifying pressure from the authorities to soften its editorial stance. The magazine had been founded in 1991 by reform-minded party veterans, including the efforts of General
Xiao Ke Xiao Ke (; July 14, 1907 – October 24, 2008) was a general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, former vice chairman of the CPPCC, as well as principal of the University of Military and Politics. Biography Early life Xiao was born in ...
, and had a circulation of around 200,000.Outspoken liberal Chinese magazine Yanhuang Chunqiu stops publication after management purge
SCMP, 18 July 2016
The July 2016 restrictions led the magazine’s editorial staff to announce that the magazine could no longer be published, as the academy had unilaterally abandoned an agreement allowing its publication within defined bounds. They further revealed that academy staff had seized control of the Yanhuang Chunqiu website at the magazine's offices. Nevertheless it appeared that publication would continue, under staff from the academy including Jia Leilei, its former vice-president.
''Radio Free Asia'', 18 July 2016
After he was dismissed, Du announced that the publication had been suspended, and said the closure resembled methods used in the
Cultural Revolution The Cultural Revolution, formally known as the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, was a sociopolitical movement in the People's Republic of China (PRC) launched by Mao Zedong in 1966, and lasting until his death in 1976. Its stated goa ...
.


References


External links


Official website
{{Authority control 1991 establishments in China 2016 disestablishments in China Chinese-language magazines Monthly magazines published in China Political magazines published in China Defunct magazines published in China Defunct political magazines Magazines established in 1991 Magazines disestablished in 2016