Eight Elders
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The Eight Great Eminent Officials (Chinese: 八大元老; Pinyin: Bā dà yuán lǎo), abbreviated as the Eight Elders (八老 Bā lǎo) were a group of elderly members of the Communist Party of China who held substantial power during the 1980s and 1990s. In the English-speaking world, these men are called The Eight Immortals.[citation needed] This designation originated in the 1990s and is an allusion to the Taoist deities also commonly known as the Eight Immortals. They have all since died.
The identities of the Eight are:
- Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997), "Paramount Leader", Central Military Commission Chairman 1980–1989, Central Advisory Commission chairman 1982–1987
- Chen Yun (1905-1995), Central Advisory Committee Chairman 1987–1992
- Peng Zhen (1902-1997), National People's Congress Chairman 1983–1988
- Yang Shangkun (1907-1998), President of the PRC 1988–1993.
- Bo Yibo (1908-2007), Central Advisory Committee Vice Chairman
- Li Xiannian (1909-1992), President of the PRC 1983–1988, then Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference chairman
- Wang Zhen (1908-1993), Central Advisory Committee Vice Chairman
- Song Renqiong (1909-2005), CAC Vice Chairman
Some descendants of the Eight Elders constitute a group now known as the "Crown Prince Party".
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- AsiaWeek article
- John Ruwitch 'China's leaders tug strings of power in retirement' (Reuters)
