1931.12.11.–2005.12.23.
↓ Arrested 1976 · natural causes
The Gang of Four’s theorist whose attack on Hai Rui Dismissed from Office opened the Cultural Revolution; the critic nicknamed “the cudgel”
Born 1931 in Zhuji, Zhejiang. His November 10, 1965 article in Wenhui Bao, “On the New Historical Beijing Opera ‘Hai Rui Dismissed from Office’”, launched the Cultural Revolution; arrested on October 6, 1976, and sentenced to twenty years in 1981.
A Shanghai literary critic, he caught Mao’s eye with aggressive polemics during the 1957 anti-rightist campaign. At the direction of Jiang Qing and Zhang Chunqiao he published “On the New Historical Play Hai Rui Dismissed from Office” in Wenhui Bao in November 1965, the opening of the Cultural Revolution, and as a member of the Cultural Revolution Group controlled propaganda. A Politburo member from 1969 and part of the Shanghai group, he ran campaigns such as “Criticise Lin Biao and Confucius”. Arrested with the Gang of Four in October 1976, he received twenty years in 1981, was released in 1996 and died in 2005.
Also known as: Yao Wen-yuan
Activities and affiliations
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1969–1976
Political and party leadership
- CCP Politburo member responsible for propaganda1969–1976
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People’s Republic of China state institutionsMain
Ideology and propaganda
Career Timeline
- 1965.11.10Published his attack on Hai Rui Dismissed from Office in Wenhuibao
- 1966–1969Member of the Central Cultural Revolution Group
- 1969–1976Member of the Politburo
- 1969–1976CCP Politburo member responsible for propaganda
- 1976.10.06Arrested as one of the Gang of Four
- 1981Sentenced to twenty years in prison
Related historical events
- 1956–1957From the Hundred Flowers to the Anti-Rightist CampaignPolemicist during the Anti-Rightist CampaignHe wrote aggressive polemics during the 1957 Anti-Rightist Campaign.
- 1966–1976The Cultural RevolutionAuthor of the attack on Hai Rui Dismissed from OfficeHis November 1965 article opened the movement.