How a bloodless coup ended China's most radical political era

History · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In October 1976, following the death of Mao Zedong, a sudden, efficient operation dismantled a powerful political faction. Known as the Gang of Four, these four officials held immense sway over the nation's cultural and political apparatus, sparking a decade of upheaval before their sudden downfall.

The Gang of Four was a Maoist faction that rose to prominence during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). Led by Jiang Qing, the wife of Mao Zedong, the group included Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan, and Wang Hongwen. At the height of their influence, following a period of significant deaths within the party leadership, the group comprised half of the remaining members of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee.

The group's power was deeply intertwined with the Cultural Revolution's machinery. Yao Wenyuan's 1965 critique of a play is often cited as the spark that launched the era. While the group controlled many power organs, historians debate the extent of their independent planning versus the execution of Mao's own directives. By the end of Mao's life, a fierce power struggle emerged between the Gang and an alliance including Deng Xiaoping, Zhou Enlai, and Ye Jianying.

The end came swiftly on October 6, 1976, via a bloodless coup d'état organized by Chairman Hua Guofeng. In a coordinated effort, the group was arrested as they entered a Politburo meeting, while special units simultaneously apprehended Jiang Qing at her residence. This event, termed 'Smashing the Gang of Four,' effectively signaled the end of the Cultural Revolution.

The aftermath was marked by high-profile legal proceedings. In a 1980 trial, the group faced charges of anti-party activities and the persecution of approximately 750,000 people. While Jiang Qing and Zhang Chunqiao received death sentences (later commuted to life imprisonment), the group's downfall also paved the way for the rise of Deng Xiaoping and a new era in Chinese politics.

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