Zhong Taifuren

Madam Zhong, born in 1858 and died on February 15, 1944, was from Yilong, Sichuan Province. She was also known as Madam Zhong and was the mother of Zhu De, a prominent leader of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Her family members included her son Zhu De and her father Zhong Bishun.

From a young age, Madam Zhong displayed diligent and conscientious qualities. She woke up before dawn each day, undertaking household responsibilities such as cooking, farming, feeding pigs, raising silkworms, spinning, washing, and pulping. In her youth, she carried water and firewood, planted rice seedlings, and harvested grains, demonstrating a robust physique and resilient spirit. Although her attempt to bind her feet was unsuccessful, she still symbolized the solid foundation of labor with her large feet.

After marriage, she married into the Zhu family and became Zhu De’s mother. She supported her children’s education and encouraged their pursuit of learning. Zhu De studied at private schools in Nanchong and Chengdu, and later applied to the Lu Army Political-Military Academy in Yunnan, with her family’s backing. She was adept at using reason rather than violence to educate her children and was skillful in gentle guidance.

Madam Zhong raised eight children. Although five of her children died prematurely, she still raised her eldest son Zhu Daili and other offspring. She was kind and gentle within the family, never quarrelsome, and maintained order among the elders and juniors. She bore all household responsibilities herself, particularly in the face of the early deaths of several descendants, persisting in raising her remaining children.

Her character was compassionate and humble; she never cursed or quarreled. She cared for neighbors in poverty, engaging in charitable acts throughout her life, often helping poor neighbors and accumulating good deeds. During times of family hardship and political persecution, she exhibited unwavering resilience. In 1933, her ancestral grave was vandalized, forcing the family to change their surname and flee multiple places. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, she and her family sought refuge in Luzhou, where they received protection from relatives and friends.

She died at home in 1944, at the age of 78. At the time of her passing, she was helping her daughter-in-law prepare dinner when she suddenly felt unwell and passed away. Her funeral was solemn and dignified; her tomb was not marked with a stone but was covered with trees. It is said that when her body was prepared for burial, she held gold jewelry in her mouth and wore jade on her hands, reflecting traditional burial customs.

Madam Zhong’s deeds are widely celebrated in the history of the Chinese nation. Zhu De, in a memorial speech titled "Memories of Mother" delivered in Yan'an, praised her for her diligence, kindness, her role in educating her children, and her support for the revolutionary cause. A memorial service was also held by various circles in Yan'an, attended by leaders such as Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, who expressed high respect and admiration for her. Subsequently, she became a symbol of the Mother of the Chinese Working People, regarded as an exemplary virtuous mother.

Her life exemplified the hardworking, benevolent, and resilient qualities of laboring women, establishing an enduring image of the Party’s maternal figure for future generations.