Eight Elders

The Eight Great Eminent Officials (Chinese: 八大元老; pinyin: Bā dà yuánlǎo), abbreviated as the Eight Elders (Chinese: 八老; pinyin: 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 often sarcastically called The Eight Immortals^[1] as an allusion to the Taoist deities commonly known as the Eight Immortals.

The identities of the Eight, who have all since died, are:

• Deng Xiaoping (1904–1997), "Paramount Leader", Politburo Standing Committee member 1977–1987, Political Consultative Conference chairman 1978–1983, Central Military Commission Chairman 1980–1989, Central Advisory Commission chairman 1982–1987
• Chen Yun (1905–1995), Politburo Standing Committee member 1977–1987, 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), Politburo Standing Committee member 1977–1987, 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

Descendants of the Eight Elders who have benefited significantly from nepotism and cronyism constitute a group now known as "the Princelings" or the "Crown Prince Party".

See also

• People's Republic of China
• Politics of the People's Republic of China

References

External links

• AsiaWeek article
• John Ruwitch 'China's leaders tug strings of power in retirement' (Reuters)