| Jiang Qing |
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EARLY YEARS She was born as Lǐ Shúméng (李淑蒙) in Zhucheng (诸城), Shandong Province . She is also known as Lǐ Jìn (李进) and Lǐ Yúnhè (李云鹤) and was an actress under the Stage Name of Lán Píng (蓝苹). She joined the Communist Party Of China in 1933 and worked as an Actress in Shanghai from 1933 to 1937 . In 1939 , Kang Sheng introduced her to Mao Zedong in Yan'an , and she and Mao were later married. After 1949, she worked in the Ministry of Culture. RISE IN POWER She became a member of the Politburo in 1969 . She was appointed as the deputy director of the Cultural Revolution in 1966 and formed the Gang Of Four with Zhang Chunqiao , Yao Wenyuan and Wang Hongwen . From that point on, she was the most powerful figure in China during Mao's last years and became a controversial figure of Mao's regime. Jiang incited radical youths organized as Red Guards against other senior political leaders and government officials, including Liu Shaoqi , the President Of The PRC at that time, and Deng Xiaoping , the Deputy Premier. Internally divided into factions both to the "left" and "right" of Jiang Qing and Mao, not all Red Guards were friendly to Jiang Qing. Jiang also directed operas and ballets with communist and revolutionary content as part of an effort to transform China's culture. The Eight Model Plays were created under her rigorous supervision as a deputy director of the Cultural Revolution and, due to her influence, were the only plays permitted from 1966-1976. As she tried to enforce her vision of art throughout all areas of art, she alienated some of the Chinese public. She been accused of being petty, attacking old enemies such as directors and actresses she knew from her days as an actress in Shanghai. Although she championed the Communist ideals equality and solidarity, Jiang longed to wear the feminine fashions and sophisticated hairstyles of the West. When the Filipino First Lady Imelda Marcos visited in the '70s, Jiang was said to be envious of her clothes and makeup. According to Jung Chang 's and Jon Halliday 's biography of Mao Zedong, Jiang's favorite hobbies included photography, playing cards, and watching foreign movies, especially '' Gone With The Wind ''. She suffered as a hypochondriac as diagnosed by Mao´s physisian Li Zhisui ). Jiang first collaborated with then 2nd-in-charge ). LATER YEARS At her trial in 1981 she was the only member of the Gang of Four who bothered to argue on her behalf. The Defense's Argument was that she was obeying the orders of her husband at all times. It was at this trial that Qing made the famous quote "I was Mao's mad dog. Whoever he asked me to bite, I bit". She was Sentenced To Death with a two-year reprieve in 1981 , and the sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. She was released for medical reasons in 1991 . She died soon after. Later the government claimed that she committed suicide in her apartment, ten days after her release. REFERENCES
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