Former Site of the Taiyue Branch of the Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese Military and Political University in Qinshui

Former Site of the Qinshui Anti-Japanese Military and Political University Taiyue Branch

The former site of the Taiyue Branch of the Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese Military and Political University is located in the Jade Emperor Temple at the eastern end of Nanyang Village, Tuwo Township, Qinshui County. Surrounded by the Taiyue Mountains to the north, the Yellow River to the south, the Taihang Mountains to the east, and the Zhongtiao Mountains to the west, the site holds significant strategic value as it allows for both offensive maneuvers and defensive positioning. The temple consists of a single-entry double-gate structure with three towers and two halls, divided into front and rear courtyards. The brigade headquarters was housed in the east wing room of the rear courtyard, while the political department was located in the west wing room of the same courtyard. The main Mahavira Hall to the north served as the exhibition hall for the Anti-Japanese University Club. At the center of the courtyard lies a bright and spacious Hall 0, furnished with neatly arranged wooden benches and stone tables. Hanging prominently at the front of Hall 0 is the school’s bold motto: “Unity, Tension, Seriousness, Liveliness.” On the back wall of the hall are wall newspapers created by the soldiers.

Background Information

The Chinese People’s Anti-Japanese Military and Political University, commonly known as the “Anti-Japanese University” or “抗大,” was a school established by the Chinese Communist Party during the War of Resistance Against Japan to train military and political cadres. Originally known as the Red Army University, it was founded on June 1, 1936, in Wayaobao, northern Shaanxi, with Mao Zedong serving as the political commissar, Lin Biao as president, Liu Bocheng as vice president, and Luo Ronghuan as educational director. In January 1937, it was renamed and relocated to Yan’an along with the central organs of the Chinese Communist Party. Starting in July 1937, it was successively moved to Panlong Town in Wuxiang County, Shanxi Province, and Jiangshui Town in Xingtai County, Hebei Province. In October 1945, the university moved to the northeast and was later reorganized into the Northeast Military and Political University. From the winter of 1938 to the spring of 1945, the Anti-Japanese University also established twelve branch schools in various anti-Japanese base areas including those in Shanxi-Hebei-Henan, Shandong, Central China, and Hubei-Henan-Anhui, training over 100,000 military and political cadres for the Eighth Route Army, New Fourth Army, and other forces.

The Taiyue Branch of the Anti-Japanese University, known by its unit designation as the Lishan Brigade, was directly under the command of the Taiyue Military District. Established in February 1943, its president was Chen Geng, commander of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army. In November 1945, the Taiyue Branch merged with the Shanxi-Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military and Political University, thus fulfilling its glorious historical mission. Over the course of more than two years, the Taiyue Branch forged deep bonds with the Qinan Anti-Japanese County Government and local residents. Through unity between the military and government and between the army and civilians, they successfully repelled Japanese “mopping-up” operations, endured periods of famine, and made important contributions to the victory of the War of Resistance. As Chairman Mao Zedong famously summarized, “The Anti-Japanese University— the more we resist, the bigger we grow!” Operating in Nanyang for nearly three years, the Taiyue Branch trained nearly a thousand Communist military and political cadres who were politically steadfast, militarily skilled, and professionally disciplined. It accumulated valuable experience in operating schools under harsh wartime conditions, balancing study, combat, and production. The branch embodied the Anti-Japanese University spirit of “Unity, Tension, Seriousness, Liveliness,” and became a lasting monument in the history of the war of resistance.