The Great Leap Forward ( 大跃进) from 1958-1960 caused death and suffering to dozens of millions of people. It sounded like a workable idea but it didn’t turn out like Chairman Mao hoped. When looking back on the life of Mao Zedong, the Great Leap Forward is always viewed as a black mark against his legacy. I welcome you to listen to the podcast and learn all about what happens when central planning goes awry. TERMS FROM THIS EPISODE Dàyùejìn   大跃进 The Great Leap Forward Rénmín Gōngshè   人民公社 People's Communes Nánníng   南宁 Capital city of Guangxi Province Guǎngxī province 广西    Southern province in China Chéngdū 成都 Capital of Sichuan province Xiàn 县 county Liú Shàoqí 刘少奇    High-ranking government/Party leader, Mao's chief target during Cultural Revolution Tián Jiāyīng 田家英 Secretary to Chairman Mao Dèng Xiǎopíng 邓小平  Great Chinese leader Zhōu Ēnlái 周恩来 Premier of China 1949-1976 Chén Yūn   陈云 Chinese leader mainly in charge of the economy Chén Yì 陈毅 Chinese military leader and former Shanghai mayor and foreign minister Duō liànhǎo gāng, jiāsù Shèhuìzhûyì jiànshè! 多临钢加速社会主义建设 Make more steel, increase the speed of building Socialism! Shēngchǎn duì 生产队 Production Team Shēngchǎn dàduì   生产大队 Production Brigade nóngmín   农民 peasantry Sānnián dà jīhuǎng   三年大饥荒   Three Year Big Famine Sānnián zìrán zāi hài   三年自然灾害 Three Years of Natural Disasters. Yáng Jìshéng 楊繼繩 Chinese author of the book on the Great Leap "Tombstone" Lúshān Conference 庐山会议 Conference held in July 1959 to discuss the Great Leap Péng Déhuái   彭德怀    Civil War hero and first defense minister Sháoshān   韶山 Birthplace of Mao Zedong Jiāngxī province 江西  Province in the southeast Xiāngtán   湘潭   Large city in Hunan Jǐnggāngshān 井冈山   Mountainous area in Jiangxi where Mao set up his first base of operations in the 1930's Tā gǎn shuō huà   他敢说话 he dared to speak up Lín Biāo   林彪 Defense minister after Peng Dehuai