Jiang Qing

Jiang Qing ({{zh-cpw |c=江青 |p=Jiāng Qīng |w=Chiang Ch'ing}}) (1914 – May 14, 1991) stage name Lan Ping, the third wife of Mao Zedong, was a Chinese political leader most famous for forming the Gang of Four.

Related Topics:
1914 - May 14 - 1991 - Stage name - Mao Zedong - Chinese - Gang of Four

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She was born as Lǐ Shúméng (李淑蒙) in Zhucheng (诸城), Shandong Province. She is also known as Lǐ Jìn (李进) and Lǐ Yúnhè (李云鹤), and was an actress under the stage name of Lán Píng (蓝苹). Joined the Communist Party of China in 1933 and worked as an actress in Shanghai from 1933 to 1937. In 1939, Kang Sheng introduced her to Mao Zedong in Yan'an, and she and Mao were later married. After 1949, she worked in the Ministry of Culture.

Related Topics:
Zhucheng - Shandong Province - Stage name - Communist Party of China - 1933 - Actress - Shanghai - 1937 - 1939 - Kang Sheng - Mao Zedong - Yan'an

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She became a member of the Politburo in 1969. She was appointed as the deputy director of the Cultural Revolution in 1966, and formed the famous Gang of Four with Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan and Wang Hongwen. From that point on, she was the most powerful figure in China during Mao's last years.

Related Topics:
Politburo - 1969 - Cultural Revolution - 1966 - Gang of Four - Zhang Chunqiao - Yao Wenyuan - Wang Hongwen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jiang incited radical youths organized as Red Guards against other senior political leaders and government officials, including Liu Shaoqi, the President of the PRC at that time, and Deng Xiaoping, deputy Premier.

Related Topics:
Red Guards - Liu Shaoqi - President of the PRC - Deng Xiaoping

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Internally divided into factions both to the "left" and "right" of Jiang Qing and Mao, not all Red Guards were friendly to Jiang Qing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jiang also directed revolutionary operas and ballets as part of an effort to transform China's culture. The Eight model plays were allegedly created under her guidance. Critics say her influence on art was too restrictive.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to Jung Chang's and Jon Halliday's biography of Mao Zedong, Jiang's favorite hobbies included photography, playing cards, and watching foreign movies, especially Gone with the Wind.

Related Topics:
Jung Chang - Jon Halliday - Gone with the Wind

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jiang first collaborated with then 2nd-in-charge Lin Biao, but after Lin's death in a plane crash in 1971, she turned against him publicly in the Anti-Lin, Anti-Confucius Campaign. She was arrested after the Cultural Revolution ended (1976).

Related Topics:
Lin Biao - 1971 - Anti-Lin, Anti-Confucius Campaign - Cultural Revolution - 1976

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At her trial in 1981 she was the only member of the Gang of Four who bothered to argue on her behalf. She was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in 1981, and the sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. She was released for medical reasons in 1991. She died soon after. Later the government claimed that she killed herself in her apartment, ten days after her release.

Related Topics:
1981 - Sentenced to death - 1991

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~