Gao Hua

Gao Hua was a prominent Chinese historian and professor who was known for his research into the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s history, notably his book How the Red Sun Rose. He was born on May 12, 1954 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. His father, Gao Qifa, was a former underground CCP member who was expelled from the party and labeled as a rightist. His mother, Hu Yechong, was a housewife. Gao Hua worked as a store worker during the Cultural Revolution and self-educated himself by reading history books. In 1978, he was admitted to the History Department of Nanjing University, where he later obtained his master's and doctoral degrees. He became a history professor at Nanjing University and taught there until his death. He wrote many books and essays on the CCP's history, such as How the Red Sun Rose: The Origins and Development of the Yan'an Rectification Movement, which challenged the official narrative of the CCP and Mao Zedong. He also wrote about the Anti-Rightist Campaign, the Cultural Revolution, and the Tiananmen Square protests. He was considered a dissident and a grey-zone intellectual who faced political pressure and censorship from the authorities. He was also a supporter of democracy and human rights in China. He died of an illness on December 26, 2011 in Nanjing at the age of 57. He was widely mourned and respected by his students, colleagues, and fellow historians.