Eight Immortals of Communist Party of China
Encyclopedia
The Eight Great Eminent Officials , abbreviated as the Eight Elders were a group of elderly members of the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...

 who held substantial power during the 1980s and 1990s. In the English-speaking world, these men are often sarcastically called The Eight Immortals as an allusion
Allusion
An allusion is a figure of speech that makes a reference to, or representation of, people, places, events, literary work, myths, or works of art, either directly or by implication. M. H...

 to the Taoist deities commonly known as the Eight Immortals
Eight Immortals
The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary xian in Chinese mythology. Each Immortal's power can be transferred to a power tool that can give life or destroy evil. Together, these eight tools are called "Covert Eight Immortals" . Most of them are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty or...

.

The identities of the Eight, who have all since died, are:
  • Deng Xiaoping
    Deng Xiaoping
    Deng Xiaoping was a Chinese politician, statesman, and diplomat. As leader of the Communist Party of China, Deng was a reformer who led China towards a market economy...

     (1904–1997), "Paramount Leader
    Paramount leader
    Paramount leader literally "the highest leader of the party and the state ", in modern Chinese political science, unofficially refers to the political leader of the People's Republic of China....

    ", Politburo Standing Committee member 1977–1987, Political Consultative Conference
    Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
    The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...

     chairman 1978–1983, Central Military Commission
    Central Military Commission
    A Central Military Commission or National Defense Commission is an organisation typical of Communist one-party states, responsible for supervising the nation's armed forces....

     Chairman 1980–1989, Central Advisory Commission
    Central Advisory Commission
    Central Advisory Commission of People's Republic of China provided "political assistance and consultation" to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China ....

     chairman 1982–1987
  • Chen Yun
    Chen Yun
    Chen Yun was one of the most influential leaders of the People's Republic of China during the 1980s and 90s, and one of the top leaders of the Communist Party of China for almost its entire history. He was also known as Liao Chengyun ; it's unclear whether this was his original name or a pseudonym...

     (1905–1995), Politburo Standing Committee member 1977–1987, Central Advisory Committee Chairman 1987–1992
  • Peng Zhen
    Peng Zhen
    Peng Zhen was a leading member of the Communist Party of China.-Biography:Born in Houma , Peng was originally named Fu Maogong....

     (1902–1997), National People's Congress
    National People's Congress
    The National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...

     Chairman 1983–1988
  • Yang Shangkun
    Yang Shangkun
    Yang Shangkun was President of the People's Republic of China from 1988 to 1993, and was permanent Vice-chair of the Central Military Commission...

     (1907–1998), President of the PRC 1988–1993.
  • Bo Yibo
    Bo Yibo
    Bo Yibo was a Chinese politician and one of the Eight Immortals of the Communist Party of China....

     (1908–2007), Central Advisory Committee  Vice Chairman
  • Li Xiannian
    Li Xianniàn
    Li Xiannian was President of the People's Republic of China between 1983 and 1988 and then chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference until his death. He was an influential political figure throughout the PRC, having been a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of...

     (1909–1992), Politburo Standing Committee member 1977–1987, President of the PRC 1983–1988, then Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
    Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
    The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...

     chairman
  • Wang Zhen
    Wang Zhen
    Wang Zhen was a Chinese political figure and one of the Eight Immortals of the Communist Party of China.-Early years:Like most Chinese communist leaders, Wang was a commander in his early years...

     (1908–1993), Central Advisory Committee Vice Chairman
  • Song Renqiong
    Song Renqiong
    Song Renqiong was a general in the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China .Song was born in Liuyang, Hunan Province....

     (1909–2005), CAC Vice Chairman


Descendants of the Eight Elders who have benefited significantly from nepotism
Nepotism
Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos, nepotis , from which modern Romanian nepot and Italian nipote, "nephew" or "grandchild" are also descended....

 and cronyism
Cronyism
Cronyism is partiality to long-standing friends, especially by appointing them to positions of authority, regardless of their qualifications. Hence, cronyism is contrary in practice and principle to meritocracy....

 constitute a group now known as "the Princelings" or the "Crown Prince Party
Crown Prince Party
In modern usage, the Crown Prince Party, or The Princelings, refers to the descendants of prominent and influential senior communist officials in the People's Republic of China. It is not a political party, but an informal, and often derogatory, categorization to signify those benefiting from...

".

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