Famous Chinese Revolutionaries

Jiang Qing was a Chinese actress, communist revolutionary and major political figure who played an important role during the Cultural Revolution in China. She is also remembered for forming a Maoist political faction called the Gang of Four. Jiang Qing married Mao Zedong and played a prominent role in propagating Mao's brand of Communist ideology.

Chiang Kai-shek was a Chinese revolutionary who led the Republic of China between 1928 and 1975, first in mainland China until 1949 and later on in Taiwan until his death. He is credited with successfully leading the Northern Expedition against the Beiyang government, achieving Chinese unification. He was involved in a civil war with Communist Party of China, which he lost in 1949 and retreated to Taiwan.

Hu Yaobang served as the Chinese Communist Party's general secretary from 1982 to 1987. Prior to his position as the general secretary, Hu served as the party's chairman from 1981 to 1982. Under Deng Xiaoping's leadership, Hu Yaobang rose to prominence and played a crucial role in the Boluan Fanzheng program, which was initiated by Deng.

Hong Xiuquan was a Hakka Chinese revolutionary best remembered for leading the Taiping Rebellion against the much-feared and powerful Qing Dynasty. Credited with establishing the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, Hong Xiuquan later served as an inspiration to the Communists under Mao Zedong. In 1959, China established a small museum to honor his legacy.  

Chen Yun was a Chinese political leader who played a major role during the Chinese economic reform. He was regarded as one of the most influential political leaders of China during the '80s and '90s. He also played an important role during the Chinese Civil War and was later counted among the Eight Great Eminent Officials of China.

Zhang Xianzhong reigned as the Emperor of the Xi dynasty from 1644 to 1646. He is best remembered for his role in the massacres that depopulated Sichuan during the 1640s. Zhang Xianzhong was killed in 1647 by the invading Qing army.

Huang Xing was a Chinese politician and revolutionary leader who served as the first supreme commander of the Republic of China. He is credited with founding the Kuomintang (KMT), one of the most popular political parties in Taiwan. In a 2011 historical drama film titled 1911, Huang Xing was played by actor and martial artist Jackie Chan.

Song Jiaoren was expelled from school for being involved in revolutionary activities. However, that didn’t stop Jiaoren from establishing the Nationalist Party, which won 269 of the 596 seats in the parliament in China’s first democratic election. He was later assassinated by criminals associated with the Yuan Shikai regime.

Chen Jiongming was a Chinese revolutionary, political figure, and anarchist. Chen is best remembered for making immense contributions to the formation of modern China. A multi-faceted personality, Chen wanted to reorganize China as a democratic republic. In order to realize his dream, he joined forces with Sun Yat-sen and helped him gain power. 

Shi Dakai was a Chinese poet and one of the most important leaders in the Taiping Rebellion. Shi Dakai's heroics as a magnificent general inspired his fellow clansman Zhu De who went on to establish the Red Army, which came to be known as the People's Liberation Army.

Zhang Binglin was a Chinese philologist, philosopher, textual critic, and revolutionary. Among his best known works is Wen Shi, the first systematic work of etymology in China. Zhang Binglin is also credited with developing jiyin zimu, a system of shorthand, which later served as the basis of zhuyin.

Born in Hunan and educated in Paris, Li Lisan went back to China to join the Communist Party, becoming one of its top leaders later. He is remembered for his strategy known as the Li Lisan line. He committed suicide when he was attacked during the Cultural Revolution.

Communist Party of China leader Qu Qiubai had initially a Russian language institute only because it charged no fees and promised a job. Superfluous Words, one of his iconic works, was written by him in prison. He was later executed by the Kuomintang. He died singing songs and screaming slogans.

Chinese revolutionary Huang Hua, who had been China’s foreign minister and also its vice premier, had also served as the translator of Mao Zedong. He was a key force behind the development of relations between China and India during the 1980s. He was also China’s ambassador to the UN.