| Yuanshuai 元帅 元帥 | |
|---|---|
.svg){kind=icon} Shoulder boards for the PLA rankyuan shuai (marshal), modelled after those of themarshal of the Soviet Union | |
| Country |  China |
| Service branch |  People's Liberation Army Ground Force |
| Abolished | 1965 |
| Next higher rank | Dayuanshuai ("Grand Marshal") |
| Next lower rank | Dajiang ("Grand General") |
Yuanshuai (simplified Chinese:元帅;traditional Chinese:元帥;pinyin:Yuánshuài) was a Chinese military rank that corresponds to amarshal in other nations.[1] It was given to distinguished generals during China's dynastic and republican periods. A higher level rank ofDayuanshuai (simplified Chinese:大元帅;traditional Chinese:大元帥;pinyin:Dà Yuánshuài;lit. 'Grand Marshal'), which corresponds togeneralissimo was awarded toChiang Kai Shek of the Republic of China. It was also proposed forMao Zedong on the mainland, but he ultimately never accepted it.
The rankMarshal of the People's Republic of China (traditional Chinese:中華人民共和國元帥;simplified Chinese:中华人民共和国元帅;pinyin:Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Yuánshuài) was awarded to ten veteran generals of thePeople's Liberation Army Ground Force in 1955. However, it was abolished in 1965 and was never restored.[citation needed] Five important criteria must be met to attain the rank of Marshal:
In addition, Chairman Mao, upon refusing the rank ofDayuanshuai, decreed that cadres who no longer serve in the PLA should lose eligibility for military ranks. Thus,Deng Xiaoping,Liu Shaoqi andZhou Enlai declined the rank upon offer. Chen Yi also initially refused the rank in accordance to Mao's decree since he now primarily worked in government rather than the PLA. However, Zhou Enlai insisted that he take it,[citation needed] noting that because all of the other nine Marshals came from theEighth Route Army, if he didn't take the rank, there would be no Marshal to represent the legacy of theNew Fourth Army, and also noting the case ofNikolai Bulganin, who held the rank ofMarshal of the Soviet Union whilst working primarily in government, as a precedent. Thus, he was given an exception and was awarded the rank.[citation needed] As a result, the recipients of the rank were:
| Name | Image | Career Highlights | Birthplace (Ancestry) | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhu De (1886–1976) |  | Founding leader of theChinese Red Army and played a key role in theLong March and major battles in theChinese Civil War. Zhu commanded theEighth Route Army during theSecond Sino-Japanese War and held high-ranking government and military positions after thefounding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. | Yilong, Sichuan | [2] |
| Peng Dehuai (1898–1974) |  | A commander in the Chinese Red Army during the early period of theChinese Communist Revolution, Peng played a leading role in battles during the Chinese Civil War and the Long March. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Eighth Route Army, overseeing campaigns inNorth China. In the Civil War, he commanded theNorthwest Field Army. Post-1949, Peng became theMinister of National Defense andVice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, playing a pivotal role in modernizing China's military. He also commandedPeople's Volunteer Army during theKorean War. In 1959, he was dismissed from his positions after criticizing theGreat Leap Forward at theLushan Conference in 1959. During theCultural Revolution, he was persecuted and imprisoned, resulting in his death in 1974. | Xiangtan, Hunan | [3] |
| Lin Biao (1907–1971) |  | Key military leader in the Chinese Red Army, Lin was noted for his role in the Long March and his victories during the Civil War, particularly in theLiaoshen,Huaihuai, andPingjin campaigns that ensured Communist control ofNorthern China. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he commanded the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, achieving a major victory at theBattle of Pingxingguan. After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Lin served as Minister of National Defense, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and played a significant role in the early stages of the Cultural Revolution. His career ended controversially with hisalleged coup attempt against Mao Zedong andsubsequent death in plane crash in Mongolia while escaping, in 1971. | Huanggang, Hubei | [4] |
| Liu Bocheng (1892–1986) |  | Known as the "Genius Commander," Liu was a strategist in the Chinese Red Army and played a pivotal role in major campaigns during the Chinese Civil War, including the Huaihai Campaign. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he commanded the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army, creating a strong guerrilla base inShanxi. After the Communist victory in 1949, Liu became a key military educator as and a prominent strategist in modernizing China's armed forces, later serving as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission. | Kaixian, Sichuan (present-day in Chongqing) | [5] |
| He Long (1896–1969) |  | Only Marshal belonging to anethnic minority group (Tujia), He began his revolutionary career by organizing peasant uprisings and leading troops during the 1927Nanchang Uprising. In the Chinese Red Army, he commanded several key campaigns and contributed to the establishment of revolutionary bases. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he served as the commander of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army. Post-1949, He held important leadership positions, including Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Director of theState Physical Culture and Sports Commission andVice Premier of China. During the Cultural Revolution, he lost all of his official positions, and was arrested and persecuted, resulting in his death in 1969. | Sangzhi, Hunan | [6][7] |
| Chen Yi (1901–1972) | .jpg) | One of the earliest Chinese Red Army leaders, Chen participated in the Nanchang andXiangnan Uprisings and became a senior commander in the Red Army. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he served as the commander of theNew Fourth Army, leading campaigns inEast China. In the Civil War, Chen oversaw major victories in East China. Post-1949, Chen served as the mayor ofShanghai and then transitioned to diplomacy, serving as theForeign Minister and Vice Premier. | Lezhi, Sichuan | [8] |
| Luo Ronghuan (1902–1963) |  | Luo served served as a political commissar in the Chinese Red Army during the Long March and the Civil War. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he served as political commissar of the 115th Division inShandong. During the Civil War, he made substanial contribution in the Communist victories inNortheast China and the rest of China. After 1949, he became instrumental in building and organizing the People's Liberation Army, holding positions such as Director of the General Political Department and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission. | Hengshan, Hunan | [9] |
| Xu Xiangqian (1901–1990) |  | Xu began his military career by taking part inChiang Kai-shek'sNorthern Expedition to recoverEast China from several warlords. Afterthe end of the Nationalist-Communist alliance, he led the failedGuangzhou Uprising before rising to command roles in the Chinese Red Army, including as the General Commander of the Fourth Front Army. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he served as the deputy commander of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army, later taking on leadership roles in theYan'an Soviet’s military forces. During the Civil War, Xu participated in several battles in North China. After 1949, Xu held prominent positions such as Chief of General Staff and Vice Chairman of the PRC Military Committees. His later career included serving as a Vice Premier, member of thePolitburo and as Minister of National Defense. | Wutai, Shanxi | [10] |
| Nie Rongzhen (1899–1992) |  | A key figure in the Nanchang and Guangzhou Uprisings, Nie become a prominent leader in the Chinese Red Army and served as political commissar of the First Army Group during the Long March. He played a vital role during the Second Sino-Japanese War as the commander and political commissar of theJin-Cha-Ji Border Region, establishing a strong communist military base in North China. In the Civil War, he contributed to major victories in North China campaigns. After the founding of the People's Republic, Nie served as Vice Chief of General Staff and was instrumental in advancing China's military science and space programs. He later became a Vice Premier and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission. He was the last living Marshal. | Jiangjin, Sichuan (present-day in Chongqing) | [11] |
| Ye Jianying (1897–1986) |  | Only Marshal ofCantonese andHakka origin, Ye participated in the Nanchang and Guangzhou Uprisings, later serving as Chief of Staff for theFourth Army of theNational Revolutionary Army and in senior roles in the Chinese Red Army. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, he became the Chief of Staff of the Eighth Route Army and worked on maintaining the relations betweenNationalists andCommunists. In the Civil War, he played a significant role in reorganizing military strategies of the Communist force. Post-1949, Ye served as the Mayor ofGuangzhou and Chairman ofGuangdong, contributing to the consolidation of Communist authority inSouth China. He later became Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Minister of National Defense and held leadership roles in theNational People's Congress and the State Council, including briefly acting as the de facto head of state. | Mei, Guangdong (now Meixian District) | [12] |
Su Yu was left out but he became the most senior of the tenDa Jiang. Many were surprised at this decision but he did not meet the first and second criterion. Seven of the ten Marshals took part in theNanchang Uprising in various capacities withZhou Enlai. Of the other three, Peng Dehuai led the Pingjiang Uprising. Xu Xiangqian missed out on Nanchang but participated in the subsequent Guangzhou Uprising with Ye Jianying. The other wasLuo Ronghuan, who instead assisted Mao in theAutumn Harvest Uprising. Lin Biao was the youngest and Zhu De was the oldest of the ten Marshals aged 48 and 69 respectively at time of conferment. Luo Ronghuan was the first to die at age 61 in 1963 and Nie Rongzhen was the last to die aged 93 in 1992. Three of the ten Marshals were addressed by their honorific of 老总 (Lao Zong, or "Old Chief") by Chairman Mao himself due to their seniority and long service. These wereZhu De,Peng Dehuai andHe Long.Chen Yi and Nie Rongzhen was sometimes also addressed as Lao Zong but not by Chairman Mao personally. One, Lin Biao, was simply addressed as 总 Zong due to his battle honours. He was not addressed as Lao Zong due to his youth and lesser seniority. He was also the only Marshal not to have died in Beijing.
TenMarshals of the People's Republic of China | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| | ||
.svg)
