In 1933, Chairman [Mao Zedong] sought refuge in a humble farmhouse. Unexpectedly, when enemy forces arrived to search the house, the farmer’s wife boldly declared, “The person you are looking for is in my home!” That single statement would later echo through history: 26 years later, she would be invited to stand atop the Tiananmen Gate.
“Even if it costs my own children, I would protect the safety of hundreds of others,” said Huang Ju Ma, her words a simple yet powerful testament to the unwavering dedication of countless ordinary people to the Chinese revolutionary cause.
A Heroine from Huangpao Mountain
In the Huangpao Mountain area of Tongcheng County, Hubei Province, Huang Ju Ma, a rural mother, devoted her life and family to safeguarding the revolutionary spirit during China’s most arduous years. When the Nationalist forces suddenly swept into her village to search for the Chairman, she faced a heart-wrenching choice. In that moment, she courageously decided to protect the hidden revolutionary, allowing her own son to take their place and face arrest.
This decision cost her a child, but preserved key revolutionary personnel. Remarkably, she later guided all five of her children onto the revolutionary path, each ultimately sacrificing their lives for the cause.
“For the victory of the revolution, I am willing to give everything,” Huang Ju Ma often told her neighbors. Her home became a crucial secret base for the Red Army, offering shelter, food, and support. Despite living in poverty, she found every possible way to aid the revolutionary forces.
Historical records show that during the most difficult period in the southern Hubei Soviet area, ordinary citizens like Huang Ju Ma were the backbone of the revolution. In Tongcheng County alone, thousands of residents actively participated in supporting the revolutionary work, many sacrificing their lives.
Recognition on the National Stage
On the 10th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, this ordinary rural mother was invited to the Tiananmen Observation Deck as a representative of revolutionary contributors. Standing on the rostrum, she symbolized the countless unsung citizens who had devoted their lives to the revolution. Her presence captured the extraordinary courage and steadfastness of ordinary people.
As an old revolutionary wrote in his memoirs: “The people are the firmest foundation of the revolution.” Huang Ju Ma’s life embodies this truth. Though uneducated and unfamiliar with complex theories, she understood that the success of the revolution was inseparable from the welfare of the common people.
Preserving Her Legacy
Today, in the Huangpao Mountain area of Tongcheng County, a dedicated memorial preserves her story. Exhibits include personal belongings and the revolutionary achievements of her five children. Visitors from across China come annually to pay tribute and draw inspiration from her selfless dedication.
Huang Ju Ma passed away peacefully in 1965, yet her revolutionary spirit, like the vibrant rhododendrons of Huangpao Mountain, remains alive. On the land she defended with her life, her descendants continue to work the fields, sustaining both livelihood and the legacy of her ideals. Through their labor, the spirit of the Red Army endures, passed down from one generation to the next.
This history reminds us that during China’s most difficult revolutionary periods, ordinary citizens—from farmers to workers to intellectuals—played a critical role. Driven by hope for a brighter future, they contributed tirelessly to the revolutionary cause, often at great personal cost.
