People of the Revolution and the USSR
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Jiang Zemin 江泽民
The “core” plucked from Shanghai in 1989 who led post-Tiananmen China into the market economy and the “Three Represents”
Political and party leadership · People’s Republic of China state institutions
1926–2022
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Li Peng 李鹏
The premier who declared martial law in May 1989, called “the butcher of Beijing”; Zhou Enlai’s ward
Government and administration · People’s Republic of China state institutions
1928–2019
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Yao Wenyuan 姚文元
The Gang of Four’s theorist whose attack on Hai Rui Dismissed from Office opened the Cultural Revolution; the critic nicknamed “the cudgel”
Ideology and propaganda · People’s Republic of China state institutions
1931–2005
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Wang Hongwen 王洪文
The Shanghai worker-rebel who rose “like a helicopter” to party vice-chairman, youngest of the Gang of Four
Political and party leadership · People’s Republic of China state institutions
1935–1992