Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Gang of Four

Role / Field:

Maoist political faction prominent during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976)

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

The Gang of Four (simplified Chinese: 四人帮; traditional Chinese: 四人幫; pinyin: Sì rén bāng) was a Maoist political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials. They came to prominence during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976) and were later arrested and charged with treason and other crimes. The gang's leading figure was Jiang Qing (the wife of Mao Zedong). The other members were Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan, and Wang Hongwen.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The Gang of Four controlled the power organs of the CCP through the later stages of the Cultural Revolution, although it remains unclear which major decisions were made by CCP Chairman Mao Zedong and carried out by the Gang, and which were the result of the Gang of Four's own planning. Following a series of five deaths in 18 months, concluding with Mao's, the Gang comprised half the remaining members of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee. On October 6, 1976, shortly after Mao's death, the Gang was removed from power in a bloodless coup d'état, the "Smashing the Gang of Four," organized by CCP Chairman Hua Guofeng. This event is usually considered to mark the end of the Cultural Revolution, although full repudiation of the Cultural Revolution...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. R. Rahman — Historical peer (Born in 1966) (1966): Visionary Indian composer celebrated for blending global sounds with cinematic emotion.
• Abe Saperstein — Historical peer (Died in 1966) (1966): Founder of the Harlem Globetrotters, revolutionized black basketball.
• A Day at the Races (album) — Historical peer (Born in 1976) (1976): Queen's fifth studio album, a companion piece to A Night at the Opera.
• Adolph Zukor — Historical peer (Died in 1976) (1976): Pioneering Hungarian-American film producer, co-founder of Paramount Pictures.

Frequently Asked Questions about Gang of Four