Li Xiannian (1909?-1992), also spelled Li Hsien-nien, was one of the longest-serving first generation Chinese Communist Party leaders. He was China’s minister of finance from 1954 to 1966. Li was a member of the Politburo–the ruling body of China’s Communist Party–from 1956 to 1987. He was vice premier of the government from 1978 to 1983 and an economic adviser to the premier of China. He held the largely ceremonial posts of president from 1983 to 1988, and head of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee from 1988 to 1992.
Li, the son of poor peasants, was born in Hubei (or Hupeh) province. He received almost no education, and worked as a carpenter in his youth. In 1927, he joined a Communist-led peasant uprising. For the next 10 years, he led Communist guerrillas in central China against the Chinese Nationalist forces. Li commanded Communist troops during the war between China and Japan (1937-1945). After the Communists conquered China in 1949, he became a party and government administrator in the industrial city of Wuhan.
Li criticized Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong in 1958, yet remained sympathetic to the Maoist inheritance. He also criticized leader Deng Xiaoping in the 1980’s. Throughout his career, Li exerted a strong influence on China’s political life from behind the scenes.
