Eight Elders
The Eight Great Eminent Officials, abbreviated as the Eight Elders, 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 often called The Eight Immortals as an allusion to the Taoist deities commonly known as the Eight Immortals.
Membership
The Eight elders were:| Image | Name | Position Held |
| Deng Xiaoping | Paramount Leader Politburo Standing Committee Political Consultative Conference Chairman Central Military Commission Chairman Central Advisory Commission Chairman | |
| Chen Yun | Politburo Standing Committee 1977–1987 Central Commission for Discipline Inspection First Secretary Central Advisory Commission Chairman | |
| Li Xiannian | Politburo Standing Committee President of the PRC Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Chairman | |
| Peng Zhen | National People's Congress Chairman | |
| Yang Shangkun | President of the PRC Central Military Commission Vice Chairman | |
| Bo Yibo | Central Advisory Committee Vice Chairman | |
| Wang Zhen | Central Advisory Committee Vice Chairman | |
| Song Renqiong | Central Advisory Committee Vice Chairman |
Role in "strongman politics"
The politburo system was created by the Bolsheviks in 1917, when Vladimir Lenin established it to command and control the October Revolution. It was later adopted by the Chinese communists. In both the early Chinese and Russian politburos, "strongman politics" played a large role in internal decision-making. Politburos under both Joseph Stalin and Mao Zedong were later criticized for being dysfunctional and largely decorative, allowing the top leaders to dictate both party policy and the fate of the other leaders.Under Deng Xiaoping, important decisions were often made in Deng's home with a caucus of eight senior party cadres, called "Eight Elders". Deng ruled as paramount leader, although he never held the top title of the party or the state. However, Deng was able to remove three Party leaders with the aid of the Eight Elders. Hua Guofeng was gradually removed from Premier and Party Chairman between 1980 and 1981; Hu Yaobang was removed in 1987; and, Zhao Ziyang was removed in 1989.