History glossary
Gang of Four
the radical Maoist faction arrested after Mao's death and blamed for many Cultural Revolution abuses.
- Category
- Political faction
- Region
- China
- Date range
- 1970s
What it means
The Gang of Four was the name given to Jiang Qing and three radical allies after Mao's death. Their arrest in 1976 helped end the immediate Cultural Revolution power struggle and opened space for a more pragmatic political direction.
Related terms
Stories using this term
Mao's China
After 1949, Mao transformed China through party rule, collectivisation, ideological campaigns, and mass upheaval, leaving a legacy of power, trauma, and state continuity.
The Rise of China
After Mao, China combined market reform with one-party rule, using exports, cities, technology, and nationalism to become one of the world's most powerful states.
