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 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

External links

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