Jiang Qing (, also known as
Madame Mao; March 19, 1914May 14, 1991) was a Chinese actress and a major political figure during the
Cultural Revolution (1966–76). She was the fourth wife of
Mao Zedong, the Chairman of the
Communist Party of China. She used the
stage name Lan Ping during her acting career, and was known by many other names (see "names" section below). She married Mao in
Yan'an in November 1938 and served as the inaugural "
First Lady" of the People's Republic of China. Jiang Qing was best known for playing a major role in the Cultural Revolution and for forming the radical political alliance known as the "
Gang of Four".