Li Jishen

Li Jishen
李济深
Vice Chairman of the Central People's Government
In office
8 October 1949 – 9 October 1959
LeaderMao Zedong
Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
In office
October 1949 – 9 October 1959
ChairmanMao Zedong
Zhou Enlai
Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
In office
27 September 1954 – 9 October 1959
ChairmanLiu Shaoqi
Zhu De
Chairman of Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang
In office
1 January 1948 – 9 October 1959
Succeeded byHe Xiangning
Chairman of China Zhi Gong Party
In office
May 1947 – April 1950
Preceded byChen Jiongming
Succeeded byChen Qiyou
Personal details
Born5 November 1885
Cangwu, Guangxi
Died9 October 1959(1959-10-09) (aged 73)
Beijing
NationalityPeople's Republic of China
Political partyRevolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang
Other political
affiliations
Chinese Kuomintang
China Zhi Gong Party
ChildrenLi Peiyao (son)
Li Jishen
Traditional Chinese李濟深
Simplified Chinese李济深
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLǐ Jìshēn
Wade–GilesLi3 Chi4-shên1
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingLei5 Zai3 Sam1

Li Jishen or Li Chi-shen (5 November 1885 – 9 October 1959) was a Chinese military officer and politician, general of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic 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 the Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang (1948–1959).[1]

Initially a supporter of Chiang Kai-shek and Kuomintang, Li Jishen helped purge and murder Communists in the 1927 Shanghai massacre, but eventually became one of Chiang's top internal rivals. Li accused Chiang of weakness in the face of Japanese aggression and of submission to Western financial interests. The two eventually reached an understanding, and Li went on to hold military commands during the Second 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 splinter Revolutionary Committee of the Kuomintang (RCCK), then switched sides and joined the Communists, collaborating with Mao Zedong and holding political office in the new People'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.

  1. ^ Cihai Editorial Committee (eds). "Cihai" (1989 edition), p. 3319 Shanghai Lexicographic Publishing House. 1989.