The Gang of Four (simplified Chinese: 四人帮; traditional Chinese: 四人幫; pinyin: Sì rén bāng) was a extreme left-wing political group of Communist Party of China leaders in the People's Republic of China, led by Madame Mao Jiang Qing, who were arrested and removed from their positions in 1976, following the death of Mao Zedong, and were primarily blamed for the events of the Cultural Revolution. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use The Communist Party of China ( CPC) ( also known as the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP) is the founding and ruling political party of the Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES Jiang Qing ( March 14, 1914 May 14, 1991) is the Pseudonym that was used by Chinese leader Mao Zedong 's last wife Mao Zedong ( 26 December 1893 – 9 September 1976) was a Chinese Military and political leader who led The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in the People’s Republic of China was a struggle for power within the Communist Party of China that manifested into

Membership

The group was led by Mao's widow, Jiang Qing, and consisted of three of her close associates, Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan, and Wang Hongwen. Jiang Qing ( March 14, 1914 May 14, 1991) is the Pseudonym that was used by Chinese leader Mao Zedong 's last wife Zhang Chunqiao ( (1917&ndash April 21, 2005) was a member of the Gang of Four. Yao Wenyuan ( (1931 &ndash December 23, 2005) was a Chinese literary critic and politician and a member of the " Gang of Four " during Wang Hongwen ( Chinese: 王洪文 Pinyin Wáng Hóngwén Wade-Giles: Wang Hung-wen (1936&ndash August 3, 1992) was the youngest Two other men who were already dead in 1976, Kang Sheng and Xie Fuzhi, were named as having been part of the "Gang". Kang Sheng ( Chinese: 康生 1898&ndash December 16, 1975) Communist Party of China (CPC official was the head of the People's Republic Xie Fuzhi ( Chinese: 谢富治 Pinyin: Xiè Fùzhì Wade-Giles: Hsieh Fu-chih was born in 1909 in Huang’an County Hubei and died in Beijing Chen Boda was also considered one of the Gang's closer associates. Chen Boda ( was born 1904 in Hui'an ( Fujian province, China) and died on 20 September 1989 in Beijing.

Most Western accounts consider that the actual leadership of the Cultural Revolution was a rather wider group, the members of the Central Cultural Revolution Group. Most prominent was Lin Biao, until his flight from China and death in a plane crash in 1971. Lin Biao ( born as Lin Yurong ( December 5, 1907 ?[[September 13]] 1971) was a Chinese Communist military leader Chen Boda is often classed as a member of Lin's faction rather than Jiang Qing's. ^[1]

Role

The removal of this group from power is sometimes considered to have marked the end of the Cultural Revolution, which had been launched by Mao in 1966 as part of his power struggle with leaders such as Liu Shaoqi, Deng Xiaoping and Peng Zhen. The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in the People’s Republic of China was a struggle for power within the Communist Party of China that manifested into Liu Shaoqi ( (24 November 1898 12 November 1969 was a Chinese revolutionary statesman and theorist Deng Xiaoping ( 22 August 1904 19 February 1997) was a prominent Chinese Revolutionary, Politician, Pragmatist and Reformer This is a Chinese name; the Family name is Peng. Peng Zhen ( ( October 12, 1902 &ndash Mao placed Jiang Qing, who before 1966 had not taken a public political role, in charge of the country’s cultural apparatus. Jiang Qing ( March 14, 1914 May 14, 1991) is the Pseudonym that was used by Chinese leader Mao Zedong 's last wife Zhang, Yao and Wang were party leaders in Shanghai who had played leading roles in securing that city for Mao during the Cultural Revolution. Shanghai ( 上[[wikt 海|海]] is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world with over 20 million

Around the time of the death of Lin Biao, the Cultural Revolution began to lose impetus. Lin Biao ( born as Lin Yurong ( December 5, 1907 ?[[September 13]] 1971) was a Chinese Communist military leader The new commanders of the People's Liberation Army demanded that order be restored in light of the dangerous situation along the border with the Soviet Union (see Sino-Soviet split). The People's Liberation Army ( PLA) ( is the unified Military organization of all land sea and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The Sino-Soviet split was a gradual divergence of diplomatic ties between the People's Republic of China (PRC and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR The Premier, Zhou Enlai, who had accepted the Cultural Revolution but never fully supported it, regained his authority, and used it to bring Deng Xiaoping back into the Party leadership at the 10th Party Congress in 1973. Zhou Enlai ( (5 March 1898 – 8 January 1976 was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from 1949 until his death in January 1976 Deng Xiaoping ( 22 August 1904 19 February 1997) was a prominent Chinese Revolutionary, Politician, Pragmatist and Reformer Liu Shaoqi had meanwhile died in prison in 1969.

Near the end of Mao's life, a power struggle occurred between the Gang of Four and the alliance of Deng Xiaoping, Zhou Enlai, and Ye Jianying. Deng Xiaoping ( 22 August 1904 19 February 1997) was a prominent Chinese Revolutionary, Politician, Pragmatist and Reformer Zhou Enlai ( (5 March 1898 – 8 January 1976 was the first Premier of the People's Republic of China, serving from 1949 until his death in January 1976 Ye Jianying ( Jyutping: Yip Gim-ying ( April 28, 1897 - October 22, 1986) was a Chinese Communist general and the chairman

Fall

It is now officially claimed by the Chinese communist party that Mao in his last year turned against Jiang Qing and her associates, and that after his death on 9 September 1976, they attempted to seize power (the same allegation made against Lin Biao in 1971). The Communist Party of China ( CPC) ( also known as the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP) is the founding and ruling political party of the Jiang Qing ( March 14, 1914 May 14, 1991) is the Pseudonym that was used by Chinese leader Mao Zedong 's last wife Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Even decades later, it is impossible to know the full truth of these events.

It does appear that their influence was in decline before Mao's death: when Zhou Enlai died in January 1976, he was succeeded not by one of the radicals but by the unknown Hua Guofeng. Hua Guofeng ( (16 February 1921 &ndash 20 August 2008 born as Su Zhu ( was Mao Zedong 's designated successor as the Paramount leader of the In April 1976, Hua was officially appointed Premier of the State Council. Upon Mao's death Hua was named Communist Party chairman as well.

The "Gang" had arranged for Deng Xiaoping's purge in April 1976 (however, he would return and by 1978 become the real power of the Party). In History and Political science, to purge is to remove people considered by the group in power to be "undesirable" from a Government, Political They hoped that the key military leaders Wang Dongxing and Chen Xilian would support them, but it seems that Hua won the Army over to his side. Wang Dongxing ( born 1916 was Mao Zedong 's principal bodyguard during the Cultural Revolution. Chen Xilian ( Chinese: 陈锡联 Pinyin: Chén Xīlián né Chen Kaichu January 1915-June 1999 was a general of People's Liberation Army of China On 6 October 1976, Hua had the four leading radicals and a number of their lesser associates arrested. Events 105 BC - Battle of Arausio: The Cimbri inflict the heaviest defeat on the Roman army of Gnaeus Mallius Maximus Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A massive media campaign was then launched against them, dubbing them the Gang of Four and blaming them for all the excesses of the Cultural Revolution. "Popular press" redirects here note that the University of Wisconsin Press publishes under the imprint "The Popular Press"

Han Suyin gives a detailed account of their overthrow:

"An emergency session of the Politburo was to take place in the Great Hall of the People that evening. Han Suyin ( Chinese: 韩素音 Pinyin: Hán Sùyīn (born September 12 1917) is the pen name of Elizabeth Comber, born Their presence was required. Since Wang Dongxing had been their ally, they did not suspect him. Wang Dongxing ( born 1916 was Mao Zedong 's principal bodyguard during the Cultural Revolution. . . As they passed through the swinging doors into the entrance lobby, they were apprehended and led off in handcuffs. A special 8431 unit then went to Madam Mao's residence at No. 17 Fisherman's Terrace and arrested her. That night Mao Yuanxin was arrested in Manchuria, and the propagandists of the Gang of Four in Peking University and in newspaper offices were taken into custody. Mao Yuanxin ( (born February 1941 was the liaison between Chinese leader Mao Zedong and the Communist Party's Central Committee in the latter's ailing years when he was no Manchuria ( Romanized Manchu: Manju,, Маньчжурия Mongolian: Манж is a historical name given to a vast geographic region in northeast Peking University ( of Beijing, colloquially known in Chinese as Beida (北大 Běidà) is the first formally established university and the first All was done with quiet and superb efficiency. In Shanghai, the Gang's supporters received a message to come to Beijing 'for a meeting'. Shanghai ( 上[[wikt 海|海]] is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest urban areas in the world with over 20 million They came and were arrested. Thus, without shedding a drop of blood, the plans of the Gang of Four to wield supreme power were ended. "^[2]

Aftermath

Immediately after the coup d’etat, Hua Guofeng, Marshall Ye Jianying and economic czars Chen Yun and Li Xiannian formed the core of the party leadership. Hua Guofeng ( (16 February 1921 &ndash 20 August 2008 born as Su Zhu ( was Mao Zedong 's designated successor as the Paramount leader of the Ye Jianying ( Jyutping: Yip Gim-ying ( April 28, 1897 - October 22, 1986) was a Chinese Communist general and the chairman Chen Yun (( June 13, 1905 &ndash April 10, 1995) was one of the most influential leaders of the People's Republic of China and one Li Xiannian ( (23 June 1909&ndash21 June 1992 was President of the People's Republic of China between 1983 and 1988 and then president of the Chinese People's Political ^[3] These three, together with the newly rehabilitated Deng Xiaoping and bodyguard cum coup leader Wang Dongxing were elected party Vice Chairmen at the August 1977 11th National Party Congress. Deng Xiaoping ( 22 August 1904 19 February 1997) was a prominent Chinese Revolutionary, Politician, Pragmatist and Reformer Wang Dongxing ( born 1916 was Mao Zedong 's principal bodyguard during the Cultural Revolution. The National Congress of the Communist Party of China ( is a Party congress that is held about once every five years ^[4] At the politburo level, the membership of all four living marshals, 7 other generals and at least five others with close military ties reflects the deep concern for national stability.

Trial

In 1981, the four deposed leaders were subjected to a show trial and convicted of anti-party activities. The term show trial is a pejorative description of a type of highly Public trial. During the trial, Jiang Qing in particular was extremely defiant, protesting loudly and bursting into tears at some points. She was the only member of the Gang of Four who bothered to argue on her behalf. The defense's argument was that she obeyed the orders of Chairman Mao Zedong at all times. Zhang Chunqiao refused to admit any wrong as well. Yao Wenyan and Wang Hongwen expressed repentance and confessed their supposed crimes. The official records of the trial have not yet been released.

Jiang Qing on trial.

Jiang Qing and Zhang Chunqiao received death sentences that were later commuted to life imprisonment, while Wang Hongwen and Yao Wenyuan were given life and twenty years in prison, respectively. They were all released later. All members of the Gang of Four have since died; Jiang Qing committed suicide in 1991, Wang Hongwen died in 1992, and Zhang Chunqiao and Yao Wenyuan died in 2005.

Supporters of the Gang of Four, including Chen Boda and Mao Yuanxin, were also sentenced. Chen Boda ( was born 1904 in Hui'an ( Fujian province, China) and died on 20 September 1989 in Beijing. Mao Yuanxin ( (born February 1941 was the liaison between Chinese leader Mao Zedong and the Communist Party's Central Committee in the latter's ailing years when he was no

References