The Eight Great Eminent Officials (Chinese: 八大元老; Pinyin: Bā dà yuán lǎo), abbreviated as the Eight Elders (八老 Bā lǎo) were a group of elderly members of the Communist Party of China who held substantial power during the 1980s and 1990s. In the English-speaking world, these men are called The Eight Immortals. This designation originated in the 1990s and is an allusion to the Taoist deities also commonly known as the Eight Immortals. Hanyu Pinyin (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), commonly called Pinyin, is the most common variant of Standard Mandarin romanization system in use. ... The Communist Party of China (CPC) (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), also known as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), is the ruling political party of the Peoples Republic of China, a position guaranteed by the countrys constitution. ... The 1980s refers to the years of and between 1980 and 1989. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Allusion is a stylistic device or trope, in which one refers covertly or indirectly to an 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 the Eight are:

• Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997), "Paramount Leader", Central Military Commission Chairman 1980–1989, Central Advisory Commission chairman 1982–1987
• Chen Yun (1905-1995), Central Advisory Committee Chairman 1987–1992
• Peng Zhen (1902-1997), National People's Congress Chairman 1983–1988
• Yang Shangkun (1907-1998), President of the PRC 1988–1993.
• Bo Yibo (1908-2007), Central Advisory Committee Vice Chairman
• Li Xiannian (1909-1992), President of the PRC 1983–1988, then Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference chairman
• Wang Zhen (1908-1993), Central Advisory Committee Vice Chairman
• Song Renqiong (1909-2005), CAC Vice Chairman

Some descendants of the Eight Elders constitute a group now known as the "Crown Prince Party". Deng Xiaoping   (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Teng Hsiao-ping; August 22, 1904–February 19, 1997) was a leader in the Communist Party of China (CCP). ... 1904 (MCMIV) was a leap year starting on a Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Paramount leader (Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: , literally the highest leader of the country), in modern Chinese political science, unofficially refers to the political leader of the Peoples Republic of China who controls the three branches of the Chinese political system (Communist Party of China, Peoples Republic of China and... 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. ... 1905 (MCMV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 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. ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 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. ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... 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 (1908-2007) Bo Yibo, Chinese: ; pinyin: (February 17, 1908 - January 15, 2007) was a Chinese politician and one of the Eight Immortals of the Communist Party of China. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... 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. ... 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... 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. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... 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 (宋任窮, 1909-January 8, 2005) was the vice-chairman of the Central Advisory Committee of the Peoples Republic of China. ... 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 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... Crown Prince Party (太子党 Pinyin: Tàizǐ DÇŽng), 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