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Period: to
The Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese war lasted throughout World War II, as Japan attempted to conquer China. After the Japanese surrender, there was a power vacuum left over, and many Chinese factions attempted to take control while the opportunity was there. The two factions that ended up being the most powerful were the Nationalists and Communists. -
Dropping of The Hiroshima Bomb
This event, and the dropping of a second atomic bomb on Nagasaki three days later, led to the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II. -
Period: to
Chinese Civil War
After the Japanese occupation ended, the Nationalist and Communist armies went to war for control of China. During this time, unlike the Liberation Army, which was able to get its soldiers voluntarily, the Nationalist army was conscripting soldiers, similarly to how Fugui was conscripted on page 60 of "To Live." -
Fugui gambles away the Xu family's land
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Fugui is conscripted
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Period: to
The People's Republic of China
After Mao Zedong and the Communist Party won the Chinese Civil War, he declared the establishment of The People's Republic of China. The remaining Nationalist army retreated to Taiwan. Now that Mao Zedong was in control of the country, he was able to begin implementing his policies, which would have a direct impact on the daily lives of all of the people of China. -
The Liberation Army lets Fugui go
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Period: to
Land Reform Era
The Communist Party was implementing land reform somewhat before this, but an actual land reform law wasn't passed by Mao Zedong until June 30, 1950. This land reform law displaced many landlords, leading to most of them being killed, similarly to how Long Er was killed on page 84 of "To Live." -
Youqing dies, Fengxia marries Erxi
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Period: to
People's Communes
One of the only parts of the Great Leap Forward that lasted for an extended period of time, these were the structures that rural society was built on in China. They disbanded the feudal system of land ownership, giving everyone a set amount of land, which is why Fugui received his 5 mu of land back on page 83 of "To Live." -
Period: to
The Great Leap Forward
An industrialization effort implemented by Mao Zedong, as he attempted to surpass the other world powers in steel production. It was also meant to bring rural societies into People's Communes, under Communist ideals. It was originally part of a five-year plan, but failed after two years. Overall, the Great Leap Forward led to an estimated 20 million deaths, and countless other Chinese people starving for months on end, similarly to how Fugui and his family lived during much of "To Live." -
Kugen is born, Fengxia dies, Jiazhen dies
Note: Fengxia gets pregnant only a couple months after Fengxia and Erxi marry, but page 204 says Fengxia gives birth on a winter day, so I'm assuming it's after Jan 1 of that winter. -
Erxi dies
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Kugen dies
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Fugui buys the ox
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Fugui tells his story to the traveler
