“Mountains can be moved,” the villagers of Dazhai whispered. The “Learn from Dazhai” slogan, etched in stone, echoes that audacious belief. Here, amidst the whispers of history, stands a testament to a time when all of China looked to this village. The “In agriculture, learn from Dazhai” campaign, launched by Mao Zedong in 1964, transformed Dazhai into a symbol of self-reliance. The slogan “Nongye xue Dazhai” became a nationwide mantra.
Dazhai, once a collection of impoverished farmers in Shanxi province, was thrust onto the national stage. Mao held up Dazhai, with its terraced fields carved from unforgiving mountains, as a model of agricultural ingenuity. Chen Yonggui, the village’s leader, became a national icon, often depicted with his signature towel. He organized teams like the “Oldsters and Youngsters” and the “Iron Girls” to perform the backbreaking labor. They hauled water for miles, reshaped the landscape, and built fields that defied drought and flood.
Dazhai became a pilgrimage site. Thousands flocked daily to witness this apparent miracle. The story of Dazhai, fueled by propaganda, spoke of a community that had triumphed through sheer willpower and revolutionary zeal. It was a potent symbol. But the reality, later revealed, was more complex. The army had provided assistance, and machinery had played a role. This contradicted the narrative of pure manpower.
The “Learn from Dazhai” campaign eventually faltered. The model proved unsustainable in other parts of China. By 1980, the official narrative shifted. Dazhai’s success was reassessed, and the truth about external aid emerged. Yet, the slogan, etched into stone, remains. It serves as a reminder of a period when a small village in Shanxi embodied the dreams and aspirations of a nation. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the power of propaganda and the complexities of truth. The faded slogans, visible even today in some rural areas, whisper the story of Dazhai, a village that moved mountains, both literally and figuratively.