ABSTRACT Title of Thesis: BRINGING THE INSIDE OUT: HEALTH, PERSONALITY, POLITICS, AND THE TRAGEDY OF LIN BIAO Adrian Luna, Master of Arts, 2007 Directed By: Professor James Gao, Department of History The following study is a close scrutiny of Lin Biao. This study will focus on Lin Biao’s private life during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1969). This study argues that Lin suffered from two distinct personality disorders: schizoid personality disorder and social anxiety disorder. After assessing the private behavior of Lin Biao and how the two disorders disabled Lin, this study will then move to illustrate the consequential enabling affect the two disorders had on Lin Biao’s wife, Ye Qun. Thereafter, this study will reexamine several key cases that occurred immediately prior to and during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1969) where Lin Biao is typically portrayed as being deeply involved. The conclusions are that Lin suffered from two distinct disorders, the disorders had an enabling affect on Ye Qun, and that Lin is a tragic figure, as he was placed in a political position that he could not appropriately administer under Chairman Mao. BRINGING THE INSIDE OUT: HEALTH, PERSONALITY, POLITICS, AND THE TRAGEDY OF LIN BIAO By Adrian Torrez Luna Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Maryland, College Park in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts 2007 Advisory Committee: Professor James Gao, Chair Professor Keith Olson Professor George Quester ©Copyright by Adrian Luna 2007 i DEDICATION In Loving Memory of My Grandfather Lee Luna 1931-1992 ii Acknowledgements This journey has not been traveled alone. Professionally, I must first thank my advisor, James Gao, for his helpful guidance and feedback on my work. George Quester and Keith Olson have both offered me helpful hints on improving this study and also took the time to carefully read the manuscript multiple times in preparation for being members of my defense committee. In particular, George Quester filled a void prior to the defense of this work and also assisted me in spring 2006, as he read the earliest drafts of this work. Andrea Goldman also provided helpful feedback on an early draft. I am also indebted to James Henretta. Although he has no connection to this specific study and no particular ties to modern Chinese history, the time I spent with him during a graduate seminar he taught on American history was both intellectually stimulating and enjoyable. James’ critical thinking is top-notch. During his course I undoubtedly learned a great deal about the art of writing history, which consequently played a role in the culmination of this study. During the many tedious hours of writing this work, I would remind myself periodically about what James taught me; about composing history and how to make it readable to a wider audience without sacrificing fascinating facts and information. My time with him in his seminar will always be remembered as being valuable, as he has greatly enriched my thinking and intellect. Numerous individuals within the China field have assisted me in various fashions throughout the course of researching and writing this study. Kenneth Lieberthal and Lyman Miller were courteous, professional, and helpful as they took the time to respond to various email inquiries I sent them. Roderick MacFarquhar is a gem, as he responded iii quickly to a variety of questions I sent him via email. Roderick even took the time to coordinate with Nancy Hearst, the outstanding librarian in the Fairbank Center of East Asian Research at Harvard University, to compile a lengthy and priceless list of new publications that have emerged from China in the past few years—some of which sneaked their way into this study. Their assistance has been outstanding and I have greatly benefited from their efforts. Moving from the professional to the personal realm I must first thank my parents, Beverly and Randy, for the infinite support they have provided me. Ranging from my days in diapers, to my youth, and even today as an adult, they have consistently been present through the best and worst of times. They have always been willing to assist me in a multitude of instances and have offered every form of loving support, ranging from parental advice to nurturing hugs. I love them both. They are outstanding parents. My sister, Natalie, has also offered terrific support during the course of my graduate studies and during the research and writing phases of this study. She has been patient and considerate. My nephew, Matthew, has been deprived of many precious hours with his uncle during the time that I compiled this study. I hope to give this time back to him in the upcoming months and years. He is an outstanding little guy. My Aunt Alita, Aunt Nancy, Uncle Darryl, Uncle Mike, and Cousin Jacob have also been present peripherally throughout this study. They have all offered family support. Both Alita and Mike have helped keep my sanity during the course of this study by inviting me to their home in Frederick, Maryland for the always enjoyable and patented Luna taco feasts. These field trips were always welcomed, as they forced me to iv break away from my work and helped me keep the delicate balance of life and work intact. Sam Berkowitz has provided me with tremendous moral support throughout the past few years and during the course of my research. Our conversations have indeed been stimulating and his feedback and advice on life has led me to learn a great deal about myself. Also, the feedback he offered during our many discussions about Lin Biao and Lin’s personality are priceless. Sam not only played a prominent role in helping me understand the depths and complexities of psychology, but also assisted me in pinpointing what Lin’s personality defects specifically are. His time and efforts are very much obliged. Stephen MacKinnon, Hoyt Tillman, and Sheldon Simon, professors of my alma mater Arizona State University, go well above and beyond their duties as teachers. Not only are they responsible for sparking my interest and introducing me to the fascinating world of Chinese history and politics at Arizona State University, but they are each like second-fathers to me. Each has consistently offered their time and friendship during the past six years. During my sojourns to Phoenix in the dry, sweltering, and broiling summers they have graciously allowed me to drop by for a visit during their office hours and sacrificed their own time to chat about my current research. They are the highest examples of what all teachers should attempt to be. I am also thankful to Robert Kayser, a friend since our days in Beijing. Robert not only provided camaraderie during the course of this study, but has also assisted me in multiple instances with translating certain sources and double-checking my own translations to insure their accuracy. When unsure of a translation Robert was an always v available resource. I truly value his friendship and support throughout the years and he is someone who I consider a big brother. I am also grateful to Pat Hiban who provided me with a place of employment during my time as a graduate student and throughout the course of this study. In addition, my work colleagues, Rosie Silva and Josh Moulton, have been outstanding friends and supporters during the years of research and writing of this study. Their camaraderie has created and provided me with a working atmosphere that is devoid of high-level stress normally associated with the private sector. They are the “family” away from home. Although seemingly infinite hours have been spent on this study, much of it spent alone in a bedroom or office slogging through mountains of Chinese sources, the research itself has been deeply fascinating and intellectually arousing. The more I dug into the lifestyle and personality of Lin Biao, the more engaging the subject became. At times, even though I would sit alone reading and writing, I felt as if I was not. I am grateful to the authors of the multiple memoirs utilized in this study. They have sought to unmask China’s most mysterious modern figure. Lin Biao, for me, is bittersweet. I cannot thank him, for obvious reasons, but his life, as sad and tragic as it is, is something I have never felt so passionate about in all my life. While being completely objective is at the top of every historian’s agenda, it became difficult at times to maintain the required level of objectivity as I sometimes felt sympathy for this tragic figure. From a historian’s point of view, this is exceedingly dangerous, as it could jeopardize the historian’s duty to be completely objective. Undoubtedly, I reminded myself of this important rule on a consistent basis and consequently always weighed the evidence carefully, objectively, and professionally. Any errors found in this study are, of course, my own. I cannot ignore vi though, that during the course of this study, Lin Biao’s life has become an important part of my own, one which offers me a continuous, never ending, intellectual stimulation and an interest for research for the future. For this alone I am eternally grateful to Lin Biao’s life and memory. Finally, I must recognize and remember my grandfather, Lee Luna. Lee was a hardworking young man, the son of a poor immigrant mother from Mexico. Lee grew up working on a small farm in Colorado. He later joined the U.S. Army and served briefly in the Korean conflict. It was during his time in the army when he became interested in histotechnology and soon thereafter founded the National Society for Histotechnology in Maryland.