Tag: Stanford University Li Rui

Stanford University wins legal battle over Mao secretary's diaries Stanford University has been granted permission to keep the diaries kept by Li Rui. She was a former Mao Zedong secretary. The dispute over a historic collection Li Rui kept meticulous diaries over a period of decades. He was known in later life for his criticisms of the Chinese Communist Party. The writings range from 1938 until 2019 and offer a unique, first-hand view of China's history. Li Rui's daughter Li Nanyang was asked by her father to give his papers to Hoover Institution before his death. In 2014, while still living, she began to transfer the material. Zhang Yuzhen challenged this decision after Li Rui died. The lawsuit was filed by Zhang Yuzhen, who claimed that the documents had been sent overseas without authority. The Court supports Li Rui’s original intent Li Rui's intention of moving his works out of China was clearly stated by the court. He was afraid that the authorities would censor, alter, or destroy his writings. He entrusted the task of sharing and preserving his work to his daughter out of concern. The judges concluded that his donation was in accordance with the wishes of the donor. The documents are now accessible for historians and researchers. Tiananmen and other sensitive accounts Li Rui’s notes about the crackdown on Tiananmen are among the most important parts of this collection. The events were witnessed from an adjacent building, and he described them with great detail. In his writings, he describes soldiers firing on protesters as well as armored cars breaking through barricades. The incident was dubbed "Black Weekend" by him to emphasize its impact. The records are important, because the public is not allowed to discuss this event in China. The Global Importance of the Diaries Hoover Institution: This ruling is a significant step towards protecting historical truth. Condoleezza rice, the head of the Hoover Institution, stated that the ruling guarantees free access to the one of the largest personal archives about modern China. This collection contains not only diary entries, but also photographs, notes from meetings, poetry, and letters. They provide a deep understanding of the internal processes and discussions within the Communist Party. The Case at Hand The case illustrates the tension that exists between political control and historical preservation. The court ensured scholars could study the documents without restriction by keeping them in the United States. This also shows Li Rui’s long-standing stance. He was respected within the party but did not shy away from criticizing its leaders, such as Xi Jinping
Politics

Stanford University wins legal battle over Mao secretary’s diaries

Stanford University has been granted permission to keep the diaries kept by…

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