First Lady of China

The term "First Lady" refers to the legal spouse of the paramount leader or the state representative of China, but this is an unofficial title. Because China's highest leader and state representative are not necessarily the same person, the official definition of "first spouse" has long been absent.

History

During Liu Shaoqi's tenure as President of China, he and his wife Wang Guangmei made several overseas visits. Foreign media often referred to Wang Guangmei as "First Lady," which displeased Mao Zedong's wife, Jiang Qing. Jiang Qing believed that as the wife of the Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party, she was the rightful First Lady. This laid the groundwork for the later criticism and struggle against Liu Shaoqi and his wife during the Cultural Revolution.

Until 2013, when Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, visited Russia, Tanzania and South Africa with his wife Peng Liyuan, the official Chinese media Xinhua News Agency, People’s Daily and Global Times referred to Peng Liyuan as "China’s First Lady", which sparked a "First Lady fever" in China. After that, official reports mostly referred to Peng Liyuan as "Xi Jinping’s wife", and when she visited foreign countries, she was referred to as "Professor Peng Liyuan".

List of spouses of the paramount leaders

All six leaders have had a spouse during their terms in office. The current First Lady is Peng Liyuan, wife of General Secretary Xi Jinping.

Picture Name Leader Tenure
Jiang Qing
江青
(1914–1991)		 Mao Zedong 1 October 1949 – 9 September 1976
Han Zhijun
韩芝俊
(1930- )		 Hua Guofeng 9 September 1976 – 22 December 1978
Zhuo Lin
卓琳
(1916–2009)		 Deng Xiaoping 22 December 1978 – 9 November 1989
Wang Yeping
王冶坪
(1928- )		 Jiang Zemin 9 November 1989 – 15 November 2002
Liu Yongqing
刘永清
(1940- )		 Hu Jintao 15 November 2002 – 15 November 2012
Peng Liyuan
彭丽媛
(born 1962)		 Xi Jinping 15 November 2012 – Incumbent

List of spouses of presidents

Since the first president, six presidents have had a spouse during their terms in office. The current spouse is Peng Liyuan, wife of President Xi Jinping.

No. Image Spouse President Tenure
1 Jiang Qing Mao Zedong 27 September 1954 – 27 April 1959
2 Wang Guangmei Liu Shaoqi 27 April 1959 – 31 October 1968
3 Lin Jiamei Li Xiannian 18 June 1983 – 8 April 1988
Vacant Yang Shangkun 8 April 1988 – 27 March 1993
4 Wang Yeping Jiang Zemin 27 March 1993 – 15 March 2003
5 Liu Yongqing Hu Jintao 15 March 2003 – 14 March 2013
6 Peng Liyuan Xi Jinping 14 March 2013 – Incumbent

Notes

  1. ↑ Yang Shangkun's wife, Li Bozhao, predeceased him in 1985, three years prior to his assumption of the presidency.

References

  1. ↑ "王光美与江青的恩恩怨怨". 中国共产党新闻网. Archived from the original on 2019-01-24. Retrieved 2019-01-25.
  2. ↑ ""第一夫人热"为何在民间喷涌而出". 环球时报. 新华网. Archived from the original on 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  3. ↑ "首脑夫人，开辟外交"软战线"". 新华网. Archived from the original on 2013-03-29. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  4. ↑ "今日关键词（3月21日）：中国第一夫人". 新华网. Archived from the original on 2014-03-26. Retrieved 2013-03-21.
  5. ↑ "第一夫人彭丽媛 中国的时尚名片". 人民网. Archived from the original on 2014-03-01. Retrieved 2013-03-24.
  6. ↑ "第一夫人彭丽媛首秀展现大国魅力：着装得体 举止大方". 人民网. Archived from the original on 2013-03-30. Retrieved 2013-03-25.
  7. ↑ "中國第一夫人彭麗媛訪英用新頭銜：彭教授". 蘋果日報. 2015-10-14.
  8. ↑ "Li Bozhao, Chinese Dramatist And Wife of Politburo Official". The New York Times. 1985-04-20. Retrieved 2025-07-14.