Historical membership of the Politburo Standing Committee


A List of Historical makeup of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China since 1927–present.

5th PSC (1927–1927)

6th PSC 1st Plenary Session

Often known as the "Big Five". Note: PSC originally termed the Party "Secretariat"
№NameImageParty positionState position
1Mao ZedongChairman of the Communist Party of China,
Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission		Chairman of the People's Republic of China
2Zhou Enlai-Premier of the Government Administration Council,
Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China,
Chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference
3Ren Bishi
--
4Chen Yun
--
5Liu ShaoqiPresident of the Central Party SchoolChairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
6Zhu De-Vice President of the People's Republic of China

8th PSC (1956–1969)

First makeup (1956–1966)

Second makeup (1966–1969)

The Politburo Standing Committee was extensively changed in composition and importance of members by the 11th Plenary Session of the 8th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Particularly, Lin Biao was elected only Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee, with Liu Shaoqi falling from 2nd member in importance to 8th.
№NameImageParty positionState position
1Mao ZedongChairman of the CPC Central Committee,
Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission		-
2Lin BiaoVice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee,
First-ranking Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission		Minister of National Defense,
First Vice Premier of the State Council
3Zhou EnlaiVice Chairman of the CPC Central Military CommissionPremier of the State Council,
Chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference
4Tao Zhu
Head of the CPC Propaganda Department
5Chen BodaHead of the Cultural Revolution Group
6Deng Xiaoping
--
7Kang ShengHead of the Organization and Propaganda Leading Group,
Advisor to the Cultural Revolution Group		-
8Liu Shaoqi
Chairman of the People's Republic of China
9Zhu DeVice Chairman of the CPC Central Military CommissionChairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
10Li Fuchun--
11Chen Yun--

9th PSC (1969–1973)

10th PSC (1973–1977)

First makeup (1973–1976)

Second makeup (1976–1977)

11th PSC (1977–1982)

First makeup (1977–1981)

Second makeup (1981–1982)

In the wake of Deng Xiaoping's ascension to "paramount leader", the Politburo Standing Committee was extensively changed in composition and importance of members by the Sixth Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China —the same meeting that adopted a resolution condemning Mao Zedong's role in the Cultural Revolution. Note that, although Deng held the 3rd position in the PSC, it was he who maintained the actual power, mainly because his ideas were now at the centre of China's new political and economic line.
№NameImageParty positionState position
1Hu YaobangChairman of the CPC Central Committee,
General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee		-
2Ye JianyingVice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military CommissionChairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress

3		Deng XiaopingVice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee,
Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission		Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
4Zhao ZiyangVice Chairman of the CPC Central CommitteePremier of the State Council
5Li XiannianVice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee-
6Chen YunVice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee,
First Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection		-
7Hua GuofengVice Chairman of the CPC Central Committee-

12th PSC (1982–1987)

13th PSC (1987–1992)

First makeup (1987–1989)

Second makeup (1989–1992)

14th PSC (1992–1997)

15th PSC (1997–2002)

16th PSC (2002–2007)

All nine members of the 16th PSC are university trained engineers.

17th PSC (2007–2012)

18th PSC (2012-2017)

19th PSC (2017–present)