The Three Rules of Discipline and Eight Points for Attention () is a military doctrine that was issued in 1928 by Mao Zedong and his associates to the Chinese Red Army during the Chinese Civil War. The contents vary slightly in different versions. One of the major distinctions of the doctrine was its respect for the civilians during wartime. The following version is obtained from Stephen Uhalley in 1975.
Statement
The three rules enjoined
- prompt obedience to orders,
- no confiscation of people's property,
- prompt delivery directly to authorities of all items confiscated from enemy.
The eight points were:
- Be polite when speaking
- Be honest when buying and selling
- Return all borrowed articles
- Pay compensation for everything damaged
- Do not hit or swear at others
- Do not damage crops
- Do not harass women
- Do not mistreat prisoners
Alternate
An alternative, more literal translation into English was presented by the People's Daily.
The Three Main Rules of Discipline:
- Obey orders in all your actions. ()
- Do not take a single needle or piece of thread from the masses. ()
- Turn in everything captured. ()
The Eight Points for Attention:
- Speak politely. ()
- Pay fairly for what you buy. ()
- Return everything you borrow. ()
- Pay for anything you damage. ()
- Do not hit or swear at people. ()
- Do not damage crops. ()
- Do not take liberties with women. ()
- Do not ill-treat captives. ()
History
These injunctions were usually complied with and, according to historian Stephen Uhalley, came to make the Chinese Red Army a distinctive army in China and an exceptionally popular one.
Many impressed villagers gave supplies and shelter to the Red Army voluntarily, greatly helping their war efforts. Eventually, many villagers and their sons and daughters joined the Red Army, providing the Red Army with sufficient manpower to combat the Japanese and Kuomintang.