Mao Zedong 毛泽东 promulgated the Three Great Rules and Eight Points of Attention 三大纪律八项注意 (Sanda Jilu Baxiang Juyi) for what was still then called the Chinese Proletarian Red Army 中国工农红军 (Zhongguo Gongnong Hongjun) (later to become today’s People’s Liberation Army 人民解放军) in 1928.

The communist army was largely welcomed among the ordinary Chinese people mostly because of how different the troops’ behaviours were in comparison to the warlords and the Japanese. The Sanda Jilu Baxiang Juyi encapsulates the ideals that even today one would find relevant — especially when military and police repressions are once again becoming common occurences worldwide, and human rights are often violated at the hands of soldiers and policemen both in China and elsewhere.

革命军人个个要牢记，三大纪律，八项注意；

第一一切行动听指挥，步调一致才能得胜利； 第二不拿群众一针线，群众对我拥护又喜欢； 第三一切缴获要归公，努力减轻人民的负担。

三大纪律我们要做到，八项注意切莫忘记了；

第一说话态度要和好，尊重群众不要耍骄傲； 第二买卖价钱要公平，公买公卖不许逞霸道； 第三借人东西用过了，当面归还切莫遗失掉； 第四若把东西损坏了，照价赔偿不差半分毫； 第五不许打人和骂人，军阀作风坚决克服掉； 第六爱护群众的庄稼，行军作战处处注意到； 第七不许调戏妇女们，流氓习气坚决要改掉； 第八不许虐待俘虏兵，不许打骂不许搜腰包；

遵守纪律人人要自觉，互相监督切莫违反了； 革命纪律条条要记清，人民军队处处爱人民； 保卫祖国永远向前进，全国人民拥护又欢迎。

Every revolutionary soldier must remember, three great rules, eight points of attention:

First, always obey the orders, marching together in unison we gain victory;

Second, do not confiscate even a needle from the masses, they will support us when they like us;

Third, return all items seized to the public (i.e., don’t use your uniform as a tool for theft or to enrich yourself), make efforts to reduce the people’s burdens.

Three great rules we must achieve, eight points of attention we must never forget:

One, speak in pleasant attitudes, respect the people, do not be arrogant;

Two, deal in fair prices (i.e., don’t expect people to sell you stuff for almost free; don’t demand bribes, and so on);

Three, if you borrowed anything from anyone, don’t lose it — return it to its rightful owner;

Four, if you damaged something, compensate the owner in accordance to its full actual price, not even five cents less (半分 half of 毫 10 cents);

Five, do not hit people or yell insults at them; don’t behave like the warlords;

Six, lovingly protect the people’s livelihood (i.e. farms, tools, livestocks, houses, etc.), take extra cautions while at operations;

Seven, do not sexually harass or rape women; we must firmly change the culture of hooliganism (there is no “boys will be boys” in this army!);

Eight, do not abuse the prisoners of war, no hitting or verbally abusing them; in fact you are not allowed even to search their bags.

Observe these rules with awareness, keep eyes on one another for any violation, these revolutionary rules must be noted clearly, for we are a People’s Army and our job is to love the people. Protect the homeland and forever march on, the people across the country will protect and welcome us.