Red Flag
A Chinese Communist Party journal focused on political theory, ideology, and party positions.
Last updated October 12, 2026
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Overview
Red Flag was a Chinese political-theory journal published by the Chinese Communist Party from 1958 until 1988. Its title, Hongqi, meaning “Red Flag,” was given by Mao Zedong. The periodical was established during the Great Leap Forward era as the successor to Study (Xuexi), and became one of the most prominent official organs used to explain, defend, and disseminate the party’s ideological positions. During the 1960s and 1970s, Red Flag formed part of the commonly described “Two Newspapers and One Journal” media grouping. The two newspapers were People’s Daily and Guangming Daily; People’s Liberation Army Daily was also frequently included in descriptions of this official propaganda structure. Within that system, Red Flag served a more explicitly theoretical and ideological role than a general news publication. It published interpretations of party policy, arguments concerning Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought, and assessments of developments within communist movements abroad. One example cited in reference material is its detailed treatment of a speech by Palmiro Togliatti, leader of the Italian Communist Party, at the party’s Tenth Congress in March 1963. The journal also had an international circulation dimension before the tightening of restrictions on foreign publications in Hong Kong. It was distributed without charge in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia until 1958, when the Undesirable Publications Ordinance contributed to the banning of publications regarded as politically undesirable. Reference material records that its circulation in Hong Kong fell from 5,000 copies to 3,000 after the restriction took effect. Red Flag became deeply involved in the institutional and political upheavals of the Cultural Revolution. In March 1966 it established an Academic Criticism Group involving Guan Feng, Wang Li, Mu Xin, Qi Benyu, Fan Ruoyu, and Du Jing. The group’s activities contributed to the effective breakdown of the existing editorial committee. In June 1966, Chen Boda arrived at the journal, criticized its operations, and suspended Fan Ruoyu and Xu Liqun from their posts. Shortly afterward, a Cultural Revolution Group of Red Flag Magazine was established under Guan Feng to supervise editorial work and support Cultural Revolution publicity. Leadership and organizational arrangements changed repeatedly as the Cultural Revolution intensified. Guan Feng and Wang Li were removed in August 1967, while Yao Wenyuan and Qi Benyu were brought into editorial activity. The publication stopped during the first half of 1968 and resumed in July. Yao Wenyuan and Chen Boda jointly supervised the journal from August 1968, with Yao handling editorial responsibilities. The publication’s provisional leadership structure was then replaced by a service group, and workers’ and military propaganda teams were assigned to it. In 1969 most of the staff were transferred to a May 7 Cadre School, leaving a small group to maintain editorial duties. After Chen Boda’s removal in 1970, Yao Wenyuan assumed greater control and organized a new editorial team. Following the arrest of the Gang of Four in 1976 and the end of the Cultural Revolution, Red Flag was reorganized. Wang Shu became chief editor and Liu Zongzhuo vice-chief editor. The journal’s publication frequency also changed over time: it was restarted as a biweekly in 1968, became monthly until 1979, and was issued bimonthly from 1980 to 1988. Chinese officials announced its closure in May 1988, and the final issue appeared in June of that year. It was succeeded by Qiushi, or Seeking Truth, which took over its role as a major theoretical journal associated with the Chinese Communist Party.
History
Red Flag began publication in 1958 during the Great Leap Forward period. It succeeded Study, also known as Xuexi, and received its title from Mao Zedong. From its beginning, the journal was designed as a party-theoretical publication rather than a general-interest magazine. Its principal function was to articulate approved interpretations of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, party policy, and political developments within China and the international communist movement. The journal was part of the official media structure that became especially influential during the 1960s and 1970s. Red Flag was commonly grouped with People’s Daily and Guangming Daily as the “Two Newspapers and One Journal,” although People’s Liberation Army Daily was also often treated as part of this central propaganda constellation. Red Flag’s distinctive role was to provide theoretical justification and extended ideological commentary. Its articles could examine foreign communist parties and international debates; reference material, for example, records a detailed discussion in March 1963 of a speech by Italian Communist Party leader Palmiro Togliatti at the party’s Tenth Congress. The publication also circulated beyond mainland China. Before Hong Kong restrictions on politically undesirable foreign publications were implemented in 1958, Red Flag was distributed free of charge in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. The available reference material states that circulation in Hong Kong declined from 5,000 to 3,000 copies after the restrictions took effect. Red Flag’s institutional history became increasingly entangled with the Cultural Revolution. In March 1966, the journal created an Academic Criticism Group composed of Guan Feng, Wang Li, Mu Xin, Qi Benyu, Fan Ruoyu, and Du Jing. The group’s work helped bring about the de facto dissolution of the previous editorial committee. On June 18, 1966, Chen Boda arrived at the journal to expose and criticize its publication work and suspended Fan Ruoyu and Xu Liqun. Two days later, a Cultural Revolution Group of Red Flag Magazine was formed under Guan Feng to direct editorial operations and publicity connected with the Cultural Revolution. The journal’s leadership was repeatedly altered as political struggles developed. In August 1967, Guan Feng and Wang Li were removed. Chen Boda announced that Yao Wenyuan and Qi Benyu would participate in Red Flag’s editorial work, and the Cultural Revolution group was replaced by a provisional leadership group. Publication stopped during the first half of 1968 and resumed in July. In August, Yao Wenyuan and Chen Boda jointly supervised the journal, with Yao responsible for editorial tasks. The provisional leadership group was dissolved later that month and replaced by a Red Flag Magazine Service Group. In October, workers’ and military propaganda teams were assigned to the publication. In June 1969, most employees were transferred to a May 7 Cadre School. Only 12 personnel remained for editorial duties, according to the reference material. In September 1970, Chen Boda was removed, and Yao Wenyuan assumed control. Yao subsequently formed an editorial team to manage the journal. This period reinforced Red Flag’s role as an ideological instrument of the Cultural Revolution and linked its editorial direction to senior political figures involved in the movement. The arrest of the Gang of Four in 1976 marked the end of the Cultural Revolution and led to a reorganization of Red Flag. Wang Shu was appointed chief editor and Liu Zongzhuo vice-chief editor. The publication schedule had changed several times over its life: after its 1968 restart it appeared biweekly, then monthly through 1979, and bimonthly from 1980 to 1988. In May 1988, Chinese officials announced that Red Flag would be closed. The final publication appeared in June 1988. The journal was succeeded by Qiushi, meaning “Seeking Truth,” which inherited its position as a major party theoretical publication. Red Flag therefore belongs both to the history of Chinese political publishing and to the institutional history of Communist Party propaganda during the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, and the post-1976 transition.
- 1988
Publication ends
[1]Officials announce the journal’s closure in May; it ceases publication in June and is succeeded by Qiushi.
- 1976
Post-Cultural Revolution reorganization
[1]The journal is reorganized after the arrest of the Gang of Four, with Wang Shu and Liu Zongzhuo appointed to senior editorial posts.
- 1968
Publication resumes after a suspension
[1]Red Flag resumes publication in July after stopping during the first half of the year and adopts a biweekly schedule.
- 1966
Academic Criticism Group is established
[1]A group involving Guan Feng, Wang Li, Mu Xin, Qi Benyu, Fan Ruoyu, and Du Jing is formed and contributes to the breakdown of the existing editorial structure.
- 1963
International communist-party analysis is published
[1]The journal provides an extended assessment of a speech by Palmiro Togliatti, illustrating its role in interpreting international communist politics.
- 1958
Red Flag is founded
[1]The Chinese Communist Party launches Red Flag as the successor to Study during the Great Leap Forward era.
Products and positioning
An official Chinese Communist Party theoretical journal and ideological communications platform.
Political-theory magazine · 1958
Red Flag journal
The core and only documented publication of the Red Flag brand was a Chinese Communist Party journal devoted to political theory, ideological interpretation, party positions, and commentary on communist movements abroad. It operated as an official propaganda and theoretical platform, particularly during the Cultural Revolution. Its frequency varied over time, including biweekly publication after its 1968 restart, monthly publication through 1979, and bimonthly publication from 1980 until its closure in 1988.
Controversies
Brand decisions
1988
Closure and succession by QiushiOtherBackground
By 1988, Red Flag had undergone repeated editorial and publishing reorganizations and had served as a major party-theoretical journal during the Cultural Revolution and its aftermath.
Action taken
Chinese officials announced the journal’s closure in May 1988. Publication ended in June, and Qiushi was established as its successor.
Aftermath
The end of Red Flag closed an important chapter in the history of Chinese Communist Party theoretical publishing, while Qiushi continued the successor publication role.
Recent events
- 1988
Closure of Red Flag is announced[1]
Other · Product generation
Chinese officials announce that Red Flag will close. Publication ends in June and the journal is succeeded by Qiushi.
- 1976
Red Flag is reorganized after the end of the Cultural Revolution[1]
Leadership change
Following the arrest of the Gang of Four, the journal is restructured under chief editor Wang Shu and vice-chief editor Liu Zongzhuo.
- 1970
Yao Wenyuan assumes control after Chen Boda’s removal[1]
Leadership change
After Chen Boda is removed from his position, Yao Wenyuan takes control of Red Flag and establishes an editorial team.
- 1969
Most Red Flag staff are transferred to a May 7 Cadre School[1]
Other
Most of the journal’s staff are transferred to a May 7 Cadre School, leaving only a small editorial group to continue publication work.
- 1968
Red Flag suspends publication and resumes as a biweekly[1]
Product generation
The journal stops appearing during the first half of 1968 and resumes publication in July with a biweekly schedule.
- 1968
Editorial supervision is reorganized under Yao Wenyuan and Chen Boda[1]
Leadership change
Yao Wenyuan and Chen Boda jointly oversee the journal, while successive service, workers’ propaganda, and military propaganda structures are introduced.
- 1966
Academic Criticism Group is formed[1]
Leadership change · Other
Red Flag establishes an Academic Criticism Group whose activities contribute to the effective dissolution of the journal’s existing editorial committee.
- 1966
Cultural Revolution editorial group takes control[1]
Leadership change · Other
A Cultural Revolution Group of Red Flag Magazine is created under Guan Feng to supervise editorial operations and promote Cultural Revolution publicity.
- 1958
Red Flag is established as successor to Study[1]
Other
The Chinese Communist Party launches Red Flag during the Great Leap Forward era, replacing the earlier journal Study.
- 1958
Foreign-publication restrictions reduce circulation in Hong Kong[1]
Regulation
After restrictions associated with Hong Kong’s Undesirable Publications Ordinance, recorded circulation of Red Flag in Hong Kong fell from 5,000 to 3,000 copies.
Sources8 sources
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