Mao Anying (24 October 1922 – 25 November 1950) was a Chinese military interpreter and secretary, and the eldest son of Mao Zedong and Yang Kaihui. Educated in the Soviet Union, he returned to China in 1946 and later served at the headquarters of the Chinese People’s Volunteers during the Korean War. He was killed at the age of 28 in an American air raid on the headquarters in North Korea. (en.wikipedia.org)
Family and childhood
Mao was born in Changsha, Hunan. His childhood was disrupted by the conflict between the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang. In 1930, he was imprisoned alongside his mother, Yang Kaihui, who was executed in November of that year. Mao was released and subsequently taken to Shanghai, where underground Communist networks arranged care for him and his younger brothers. Mao Anying and his brother Mao Anqing experienced periods of severe hardship as those networks were disrupted. (cpc.people.com.cn)
Education in the Soviet Union
In 1936, Communist contacts arranged for Mao Anying and Mao Anqing to travel to the Soviet Union. They entered an international children’s institution that housed children of revolutionaries from several countries. Mao Anying learned Russian and later received military education during World War II. He returned to China in January 1946 and rejoined his father at Yan’an. (cpc.people.com.cn)
Return to China
After his return, Mao undertook agricultural work near Yan’an and subsequently participated in rural land-reform work. He joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1946. His employment also included translation and work in Communist Party institutions. (cpc.people.com.cn)
In October 1949, he married Liu Siqi, also known as Liu Songlin. In 1950, he accompanied a Chinese delegation to the Soviet Union as an interpreter and later became deputy secretary of the Party organization at the Beijing General Machinery Factory. (cpc.people.com.cn)
Korean War service and death
Mao went to Korea in October 1950 with the Chinese People’s Volunteers. He served as a Russian-language interpreter and confidential secretary at the headquarters commanded by Peng Dehuai. His duties were attached to the command staff rather than to a frontline combat unit. (cpc.people.com.cn)
On 25 November 1950, American aircraft attacked the headquarters at Dayudong in North Korea. Incendiary bombs struck the headquarters buildings, killing Mao. The date and circumstances of his death are recorded in Chinese official biographical accounts, although those accounts differ in some operational details of the raid. (dangshi.people.com.cn)
Burial and commemoration
Mao is buried in the Chinese People’s Volunteers cemetery in Hoechang County, South Phyongan Province, North Korea. His grave has been a site of official Chinese and North Korean commemorations. In November 2010, representatives of both countries attended a ceremony there marking the sixtieth anniversary of his death; members of the production team of the Chinese television drama Mao Anying also attended. (europe.chinadaily.com.cn)
References
- Mao Anyingen.wikipedia.org
- 毛岸英：一部伟大机器的一个极普通平凡的小螺丝钉cpc.people.com.cn
- 为有牺牲多壮志cpc.people.com.cn