Jiang Qing

Chinese political figure and wife of Mao Zedong (1914–1991)

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Fame62.8
Momentum10.0
China rank#94
Wikipedia76.8K

Lived 1914–1991, aged 77China

China ActorsActor

Wikipedia
49 languages
Cross-language footprint
Rank in China
#94
Actors
Era
1914–1991
Aged 77
Known for
A Grin Without a Cat
1977

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

Mao's fourth wife who turned backstage power into a seat on the Politburo, then orchestrated the Cultural Revolution's upheavals until the regime turned on her and made her the scapegoat.

Biography

About

Born Li Yunhe in March 1914 to a broken family—abusive father, a mother who worked as servant and prostitute—she joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1933 and took the stage name Lan Ping while acting in 1930s Shanghai. In 1938 she reached Yan'an and married Mao Zedong, spending the 1940s as his personal secretary and the 1950s heading the Film Section of the Publicity Department. During the Cultural Revolution she wielded the influence behind the throne, leading the Gang of Four and securing a Politburo seat in 1969. When Mao died, the party arrested her and assigned her the blame for the de…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Jiang Qing

Jiang Qing

said1980

I was Chairman Mao's dog. Whomever he told me to bite, I bit.

— Her statement during her trial in 1980.

Jiang Qing

said12 Nov 1967

I feel very sorry that for a very long time I have not had hearings of opinions of comrades.

— Talk at the Peking Forum on Literature and Art (9 and 12 November 1967)

Jiang Qing

said12 Nov 1967

The establishment of troops in the cultural circles has this problem: the class element is relatively complicated.

— Talk at the Peking Forum on Literature and Art (9 and 12 November 1967)

Jiang Qing

said12 Nov 1967

There is a question of popularization versus elevation.

— Talk at the Peking Forum on Literature and Art (9 and 12 November 1967)

Jiang Qing

said12 Apr 1967

I am just an ordinary Communist who has worked for Chairman Mao as a secretary for many years. My work principally has concerned international problems.

— Speech at Enlarged Meeting of the Party Military Affairs Committee (12 April 1967)

via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA

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