Gang of Four

The Gang of Four () was the name given to a political group of four Chinese Communist Party officials. The leader of the group was Jiang Qing, Mao Zedong's last wife. The other three were Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan and Wang Hongwen. They became powerful during China's Cultural Revolution.Evolution of Power: China's struggle, survival, and success, eds. Xiaobing Li, Xiansheng Tian (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2014), p. 54 After the death of Mao Zedong, Jiang Qing plotted a coup d'état to take power. She and her close associates in the Gang of Four were arrested and put on trial.Han Suyin 1994. Eldest son: Zhou Enlai and the making of modern China, page 413.

Jiang and Zhang received death sentences that were later changed to life imprisonment.  Wang and Yao were given life and 20 years in prison, respectively. All members of the Gang of Four have since died. Jiang committed suicide in 1991, Wang Hongwen died in 1992. Yao and Zhang died in 2005: they had been released from prison in 1996 and 1998 respectively.

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Category:Chinese communists