文革時期的「牛棚」之研究——以季羨林為例

Research on the“Cowshed”During the Cultural Revolution: A Case Study of Ji Xianlin

This study delves into the phenomenon of the“cowshed”during the Cultural Revolution, with a particular focus on the experiences of Ji Xianlin (1911-2009). On May 25, 1966, Nie Yuanzi’s posting of a big-character poster at Peking University, advocating for Marxism-Leninism, marked the beginning of a widespread campaign against the university’s professors, branding them en masse as reactionary academic authorities. Ji Xianlin, initially aligned with the revolutionary faction in Jinggangshan, was later condemned as a rightist for merely possessing a kitchen knife, a box of burnt letters, and a photograph of Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling defaced with a red X. These items precipitated his public criticism and humiliation. Spanning from early spring to May 3, 1968, Ji’s ordeal encompassed a harrowing sequence of denunciation, trial, and forced labor. In the thirteenth chapter of his memoir Random Memories of the Cowshed Ji details the construction of the cowshed by its detainees and provides a meticulous account of the entire denunciation process, the living conditions within the cowshed, and his personal reflections. These narratives occasionally adopt a tone of self-deprecating humor to underscore the absurdity of his suffering and contemplate his near-suicidal despair at the Old Summer Palace, culminating in a profound transformation towards resilience and a renewed will to live. Despite his eventual release, Ji continued to grapple with the psychological aftermath of his experiences.
This paper aims to explore the“Cowshed Incident”through the lens of Ji Xianlin’s memoirs, augmented by accounts from Ji Cheng, Yang Jiang, Han Liming, and Hao Bin, to investigate the experiences of these intellectual elites during their imprisonment. It seeks to understand the operational mechanisms of the cowshed, the criteria for detention, and the broader implications for the targeted academic authorities. Furthermore, the second part of this study assesses the historical significance of the cowshed in the context of the Cultural Revolution, evaluating its impact on the victims in terms of honor and suffering, through an analysis of oral histories and personal memoirs.