Introduction
Dong Biwu (5 March 1886 – 2 April 1975) was a Chinese communist political leader during the regime of Chairman Mao Zedong. Dong served as the Vice President and acting President of China.
Life and politics
Dong Biwu was born in Huanggang, Hubei. In 1911 he joined the Tongmenghui, and participated in the Xinhai Revolution. Twice he went to Japan to study at Nihon University. In 1921 he attended the 1st Congress of the Communist Party of China as a representative of Wuhan. Mao Zedong and Dong Biwu were the only two men to attend both the 1st Congress and the establishment of the People's Republic of China at Tiananmen in 1949.
He was Vice President of China from 1959 to 1972, jointly with Soong Ching-ling, and Acting President of Chinafrom 1972 to 1975. In 1975, the office of president was abolished and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress - then Zhu De - became formal head of state. Dong was elected Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of People's National Congress.
Dong was a member of Politburo of the Communist Party of China from 1945 to 1975. He was elected one of nine members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo at 10th Congress of the Communist Party in 1973.
He died a year before Mao and several other important politicians like Zhou Enlai and Zhu De.
In 1991, a statue of Dong Biwu was erected in one of Wuhan's central squares, Hongshan Guangchang. Hubei Provincial museum houses a collection of Dong's personal items.
