During the Yanan period, based on the actual reality of the warfare and the border area, Mao Zedong proposed a series of important theories on solving the livelihood issues by developing democracy, economy, cultural education and social security, etc. Mao Zedong also proposed practices and countermeasures in carrying out democracy, developing production, setting up education undertakings, and helping the poor, which had solved the most direct and the most realistic interest that common people were very much concerned about. Inspecting Mao Zedongs theory and practice on livelihood issues during this period, we should fully understand that democracy is the guarantee, development is the premise, and education is the cornerstone to solve the livelihood issues, and social security is a basic system to protect peoples life and regulate social distribution. It is of importantly guiding significance and referential value for the currently overall social construction led by the Chinese Communist Party with the focus on improving the livelihood.