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Li Jishen | |
|---|---|
李济深 | |
 | |
| Vice Chairman of the Central People's Government | |
| In office 8 October 1949 – 9 October 1959 | |
| Leader | Mao Zedong |
| Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference | |
| In office October 1949 – 9 October 1959 | |
| Chairman | Mao Zedong Zhou Enlai |
| Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress | |
| In office 27 September 1954 – 9 October 1959 | |
| Chairman | Liu Shaoqi Zhu De |
| Chairman ofRevolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang | |
| In office 1 January 1948 – 9 October 1959 | |
| Succeeded by | He Xiangning |
| Chairman ofChina Zhi Gong Party | |
| In office May 1947 – April 1950 | |
| Preceded by | Chen Jiongming |
| Succeeded by | Chen Qiyou |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 November 1885 |
| Died | 9 October 1959(1959-10-09) (aged 73) |
| Nationality | People's Republic of China |
| Political party | Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang |
| Other political affiliations | Chinese Kuomintang China Zhi Gong Party |
| Children | Li Peiyao (son) |
| Li Jishen | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 李濟深 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 李济深 | ||||||||||||
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Li Jishen (simplified Chinese:李济深;traditional Chinese:李濟深;Wade–Giles:Li Chi-shen; 5 November 1885 – 9 October 1959) was a Chinese military officer and politician, general of theNational Revolutionary Army of theRepublic of China,Vice President of the People's Republic of China (1949–1954),Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress (1954–1959),Vice Chairman the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (1949–1959) and founder and first Chairman of theRevolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang (1948–1959).[1]
Initially a supporter ofChiang Kai-shek andKuomintang, Li Jishen helped purge and execute Communists in the 1927Shanghai massacre, but eventually became one of Chiang's top internal rivals. Li accused Chiang of weakness in the face ofJapanese aggression and of submission to Western financial interests. The two eventually reached an understanding, and Li went on to hold military commands during theSecond Sino–Japanese War. However, after the end of the war, new disagreements with Chiang led to Li's expulsion from the Kuomintang. After this, for a time, he became leader of the splinterRevolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang (RCCK), then switched sides and joined the Communists, collaborating withMao Zedong and holding political office in the newPeople's Republic of China.
Li married several times and fathered many children. One of his sons,Li Peiyao, also served as Chairman of the RCCK.
Li was born inCangwu County,Wuzhou,Guangxi, in 1886.[1] His family owned land, and some of his ancestors wereConfucian scholars. His mother died when he was four years old. Li enrolled at Wuzhou Middle School, where he studied under the right wing Kuomintang leaderHu Hanmin. In 1904 he entered the Liangguang Accelerated Army Academy of theQing Imperial Army inGuangdong. After graduation three years later, he was selected for advanced study at theBeiyang Army Officers Academy inBeijing (which later became theBaoding Military Academy). He interrupted his studies after theWuchang revolt of October 1911 to serve as chief of staff of the 22nd Division of the revolutionary army inJiangsu. After the establishment of the Republic of China, Li completed his education and remained at the Beijing academy, now called the Military Staff College, this time as an instructor.[2]
Li returned toGuangdong in 1921 at the invitation of Guangdong Army chief of staffDeng Keng (邓铿). Deng was assassinated in March 1922, andChen Jiongming staged a coup in June of that year, which Li helped to put down. For this, he received command of the army's 1st Division.[2]
In 1924, after serving briefly as commissioner of reconstruction of the West River-Wuzhou area and as Wuzhou garrison commander, Li became Deputy Dean of the newly establishedWhampoa Military Academy under Chiang Kai-shek. AfterSun Yat-sen's death in March 1925, the Guangdong government was reorganized as the National Government, and Li was appointed commander of the 4th Army, which had formerly been the Guangdong Army. He spent the next year destroying Chen Jiongming's remaining power.[2]
When theNorthern Expedition began in July 1926, Li's 4th Army joined the push northward. During this time, Li also served as Governor of Guangdong, military affairs commissioner, and acting president of the Whampoa Military Academy. In 1927, he was elected to the Central Executive Committee of theKuomintang and helped Chiang in thepurge and massacre of Communists.
In November 1927, Li left Guangdong withWang Jingwei to attend a plenary session of the Committee inShanghai on the subject of restoring party unity. In his absence,Zhang Fakui staged a coup. However, officers loyal to Li successfully put down the coup, forcing Zhang to surrender, and Li returned to Guangdong on 4 January 1928.[2]
On 7 February 1928, Li was made a member of the standing committee of theMilitary Affairs Commission. He was also made commander in chief of the newly establishedEighth Route Army. On 1 March, Li became chairman of the Guangdong branch of the Political Council of the Kuomintang, and on 30 March he was made chief of the general staff of the Northern Expedition. During the remainder of the year, Li attended meetings in Beijing, and briefly served as acting commander in chief of the Nationalist forces when Chiang Kai-shek left Beijing forNanjing. He was appointed to the State Council on 8 October and resigned as Governor of Guangdong in November.[2]
In 1929, Li traveled to Nanjing to attend the 3rd National Congress and mediate a dispute that had arisen between the Nationalist government and theNew Guangxi clique. However, talks broke down in March, the members of the clique were expelled from the Kuomintang, and Li was placed in detention. He was not freed until after the Japanese attack onMukden in 1931.[2]
In 1933, Li joined forces withChen Mingshu to launch a successful military revolt inFujian, and after the initial seizure of power, became Chairman of theFujian People's Government. However, in 1934, the revolt was crushed by Chiang Kai-shek, and Li was forced to flee toHong Kong in January 1934.[2]
In 1935, Li joined with associates to found the Chinese People's Revolutionary League, which advocated resistance against Japan and overthrow of the Nationalist government. In 1936, Li participated in a jointGuangdong-Guangxi revolt against the government, but after it collapsed, Li returned to Hong Kong. The order for his arrest was rescinded by Chiang.[2]
In 1938, in the name of unity against the Japanese threat, Li was restored to membership in the Kuomintang, and again became a member of theMilitary Affairs Commission and the State Council. During the Sino-Japanese War, Li served in several military posts. In 1944, he was appointed president of the Military Advisory Council, and worked to consolidate resistance against Japan in southern Guangxi. At the 6th National Congress of the Kuomintang in May 1945, Li was elected to the Central Supervisory Committee of the Kuomintang, and served as a delegate to the National Assembly the following year.[2]
On 8 March 1947, Li issued a statement calling for reconciliation between the Kuomintang and theChinese Communist Party. For this, Li was again expelled from the Kuomintang on Chiang's orders, for "making unwarranted statements and inciting the people to riot". Li began working to unite current and former Kuomintang members who opposed Chiang Kai-shek. This led to the formation of theRevolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang in 1948, with Li as its first chairman.[2]
Li left Hong Kong in early 1949 and traveled north toBeijing, invited byMao Zedong, and assisted in the preparatory work for the founding of the newPeople's Republic of China. Afterthe inauguration of the new Communist government, Li went on to hold important posts, serving asVice Chairman of the People's Republic from 1949 to 1954,Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress (1954–1959), andVice Chairman the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (1949–1959). He was also Vice President of the Sino-Soviet Friendship Association.[1]
In addition to these positions, in January 1953 Li was named to the committee responsible for drafting the firstConstitution of the People's Republic of China.
Li Jishen died on 9 October 1959 in Beijing due tostomach cancer and acerebral thrombosis, at the age of 73.[1][2]
Li married several times, had many mistresses, and fathered many children. One of his sons became Dean of the Agricultural College ofLingnan University during the 1940s. His second son, Li Pui Kum, went to New York and graduated from Columbia University. Another son,Li Peiyao, became Chairman of the National Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang in the 1990s. Three of his daughters were students atYenching University in 1950.[2]
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