The Cultural
Revolution came to an end when Liu Shaoqi
resigned from all his posts on 13th October 1968. Lin
Biao now
became Mao's designated successor.
Mao
Zedong
now gave his support to the Gang of Four: Jiang
Qing (Mao's third wife), Wang Hongwen, Yao Wenyuan and Zhange
Chungqiao. These four radicals occupied powerful positions in the
Politburo after the Tenth Party Congress of 1973.
After the death of Mao
in 1976 the power of the Gang of Four declined dramatically. In 1980
they were found guilty of plotting against the state. Jiang Qing and
Zhange Chungqiao, who were considered to be the leaders, were sentenced
to death (later commuted to life imprisonment). Wang Hongwen and Yao
Wenyuan received lengthy prison sentences.
Jiang Qing (1991), Zhange
Chungqiao (1991) and Wang Hongwen (1992) died in prison. Yao Wenyuan
was released in 1997.
(1)
Deng Xiaoping, Mao Zedong Thought (1978)
We must uphold Marxism-Leninism
and Mao Zedong Thought. One of the key points of our struggle against
Lin Biao and the Gang of Four was opposition to their falsification,
doctoring and fragmenting of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought.
Since the smashing of the Gang, we have restored the scientific character
of Marxism- Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought and have guided ourselves
by them. This is a resounding victory for the whole Party and people.
But a few individuals think otherwise. Either they openly oppose the
basic tenets of Marxism-Leninism, or else they uphold Marxism-Leninism
in word only while in deed opposing Mao Zedong Thought, which represents
the integration of the universal truth of Marxism-Leninism with the
practice of the Chinese revolution. We must oppose these erroneous
trends of thought.
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