Chen Boda

Chen Boda (Chinese陈伯达, Pinyin Chen Boda, * 1904 in Hui'an in Fujian province, Chinese Empire, † 20 September 1989 in Beijing, People's Republic of China ) was a leading member of the Communist Party of China.

He was private secretary to Mao Zedong and one of the leaders of the Communist Party of China during the Cultural Revolution.

Origin and early life

Chen Boda was born into a poor peasant family in southeast China's Fujian Province and visited a middle school in Xiamen. Since he could not continue his studies due to lack of money, he was secretary of a warlord. In the years 1926/1927, Chen Boda took part in the Northern Expedition, which was led by Chiang Kai- shek to one China. In 1927 he became a member of the Communist Party of China. He then went for four years to Moscow to study sociology and history at the Sun Yat -sen University. In 1930 he returned to Beijing and taught only there, then he went to Yan'an, where he taught at the KP Party School. 1937 Chen Boda was then Mao's political secretary, a job that he held until 1956. In 1945, Chen Boda candidate in 1946, became a member of the Central Committee of the CCP.

Role in the early People's Republic of

From 1949 to 1952 he was deputy chairman of the Commission for Culture and Education in Beijing. In this same period he was also vice president of the Academy of Sciences and Director of the Institute of Marxism -Leninism. Chen Boda wrote in this function several writings by which he became an important interpreter of Maoism. In 1956 he was candidate for the Politburo in November 1957 and took part in the Moscow Conference of Communist and Workers' Parties. In 1958 he was co-editor of the party journal Hongqi ( "The Red Flag" ). At the Lushan Conference in July 1959 used Mao Zedong, Chen Boda to criticize Peng Dehuai, because Mao did not lose its credibility.

Role during the Cultural Revolution

Chen Boda was in May 1966, the head of the new Cultural Revolution Group, which should determine the direction and supervision of the Cultural Revolution. By the time this group became the most important political institution in China, almost more important than even the Standing Committee of the Politburo. He was one of the five main party leaders. Similarly, Chen Boda was in 1966, in addition to Jiang Qing, head of the propaganda machine of the Communist Party and a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo. In these roles, he was advised by Kang Sheng, the chief of the secret police, and Jiang Qing, Yao Wenyuan, Zhang Chunqiao, Wang Li as well as young ideologues ( Benyu Qi, Guan Feng ... ) assisted him. When the Cultural Revolution Group the leaders in Beijing was powerful, their influence waned. This was the end of the participation Chen Boda to the Cultural Revolution dar. At the 9th Congress of the CCP in the spring of 1969, the Cultural Revolution Group was disbanded. At the same congress was also Lin Biao, Chen Boda supported by, as the successor of Mao.

Descent

In August 1970, Chen Boda proposed the revival of the Office of the President, which had remained vacant after dismissing Liu Shaoqi. Furthermore, he suggested, the chairperson with Lin Biao. Mao Zedong was able to frustrate and reached that the office remained vacant. Mao, who felt the power of Lin Biao's claim, now began gradually Familiar Lin Biao to displace. 1971 were accused of plotting against Mao Zedong and Lin Biao, Chen Boda. Lin Biao died in a plane crash in Mongolia, while Chen Boda was arrested. In 1980, he was sentenced to Gang of Four and their actions during the Cultural Revolution to 18 years in prison due to his membership, but shortly thereafter released because of his poor health.

Chen Boda died on September 20, 1989 in his home in Beijing.