Leadership Insights | Illustrated Lectures:“Red Songs” Echo the Revolutionary Epic of the Jinggang Mountains

Jinggang Mountains Revolutionary Ballads are a unique form of folk music that emerged during revolutionary period (1927-1930)in the region. In 2014, they were inscribed onto the National List of Representative Items of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Born amidst the flames of the Agrarian Revolutionary War, these ballads were jointly created by Red Army soldiers and local people. Based on the Hakka folk songs in southern Jiangxi, they integrated revolutionary slogans and local dialects, forming the symbol of “songs as weapons”in the revolutionary culture.

Their themes encompass revolutionary mobilization (such as “Joining the Red Army”), military-civilian camaraderie (such as “Three Send-offs to Our Comrades”), and records of therevolutionary struggle (such as “Ode to the Zhu-Mao Joining of Forces”). The melodies are simple yet stirring, and the lyrics are easy-to-understand and powerful. Masterpieces like “Ten Send-offs to the Red Army” and “Chairman Mao Is with Us” are still sung today, serving as living carriers of revolutionary memory.

To safeguard this intangible cultural heritage, Ji’an City established a digital archive containing over 200 revolutionary songs and certified 12 representative inheritors. Besides, it has organized campaigns like “Bringing Revolutionary Ballads into Campus” and presented the live-action performance Jinggang Mountainsto promote the dynamic inheritance of the intangible cultural heritage. The Regulations on the Inheritance and Development of Revolutionary Cultureof Jiangxi Province, issued in 2021, further enshrined their protection within a legal framework. As musical epics of the revolutionary spirit, these ballads have gained new life through culture-tourism integration in the new era, becoming a crucial medium for transmitting the revolutionary traditions and strengthening cultural confidence.

As a precious intangible cultural heritageitem, Jinggang Mountains Revolutionary Ballads have achieved remarkable success alongside the progress of the times. During the Chinese revolution, they helped boost soldiers’morale, and today they spread widely by means of modern media, with their influence expanding day after day. Numerous artistic works inspired by these revolutionary balladshave been created, introducing their charm to wider audiences.

Revolutionary resources bear witness to our Party’s arduous and glorious struggle; they are our most precious spiritual wealth. We must dedicate our hearts, passion, and efforts to their effective protection, management, and utilization.

监制:蔚力

策划:丁素云

文案:杨俊康