The Eight Immortals were a group of elderly members of the Communist Party of China who held substantial power during the 1980s and 1990s. In Chinese, however, they are called the Eight Great Eminent Officials (Chinese: 八大元老; Pinyin: Bā dà yuán lǎo), abbreviated as the Eight Elders (八老 Bā lǎo). By 2000 most of the Eight Immortals had died. The Communist Party of China (CPC) (official name, though almost universally known in English as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)) (Simplified Chinese: , Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Zhōngguó GòngchÇŽndÇŽng) is the ruling political party of the Peoples Republic of China, a position guaranteed by the countrys... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... See also 1990s, the band The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, sometimes informally including popular culture from the late 1980s and shortly after the year 2000. ... Pinyin is a system of romanization (phonemic notation and transcription to Roman script) for Standard Mandarin, where pin means spell and yin means sound. The most common variant of pinyin in use is called Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: , Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: HànyÇ” PÄ«nyÄ«n), also known as scheme... This article is about the year 2000. ...

The name originated in the 1990s and is an allusion to the Taoist deities by the same name. See also 1990s, the band The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive, sometimes informally including popular culture from the late 1980s and shortly after the year 2000. ... Allusion is a stylistic device in which one implicitly references a related object or circumstance that has occurred or existed in an external context. ... The Eight Immortals crossing the sea, from Myths and Legends of China, 1922 by E. T. C. Werner. ...

The identities of seven of the Immortals are clear:

• Deng Xiaoping, "Paramount Leader", Central Military Commission Chairman 1980–1989, Central Advisory Commission chairman 1982–1987
• Chen Yun, Central Advisory Committee Chairman 1987–1992
• Peng Zhen, National People's Congress Chairman 1983–1988
• Yang Shangkun, President of the PRC 1988–1993.
• Bo Yibo, Central Advisory Committee Vice Chairman
• Li Xiannian, President of the PRC 1983–1988, then Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference chairman
• Wang Zhen, Central Advisory Committee Vice Chairman

There is less certainty about the identity of the eighth Immortal: Deng Xiaoping with US President Jimmy Carter Deng Xiaoping   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Dèng XiÇŽopíng; Wade-Giles: Teng Hsiao-ping; August 22, 1904–February 19, 1997) was a leader in the Communist Party of China (CCP). ... The term Paramount Leader usually refers to someone who has supreme and unquestionable power. ... The Central Military Commission (Chinese: 中央军事委员会 pinyin: Zhōngyāng JÅ«nshì WÄ›iyuánhuì ) refers to one of two bodies within the Peoples Republic of China. ... A chairman is the presiding officer of a meeting, organization, committee, or other deliberative body. ... Central Advisory Commission (中央顾问委员会 zhong1 yang1 gu4 wen4 wei3 yuan2 hui3) (CAC) of Peoples Republic of China provided political assistance and consultation to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中央委员会). The Commission was established after the... Chen Yun (Simplified Chinese: 陈云; Traditional Chinese: 陳雲; Hanyu Pinyin: ) (June 13, 1905 – April 10, 1995) was one of the most influential leaders of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Central Advisory Commission (中央顾问委员会 zhong1 yang1 gu4 wen4 wei3 yuan2 hui3) (CAC) of Peoples Republic of China provided political assistance and consultation to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中央委员会). The Commission was established after the... Peng Zhen (Chinese: 彭真; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Peng Chen) (October 12, 1902–April 26, 1997) was a leading member of the Communist Party of China. ... The Great Hall of the People, where the NPC convenes The National Peoples Congress (全国人民代表大会 in Pinyin: Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì, literally Pan-Nation Congress of the Peoples Representatives), abbreviated PNCOTPR, is the highest... Yáng ShàngkÅ«n (May 25, 1907–September 14, 1998) was President of the Peoples Republic of China from 1988 to 1993, and was permanent Vice-chair of the Central Military Commission. ... The President of the Peoples Republic of China (Chinese: 中华人民共和国主席 pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Zhŭxí) is the head of state of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Bo Yibo (Chinese: 薄一波; Pinyin: ) (born 1908), Chinese politician, one of the Eight Immortals of Communist China. ... Central Advisory Commission (中央顾问委员会 zhong1 yang1 gu4 wen4 wei3 yuan2 hui3) (CAC) of Peoples Republic of China provided political assistance and consultation to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中央委员会). The Commission was established after the... Lǐ Xiānniàn (1902–June 21, 1992) was President of the Peoples Republic of China between 1983 and 1988 and then president of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference until his death. ... The President of the Peoples Republic of China (Chinese: 中华人民共和国主席 pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Zhŭxí) is the head of state of the Peoples Republic of China. ... The Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (中国人民政治协商会议 Pinyin: Zhongguo renmin zhengzhi xieshang huiyi), abbreviated CPPCC, is an advisory body in the Peoples Republic of China. ... Wáng ZhÄ“n (王禎), first Ming eunuch with power in the court; see Battle of Tumu Fortress. ... Central Advisory Commission (中央顾问委员会 zhong1 yang1 gu4 wen4 wei3 yuan2 hui3) (CAC) of Peoples Republic of China provided political assistance and consultation to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中央委员会). The Commission was established after the...

• Song Renqiong, CAC Vice Chairman
• Deng Yingchao, CPPCC Chairwoman 1983–1988, widow of Zhou Enlai
• less commonly: Wan Li, National People's Congress Chairman 1988–1993
• less commonly: Xi Zhongxun, State Councillor

As of 2005, Wan Li and Bo Yibo are the only immortals still alive. Song Renqiong (宋任窮, 1909-January 8, 2005) was the vice-chairman of the Central Advisory Committee of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Central Advisory Commission (中央顾问委员会 zhong1 yang1 gu4 wen4 wei3 yuan2 hui3) (CAC) of Peoples Republic of China provided political assistance and consultation to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (中央委员会). The Commission was established after the... Deng Yingchao (邓颖超) (February 4, 1904 - July 11, 1992), was the Chairwoman of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference from 1983 to 1988 and a member of the Communist Party of China. ... The Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (中国人民政治协商会议 Pinyin: Zhongguo renmin zhengzhi xieshang huiyi), abbreviated CPPCC, is an advisory body in the Peoples Republic of China. ... This is a Chinese name, Zhou is the surname. ... Wan Li (Traditional Chinese: 萬里; Simplified Chinese: 万里) (born 1916, died 1996) was the Chairman of the National Peoples Congress before his retirement in 1993, and was generally considered to be a moderate. ... The Great Hall of the People, where the NPC convenes The National Peoples Congress (全国人民代表大会 in Pinyin: Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì, literally Pan-Nation Congress of the Peoples Representatives), abbreviated PNCOTPR, is the highest... Xi Zhongxun (習仲勛, xí zhòng xÅ«n, 1913-May 24, 2002) was State Councilor of the Peoples Republic of China. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wan Li (Traditional Chinese: 萬里; Simplified Chinese: 万里) (born 1916, died 1996) was the Chairman of the National Peoples Congress before his retirement in 1993, and was generally considered to be a moderate. ... Bo Yibo (Chinese: 薄一波; Pinyin: ) (born 1908), Chinese politician, one of the Eight Immortals of Communist China. ...

Some descendants of the Immortals constitute a group now known as the "Crown Prince Party". Crown Prince Party (太子党 Pinyin: Tàizǐ Dǎng), or The Princelings, are the descendants (usually in the second-generation) of prominent and influential senior communists of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

See also

• People's Republic of China
• Politics of the People's Republic of China

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Government of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

External links

• AsiaWeek article