Central Cultural Revolution Group
중앙문화혁명소조
The organ of the CCP Central Committee set up under the Politburo Standing Committee in May 1966 in accordance with the May 16 Notification. With Chen Boda as head, Kang Sheng as adviser and Jiang Qing and Zhang Chunqiao among its deputies, it directed the Cultural Revolution and from 1967 in effect replaced the Politburo and the Secretariat as the seat of power. It ceased to function after the Ninth Congress of 1969.
In depth
A central notice of 28 May 1966 named Chen Boda head, Kang Sheng adviser, Jiang Qing, Wang Renzhong, Liu Zhijian and Zhang Chunqiao deputies, and Wang Li, Guan Feng, Qi Benyu and Yao Wenyuan among the members; Tao Zhu was added as adviser in August. The Sixteen Points defined the Group as the organ of power of the Cultural Revolution, and on 30 August Jiang Qing became first deputy, acting for Chen Boda. The Group reported directly to Mao and ran day-to-day politics through the “central caucus” chaired by Zhou Enlai. Controlling People’s Daily and Red Flag, it spurred on the Red Guards and rebels and attacked Tao Zhu, the veterans of the “February Countercurrent” and party organisations across the country.
The Group itself was not spared. Wang Renzhong and Liu Zhijian were pushed out early, Wang Li and Guan Feng were arrested in August 1967 and Qi Benyu in January 1968. After the Ninth Congress of 1969 the Group disappeared and Jiang Qing, Chen Boda, Kang Sheng, Zhang Chunqiao and Yao Wenyuan entered the Politburo. The 1981 Resolution recorded that Lin Biao, Jiang Qing, Kang Sheng, Zhang Chunqiao and others, acting chiefly in the name of this Group, had incited people to “overthrow everything and wage full-scale civil war”.