Jiang Qing, << jee ahng cheeng >> (1914-1991), also spelled Chiang Ch’ing, was a Chinese political leader. She was married to Mao Zedong, China’s top political leader, from about 1939 until Mao’s death in 1976. Jiang led China’s radical faction. This faction consisted of Chinese who supported Mao during the Cultural Revolution in China from 1966 to 1976 (see China (The Cultural Revolution) ). Under Jiang’s leadership, many Chinese dramas and operas were rewritten so that they presented examples of the changes in Chinese government and Chinese society favored by Mao. In 1969, she was elected to the Politburo, the most powerful ruling body of China.
After Mao’s death, Hua Guofeng and Deng Xiaoping became China’s main leaders. The government of Hua and Deng publicly denounced Jiang and three of her followers—Wang Hongwen, Yao Wenyuan, and Zhang Chunqiao. The government referred to Jiang and her followers by the scornful name of the Gang of Four. It accused the Gang of Four of failing to follow Mao’s teachings and of harming China’s development.
The four were removed from their positions and arrested. In 1980, the government charged them with treason and put them on trial. The four were convicted in 1981. Jiang and Zhang received death sentences. Their sentences were suspended, but they remained in prison. Wang was sentenced to life imprisonment, and Yao to 20 years. In January 1983, the sentences of Jiang and Zhang were reduced to life imprisonment. Jiang died on May 14, 1991.
Jiang was born in Shandong (or Shantung) Province. At age 15, she left home. She studied drama and acted in motion pictures in Shanghai. She joined the Communist Party in 1933.
