The Murder of Vice Principal Bian Zhongyun

Summary

History Daily Podcast Summary: The Murder of Vice Principal Bian Zhongyun

Introduction On August 5, 1966, a tragic event unfolded at Beijing Normal University Girls School in Beijing, China—the murder of Vice Principal Bian Zhongyun by her own students. This episode of History Daily, hosted by Lindsay Graham and produced by Airship, Noiser, and Wondery, delves deep into the circumstances surrounding this heinous act and its place within the broader context of Chairman Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution.

Historical Context: The Cultural Revolution To understand the murder of Bian Zhongyun, it's essential to grasp the tumultuous period of the Cultural Revolution initiated by Chairman Mao in 1966. Aimed at preserving Chinese communism by purging remnants of capitalist and traditional elements from society, the Cultural Revolution led to widespread chaos, violence, and societal upheaval.

Lindsey Graham sets the stage by describing the shift in power dynamics:

“Because in Chairman Mao's China, power no longer resides with the teachers, it belongs to the students.” [00:00]

This radical shift empowered students to challenge and attack established authorities, including educators who were previously respected figures.

Key Individuals: Bian Zhongyun and Song Bin Bin Bian Zhongyun, the vice principal, was a victim caught in the crossfire of political fervor and youthful zealotry. At 50 years old, her position made her a prominent target during the Cultural Revolution. Conversely, Song Bin Bin, a 19-year-old student and aspiring leader, emerged as a central figure in escalating the violence against her teachers.

Escalation of Violence at Beijing Normal University Girls School The episode meticulously details how the Cultural Revolution's ideology permeated educational institutions. Students, now empowered as Red Guards, viewed teachers as "counter-revolutionaries" and enemies of the people. Song Bin Bin exemplified this transformation:

“She's confident that her actions would make Chairman Mao proud.” [03:05]

Bin Bin's creation and display of a provocative poster in the chemistry class ignited a series of violent reactions from her peers against Vice Principal Bian Zhongyun. The increasing aggression towards teachers included verbal abuse, physical assaults, and public humiliation.

The Murder of Bian Zhongyun The climax of the episode recounts the harrowing events leading to Bian Zhongyun's death. On the fateful day, after enduring relentless abuse and a deteriorating relationship with her students, Bian succumbed to severe physical attacks. The attack was brutal and unrelenting:

“One of them grabs a mop bucket and forces its dirty contents down Jung Yung's throat.” [08:11]

Despite her husband's later efforts to seek justice, the Cultural Revolution's chaotic environment made it nearly impossible to hold the perpetrators accountable. Bian's murder marked the beginning of a wave of violence that resulted in the deaths of approximately two million individuals labeled as "class enemies."

Aftermath and Legacy Years later, in 2014, Song Bin Bin revisits the scene of the crime, expressing remorse for her actions:

“...Bin Bin bows her head then, after a moment's silence, reads from a prepared statement. She labels the Cultural Revolution a calamity and expresses remorse for her part in it.” [16:44]

However, Bian Zhongyun's widower remains unsatisfied, seeking official acknowledgment and justice from the government—a pursuit that remains unfulfilled. The episode highlights the lasting scars left by the Cultural Revolution on individuals and Chinese society as a whole.

Government Response and Memory Despite the official stance acknowledging the Cultural Revolution as a severe setback, the Chinese government has been reticent to fully confront its atrocities or provide comprehensive justice for the victims. Memorials, like the one dedicated to Bian Zhongyun, offer minimal information, omitting the brutal realities of her death and the widespread violence perpetrated during that era.

Conclusion The murder of Vice Principal Bian Zhongyun serves as a poignant illustration of the Cultural Revolution's destructive impact on individuals and institutions. History Daily effectively captures the human stories behind historical events, reminding listeners of the profound and often tragic consequences of political and ideological extremism.

As Lindsey Graham aptly summarizes:

“A statement that didn’t fully acknowledge responsibility cannot bring justice.” [14:36]

The episode underscores the importance of remembering and learning from history to prevent such atrocities from recurring.

Production Credits

• Host: Lindsey Graham
• Producers: Airship, Noiser, Wondery
• Audio Editing: Mohammed Shazi
• Sound Design: Molly Bond
• Supervising Sound Designer: Matthew Filler
• Music: Thrum
• Researchers and Writers: Owen Paul Nichols, Scott Reeves
• Managing Producer: Emily Burke
• Executive Producers: William Simpson (Airship), Pascal Hughes (Noiser)

Upcoming Episode Stay tuned for the next episode, airing on August 6, 1991, which explores the revolutionary impact of the first World Wide Web site created by a British computer programmer.

---

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the podcast episode "The Murder of Vice Principal Bian Zhongyun," providing a thorough understanding for those who haven't listened.

Transcript

[Lindsey Graham]

There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad free. Listen with Wondry plus in the Wondery app as a member of Noiser plus at noiser.com or in Apple Podcasts. Or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at intohistory.com its August 5, 1966 at Beijing Normal University Girls School in Beijing, China, 50 year old Vice principal Bian Jiangyun sits trembling behind a locked door as a mob of her own students pounds the walls with sticks and clubs. Just a few months ago, Jeong Yong would have disciplined such misbehavior without hesitation. But not anymore. Because in Chairman Mao's China, power no longer resides with the teachers, it belongs to the students. Ever since Mao began what he calls a Cultural Revolution, once respected educators are now seen as enemies of the people, symbols of an old society that must be torn down. Knowing that the door won't hold for long, Xiang Yung slowly rises. Resigned to her fate, she opens the door and the polite girls she once taught now seethe with fury. Before Xongyun can say a word, they pounce. The girls punch and kick and aim their clubs at Jeongyeong's face. Jeongyeong crumples to the floor and as she goes down, hands grab her by the hair and she's dragged out down the hallway. She flails her legs and screams, trying to stop them, but the mob has her and it won't let go. By the time a nearby hospital is alerted to the attack on Bian Jiangyun, it's too late. Jeong Yong will become the first known victim of Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution, but far more violence and destruction will follow her death at the hands of her students on August 5, 1966.

[Greenlight]

This message is sponsored by Greenlight. With school out, summer is the perfect time to teach our kids real world money skills they'll use forever. Greenlight is a debit card and the one family finance and safety app used by millions of families, helping kids learn how to save, invest and spend wisely. Easily. Parents can send their kids money and track their spending and saving while kids build money, confidence and skills in fun ways. Start your risk free Greenlight trial [e-mail] wondery that's greenlight.com wondery.

[Song Bin Bin]

Basketball game crushed it and the day's just getting started. Now kicking it with my crew when I need a quick snack. Gogo squeeze active fruit blend with electrolytes. Pouches are always in the starting lineup made with real fruit and select electrolytes and mmm. So tasty. From workouts to hangouts to whatever's next. Igo with Gogo Squeeze Active. Snag yours on your next store run. Available on Amazon.

[Lindsey Graham]

From Noiser and Airship. I'm Lindsey Graham and this is History Daily. History is made every day on this podcast. Every day, we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is August 5, 1966 the murder of Vice Principal Bian Zhongyun It's June 2, 1966 at Beijing Normal University Girls School in Beijing, China. Two months before Bian Jianyun is beaten to death by her own students, 19 year old song Bin Bin strides into her chemistry class, a confident swagger in her step. Thanks to her family's connections to the top of the Chinese Communist Party, Bin Bin is not just another student. She's popular and well respected. And today she's ready to become a leader. In her hands, Bin Bin carries a large rolled up piece of paper. She unfurls it at the front of the class to reveal a poster that calls on young, loyal communists to attack their counter revolutionaries, revolutionary teachers. The poster carries a slogan with a stark Behave or we will teach you how. There's no doubt who this message is aimed at. Beneath the words is a crude hand drawn caricature of the school's Vice principal, Bian Jeongyun. With help from two classmates, Bin Bin sticks the poster to the wall. Then the girls take their seat and eagerly wait for their chemistry teacher to arrive. Since Chairman Mao's Communist Party took control of China in 1949, the country has been ruled as a one party state. Any hint of rebellion has been met with violent retribution. But Mao's repressive rule has not been without problems. A speedy push to transform China's economy through industrialization has failed and millions of people have died in the devastating famine that followed. So to secure the loyalty of his unhappy nation, Chairman Mao began a new campaign that he called the cultural revolution. In May 1966, he summoned China's youth to rise up and take violent action against the four old customs, old thinking, old habits, and old culture. Mao wanted nothing more than the destruction of the former ruling classes and for China's imperial cultural history to be erased. For the thousands of young Chinese students who idolized Mao, the Cultural Revolution is the perfect opportunity to show their support. Many have flocked to join the Red Guards, a fanatical youth movement set up to promote Mao's ideology. And at Beijing Normal University Girls School, one of the first students to sign up was Song Bin Bin. Now she perches on her seat in her chemistry class and waits to see the result of her first protest. A few moments later, Bin Bin's chemistry teacher walks into the classroom and looks at her students. The atmosphere is electric. At first, the teacher does not notice the poster on the wall behind her, but she can feel the tension in the room. The ripple of mocking laughter and shared smirks. The teacher quickly realizes something is wrong. It's only then that she turns and notices the poster. The personal attack on the vice principal is inappropriate. So the teacher moves to take the poster from the wall. But then one of the girls in the class begins to hiss. Then another, and another. The teacher freezes. She knows the power the state has and that they back the Red Guards. Fearing for her safety, the teacher backs away from the poster. Bin Bin smiles. She's confident that her actions would make Chairman Mao proud. But the poster is just the beginning of Bin Bin's campaign to cleanse the school of anti revolutionary sentiment. So within days, the protests escalate. Teachers face abuse in the hallways. The name calling soon evolves into shoves and then blows. Teachers who are accused of defying Mao or the Chinese Communist Party are beaten with sticks. And since anyone who tries to quell the disorder becomes a target themselves, the teachers are powerless to stop the violence. Regular criticism ceremonies see humiliated teachers shackled and dragged onto a stage to confess their anti revolutionary crimes. Abuse becomes a daily part of school life. So many teachers try to put up with the punishments in hope that the Cultural Revolution will soon pass or that the students will move on to another target. Others seek help from outside authorities, but their pleas for help are ignored. The Chinese Communist Party not only supports the Red Guards and the rebellious students, it encourages the violence. So with no one intervening to stop them, the attacks become more and more vicious. And thanks to her position as Vice principal, Bian Jiang Jun faces more animosity than most. This hatred will make her life a living hell until the day it spills over into an act of irreversible violence.

[Bian Zhongyun's Husband]

Before the Internet ruled our lives, AOL brought America Online with email and Instant messenger. By 2000, AOL was so powerful, it bought media giant Time Warner. This was a deal that was supposed to bring us into the future, revolutionize media. But instead, it became one of the messiest corporate disasters in history. So what went wrong? The dot com crash? Culture clashes? Or something deeper? Business wars gives you a front row seat to the biggest moments in business and how they shape our world. Because when your flight perks disappear, your favorite restaurant chain goes bankrupt, or new tech threatens to reshape everything overnight. You can bet there's a deeper story behind the headlines. Make sure to follow Business wars on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcast. And you can binge all episodes of Business the AOL Time Warner Disaster early and ad free Right now on Wondery.

[Chico Felitti]

Everyone has that friend who seems kind of perfect for Paddy. That friend was Desiree. Until one day I texted her and.

[Desiree]

She was not getting the text. So I went to Instagram. She has no Instagram anymore. And Facebook. No Facebook anymore.

[Chico Felitti]

Desiree was gone and there was one person who knew the answer.

[Lindsey Graham]

I am a spiritual person, a magical.

[Chico Felitti]

Person, a witch, a gorgeous Brazilian influencer called Kat Torres, but who was hiding a secret from Wondery. Based on my smash hit podcast From Brazil comes a new series, Don't Cross Cat, about a search that led me to a mystery in a Texas suburb.

[Lindsey Graham]

I'm calling to check on the two.

[Song Bin Bin]

Missing Brazilian girls, maybe get some undercover crew there.

[Lindsey Graham]

The family are freaking out.

[Chico Felitti]

They are lost. I'm Chico Felitti. You can listen to Don't Cross Cat on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lindsey Graham]

It's the evening of August 4, 1966, in Beijing, China, two months after students began an anti capitalist campaign at a city middle school. Vice principal Bian Zhongyun sneaks into her home and rushes up the stairs. She manages to make it to the bathroom without her family seeing. Turning on the light and looking into the mirror, Jong Yung sees a face she barely recognizes. Her lip is cut, her eyes black and swollen. Her hair is matted with ink and blood, and large chunks are missing where she was attacked with scissors and pens. Jeongyeong fills the sink with warm water. She does her best to gently wash out the ink and fix her hair. She dabs at her lip, but there's little she can do about the swollen eye. There's a soft knock on the bathroom door, and in a sympathetic voice, Jeong Yong's husband tells her that dinner is ready, but to only come when she's ready. Xiang Yong croaks out a reply, telling him that she'll be out soon. Xiang Yong once considered herself an ardent supporter of the Chinese Communist Party. She joined the movement in 1941 and celebrated when it seized power eight years later. But Xiang Yong's faith in Chairman Mao and the Communist Party's vision for the future has faded in recent years. The launch of the Cultural Revolution has only deepened her doubts. But Xiang Yong thought she had kept her growing skepticism hidden until a slip up in class gave her away. A student asked whether they should save the school's portrait of Chairman Mao in the event of a fire. Zhong Yong answered that they should simply get out of the building as quickly as possible. The implication, however slight, was that Zhong Yong was not a true believer in Chairman Mao. This was enough for students to label Xongyong a counter revolutionary. And almost immediately they began verbally and then physically abusing her. She had written to local authorities asking for help, but her letters have gone unanswered. Then, earlier today, Jung Yong faced her worst beating yet. And the girls warned her that worse was to come unless she confesses to being a counter revolutionary revisionist. Finally, Jong Yong switches off the bathroom light and goes downstairs to join her husband. A part of her understands that these attacks cannot go on like this forever. It's like her students are suffering from a collective fever. Eventually it will break, but she fears that the violence won't stop. Before someone takes things too far across the dinner table, Jung Yung's husband watches her with concern. He offers food and drink and tries to make cheery small talk. But Jung Yung says little in response. When the meal ends, she goes to bed early. The next day, she bids her husband goodbye with an unemotional handshake. Wracked with worry about the day ahead. When she arrives at school, it doesn't take long for a group of students to come for her. They start beating on her office door. At first, Jung Yong ignores them, but her silence is taken as defiance. And that only makes the girls angrier. Knowing that they will break in eventually, Jong Yong decides she must face them and try to defuse the situation. But as soon as she unlocks the door, she is attacked. Jeong Yong is dragged into the playground so the entire school can witness her punishment. She is told that her crimes mean she is condemned to death and ordered to admit that she is a counter revolutionary revisionist before her execution. But Jung Yong won't give the students the confession they want. Once the girls realize this, their fury reaches a new height. One of them grabs a mop bucket and forces its dirty contents down Jung Yung's throat. They punch her and kick her and beat her with nail studded clubs. And even when Jong Yung loses consciousness, the blows don't stop. Eventually, she is left to die in the hot sun. Jong Yong's husband will only be notified of his wife's death hours later. Understanding that he has no way to seek justice he will instead gather as much evidence as he can can and save it for a later date. He will remove the bloody clothes from Jong Yong's body. And he will take one final family photo with his wife's corpse positioned in front of their four children. Bian Jeong Jung's husband will hide all this evidence away, waiting for the madness of the Cultural Revolution to pass and the opportunity to finally come when he can show the world what was done to his wife.

[Nick]

Hey, Jack, I got some trivia for you. You ready?

[Chico Felitti]

Nice.

[Nick]

Which company's iconic fleece jacket was inspired by a toilet seat cover? Gotta be Patagonia. What's next? Okay, which sneaker was banned by the NBA but then became the most iconic basketball shoe in history? Air Jordans. Come on, give me something hard. All right. What energy drink used to plant empty cans in nightclubs to fake its own popularity? That was Red Bull. Legendary move by a legendary brand. Instant classic. This is Nick and this is Jack. We're best friends, ex finance guys and resident 90s cultural experts. And every week on our podcast, the Best Idea yet, we explore the untold origin stories behind the products you're obsessed with and the bold risk takers who made them go viral. From the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to the iPhone to the most powerful force in business, Costco's Kirkland brand. Follow the best idea yet on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen early and ad free right now by joining Wondery. And if this podcast lasts longer than 45 minutes, call your doctor.

[Lawless Planet]

How hard is it to kill a planet? Maybe all it takes is a little drilling, some mining, and a whole lot of carbon pumped into the atmosphere. When you see what's left, it starts to look like a crime scene.

[Lindsey Graham]

Are we really safe? Is our water safe? You destroyed our tap.

[Lawless Planet]

And crimes like that, they don't just happen.

[Lindsey Graham]

We call things accidents. There is no accident. This was 100% preventable.

[Lawless Planet]

They're the result of choices by people. Ruthless oil tycoons, corrupt politicians, even organized crime. These are the stories we need to be telling about our changing planet. Stories of scams, murders and cover ups that are about us and the things we're doing to either protect the the earth or destroy it. Follow Lawless Planet on the Wonry app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes of Lawless Planet early and ad free right now by joining Wonry plus in the Wonry app, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

[Lindsey Graham]

It's January 12, 2014 at Beijing Normal University. Girls School in Beijing, China. Nearly a half century after Bian Zhongyun was killed by her students. Now in her mid-60s, Song Bin Bin is in the hallway where Jong Yun was attacked. Standing before a memorial dedicated to the murdered teacher alongside four other former students of the school, Bin Bin bows her head then, after a moment's silence, reads from a prepared statement. She labels the Cultural Revolution a calamity and expresses remorse for her part in it. Bin Bin doesn't go as far to admit she was the one who attacked Xun Yung, but she does apologize for not doing more to protect her teacher. Bian Xiang Yong's murder was not an isolated incident. During the so called red August of 1966, hundreds of teachers were killed in similar ways. As violence swept through China, thousands of others took their own lives to avoid the brutal punishments dished out by the Red Guards. But that was still just the beginning of the terror of Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution. Over the next decade, around 2 million so called class enemies were killed or forced into suicide. The chaos and violence only came to an end after Mao's death in 1970. Six years later, Song Bin Bin's expression of regret makes national headlines in China. But the words mean little to Xiong Yong's 92 year old widower. He doesn't just hold the Red Guard students responsible for his wife's murder. Their actions were evil, but they were brainwashed by Mao and the Chinese Communist Party. In his view, until the government officially apologizes, justice will never be served. But although he has shared the evidence he gathered back in 1966, the government has never been willing to look into his wife's murder too deeply. It's part of a wider pattern. Although the ruling party has officially declared that the Cultural Revolution was a severe setback, officials have been reluctant to discuss the regime's historic mistakes, let alone pursue justice for those killed. Even the memorial to Bian Zhongyung is evasive. Although the memorial records her name and the date of her death, there is no mention of the manner in which she died or that she was the first victim of one of the bloodiest people periods in Chinese history. One that began with the whim of a dictator and burst into murderous violence on August 5, 1966. Next on History Daily, August 6, 1991. A British computer programmer changes the world forever when he uploads the first site to the World Wide Web. From Noiser and Airship this is History Daily Hosted, edited and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham Audio editing by Mohammed Shazi Sound design by Molly Bond. Supervising sound designer, Matthew Filler. Music by Thrum. This episode is written and researched by Owen Paul Nichols, edited by Scott Reeves. Managing producer, Emily Burke. Executive producers are William Simpson for Airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser.