List of premiers of China
This is a list of the Premiers of China since 1911.
The first recorded instance of a monarch of China appointing a chief minister was in around 1130 BC, by King Tang of the Shang Dynasty. Since then, almost every monarch in China appointed a chief minister to help him or her to run the administration. This role has been known by several different names, most commonly Chancellor. With the unification of China under the Qin Emperor in 221 BC, the power in the premiers' hands was reduced because of the Emperors' intentions of setting up an absolute monarchy. In 1380, Emperor Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty ordered the death of his Chancellor, and did not appoint another in his lifetime. From then until 1911, a number of people formally shared the responsibility of chief minister to the Emperor. Even when one of them dominated government, such as in the case of Li Hongzhang, they were nevertheless formally just one of several ministers of equal status. During much of the Qing Dynasty, for example, the traditional role of the Chancellor was performed collectively by the Grand Council.
In mid 1911, the modern position of Premier was created, when the Qing Imperial Government created the "Imperial Family Cabinet" as a reform of Chinese politics, shortly before it was overthrown. When Yuan Shikai took over the premiership, the premiers of China played an influential role in Chinese politics.
The list below shows premiers of China since 1911. Multiple terms in office, consecutive or otherwise, are listed. The first column shows the consecutively numbered term of the premier, while the second column shows his or her chronological position amongst individual premiers.
For the modern-day positions referred to as Premiers of China, see:
Premier of the Republic of China (Presidents of Executive Yuan) (since 1928)
Premier of the People's Republic of China (since 1949)
Premiers also known as Presidents of Executive Yuan are appointed by Presidents in the Republic of China, but some premiers were even more powerful than the presidents, during the early age of the Republic of China. Some presidents were even expelled by the premiers they appointed. The title of premier in China had been changed several times, so this list is divided into several sections.
While in the People's Republic of China premiers elected by delegation of the National People's Congress every five years also are limited to two terms since the death of Zhou Enlai.
Prime Ministers of Qing Imperial Government (1911-1912)
The Qing Imperial Government created the "Imperial Family Cabinet" in May 1911, in order to appease popular anger and calls for reform. But the formation of Cabinet brought even more disaffection. Soon the Wuchang Uprising forced the Qing government to abolish the cabinet, and instead summon Yuan Shikai to head the government. The imperial government collapsed soon after.
| T# | I# | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanized | Hanzi | ||||||
| 1 | 1 | Yikuang, Prince Qing | 慶親王奕劻 / 庆亲王奕劻 |
|
8 May 1911 | 1 November 1911 | Qing Dynasty (The Imperial Family) |
| 2 | 2 | Yuan Shikai | 袁世凱 / 袁世凯 | 
|
2 November 1911 | 10 March 1912 | Beiyang clique |
Premiers of Cabinet of the Republic of China (1912-1914)
According to the Provisional Constitution of Republic of China, which passed in 1912, the leader of the majority party or the majority coalition should be appointed premier by the president.
| T# | I# | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanized | Hanzi | ||||||
| 1 | 1 | Tang Shaoyi | 唐紹儀 / 唐绍仪 | 
|
13 March 1912 | 27 June 1912 | Beiyang clique |
| 2 | 2 | Lou Tseng-Tsiang | 陸徵祥 / 陸征祥 | 
|
29 June 1912 | 22 September 1912 | Beiyang clique |
| 3 | 3 | Zhao Bingjun | 趙秉鈞 / 赵秉钧 | 
|
25 September 1912 | 1 May 1913 | Beiyang clique |
| - | - | Duan Qirui (acting) |
段祺瑞 | 
|
1 May 1913 | 31 July 1913 | Beiyang clique |
| 4 | 4 | Xiong Xiling | 熊希龄 | 
|
31 July 1913 | 12 February 1914 | Beiyang clique |
| - | - | Sun Baoqi (acting) |
孫寶琦 / 孙宝琦 | 
|
12 February 1914 | 1 May 1914 | Beiyang clique |
Secretaries of State of the Republic of China (1914-1916)
| T# | I# | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanized | Hanzi | ||||||
| 1 | 1 | Xu Shichang | 徐世昌 | 
|
1 May 1914 | 22 December 1915 | Beiyang clique |
| - | - | Lou Tseng-Tsiang (acting) |
陸徵祥 / 陸征祥 |
|
22 December 1915 | 22 March 1916 | Hongxian Government |
| 2 | 2 | Xu Shichang (2nd term) |
徐世昌 |
|
22 March 1916 | 23 April 1916 | Beiyang clique |
| 3 | 3 | Duan Qirui | 段祺瑞 |
|
23 April 1916 | 29 June 1916 | Beiyang clique |
Premiers of State Council of the Republic of China (1916-1917)
| T# | I# | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanized | Hanzi | ||||||
| 1 | 1 | Duan Qirui | 段祺瑞 |
|
29 June 1916 | 23 May 1917 | Progressive |
| - | - | Wu Tingfang (acting) |
伍廷芳 | 
|
23 May 1917 | 28 May 1917 | Progressive |
| 2 | 2 | Li Jingxi | 李經羲 / 李经羲 | 
|
28 May 1917 | 1 July 1917 | Progressive |
Prime Minister of Restored Qing Imperial Government (1917)
A coup d'état in order to restore the Qing monarchy occurred on 1 July 1917. The leader of the coup, Zhang Xun, was immediately rewarded the premiership by Emperor Puyi. But Chang was defeated by Duan Qirui on 12 July and the Republic of China restored.
| T# | I# | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanized | Hanzi | ||||||
| 1 | 1 | Zhang Xun | 張勳 / 张勋 | 
|
1 July 1917 | 12 July 1917 | None |
Premiers of State Council of the Republic of China (1917-1925)
| T# | I# | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanized | Hanzi | ||||||
| 4 | - | Duan Qirui (2nd term) |
段祺瑞 |
|
14 July 1917 | 22 November 1917 | Zhili clique |
| - | - | Wang Daxie (acting) |
汪大燮 | 
|
22 November 1917 | 30 November 1917 | Zhili clique |
| - | - | Wang Shizhen (acting) |
王士珍 | 
|
30 November 1917 | 20 February 1918 | Zhili clique |
| - | - | Qian Nengxun (acting) |
錢能訓 / 钱能训 | 
|
20 February 1918 | 23 March 1918 | Zhili clique |
| 5 | - | Duan Qirui (3rd term) |
段祺瑞 |
|
23 March 1918 | 10 October 1918 | Zhili clique |
| - | - | Qian Nengxun (acting) |
錢能訓 / 钱能训 |
|
10 October 1918 | 13 June 1919 | Zhili clique |
| - | - | Gong Xinzhan (acting) |
龔心湛 / 龚心湛 | 
|
13 June 1919 | 24 September 1919 | Anfu Club |
| - | - | Jin Yunpeng (acting) |
靳雲鵬 / 靳云鹏 | 
|
24 September 1919 | 5 November 1919 | Anfu Club |
| 6 | 3 | Jin Yunpeng | 靳雲鵬 / 靳云鹏 |
|
5 November 1919 | 14 May 1920 | Anfu Club |
| 7 | 4 | Sa Zhenbing | 薩鎮冰 / 萨镇冰 | 
|
14 May 1920 | 9 August 1920 | Anfu Club |
| 8 | - | Jin Yunpeng | 靳雲鵬 / 靳云鹏 |
|
9 August 1920 | 18 December 1921 | Anfu Club |
| - | - | Yan Huiqing (acting) |
顏惠慶 / 颜惠庆 | 
|
18 December 1921 | 24 December 1921 | Anfu Club |
| 9 | 5 | Liang Shiyi | 梁士詒 / 梁士诒 | 
|
24 December 1921 | 25 January 1922 | Communications Clique |
| - | - | Yan Huiqing (acting) |
顏惠慶 / 颜惠庆 |
|
25 January 1922 | 8 April 1922 | Anfu Club |
| - | - | Zhou Ziqi (acting) |
周自齊 / 周自齐 | 
|
8 April 1922 | 11 June 1922 | Anfu Club |
| 10 | 6 | Yan Huiqing | 顏惠慶 / 颜惠庆 |
|
11 June 1922 | 5 August 1922 | Anfu Club |
| - | - | Wang Chonghui (acting) |
王寵惠 / 王宠惠 | 
|
5 August 1922 | 29 November 1922 | None |
| - | - | Wang Daxie (acting) |
汪大燮 |
|
29 November 1922 | 11 December 1922 | Zhili clique |
| - | - | Wang Zhengting (acting) |
王正廷 | 
|
11 December 1922 | 4 January 1923 | None |
| 11 | 7 | Zhang Shaozeng | 張紹曾 / 张绍曾 | 
|
4 January 1923 | 9 September 1923 | Beiyang clique |
| 12 | 8 | Gao Lingwei | 高凌霨 | 
|
9 September 1923 | 12 January 1924 | None |
| 13 | 9 | Sun Baoqi | 孫寶琦 / 孙宝琦 |
|
12 January 1924 | 2 July 1924 | Beiyang clique |
| - | - | Wellington Gu Weijun (acting) |
顧維鈞 / 顾维钧 | 
|
2 July 1924 | 14 September 1924 | None |
| 14 | 10 | Yan Huiqing | 顏惠慶 / 颜惠庆 |
|
14 September 1924 | 31 October 1924 | Anfu Club |
| - | - | Huang Fu | 黃郛 | 
|
31 October 1924 | 24 November 1924 | None |
Note: The Premiership was abolished from 25 November 1924 to 26 December 1925. The head of the cabinet during this period was Duan Qirui, Provisional Chief Executive of the Republic of China.
Premiers of State Council of the Republic of China (1925-1928)
| T# | I# | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanized | Hanzi | ||||||
| 15 | 11 | Xu Shiying | 許世英 / 许世英 | 
|
26 December 1925 | 4 March 1926 | None |
| - | - | Jia Deyao (acting) |
賈德耀 / 贾德耀 | 
|
4 March 1926 | 20 April 1926 | None |
| - | - | Hu Weide (acting) |
胡惟德 | 
|
20 April 1926 | 13 May 1926 | None |
| 16 | - | Yan Huiqing (2nd term) |
顏惠慶 / 颜惠庆 |
|
13 May 1926 | 22 June 1926 | None |
| - | - | Du Xigui (acting) |
杜錫珪 / 杜锡珪 | 
|
22 June 1926 | 1 October 1926 | None |
| - | - | V.K. Wellington Koo (acting) |
顧維鈞 / 顾维钧 |
|
1 October 1926 | 18 June 1927 | None |
| Pan Fu (acting) |
潘復 / 潘复 | 
|
18 June 1927 | 2 June 1928 | None | ||
Presidents of Executive Yuan of the Republic of China (1928-1948)
| T# | I# | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanized | Hanzi | ||||||
| 1 | 1 | Tan Yankai | 譚延闓 / 谭延闿 | 
|
25 October 1928 | 22 September 1930 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 2 | 2 | T. V. Soong | 宋子文 | 
|
25 September 1930 | 4 December 1930 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 3 | 3 | Chiang Kai-shek | 蔣介石 / 蒋介石 | 
|
4 December 1930 | 15 December 1931 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 4 | 4 | Chen Mingshu | 陳銘樞 / 陈铭枢 | 
|
15 December 1931 | 1 January 1932 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 5 | 5 | Sun Fo | 孫科 / 孙科 | File:Sun Fo.jpg | 1 January 1932 | 28 January 1932 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 6 | 6 | Wang Jingwei | 汪兆銘 / 汪兆铭 | 
|
28 January 1932 | 1 December 1935 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 7 | - | Chiang Kai-shek (2nd term) |
蔣介石 / 蒋介石 | 
|
7 December 1935 | 1 January 1938 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 8 | 7 | H. H. Kung | 孔祥熙 | 
|
1 January 1938 | 11 December 1939 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 9 | - | Chiang Kai-shek (3rd term) |
蔣介石 / 蒋介石 |
|
11 December 1939 | 31 May 1945 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 10 | (2) | T. V. Soong (2nd term) |
宋子文 |
|
31 May 1945 | 1 March 1947 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 11 | - | Chiang Kai-shek (4th term) |
蔣介石 / 蒋介石 |
|
1 March 1947 | 18 April 1947 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 12 | 8 | Chang Chun | 張群 / 张群 | 
|
18 April 1947 | 24 May 1948 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
Presidents of Executive Yuan of the Republic of China (1948-present)
When Chiang Kai-shek established the Nanking Nationalist Government in 1928, he created a presidency for Executive Yuan instead of a premiership, in order to show the difference between his government and the previous one in Beijing (then renamed Beiping). This government moved to Chongqing during the Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) and during the Chinese Civil War relocated to Taipei where it exists today.
| T# | I# | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanized | Hanzi | ||||||
| 13 | 9 | Weng Wenhao | 翁文灝 / 翁文灏 | 
|
24 May 1948 | 26 November 1948 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 14 | - | Sun Fo (2nd term) |
孫科 / 孙科 | File:Sun Fo.jpg | 26 November 1948 | 12 March 1949 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 15 | 10 | He Yingqin | 何應欽 / 何应钦 | File:He Yingqin.png | 12 March 1949 | 3 June 1949 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 16 | 11 | Yan Xishan | 閻錫山 / 阎锡山 | 
|
3 June 1949 | 7 March 1950 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 17 | 12 | Chen Cheng | 陳誠 / 陈诚 | 
|
7 March 1950 | 7 June 1954 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 18 | 13 | Yu Hung-Chun | 俞鴻鈞 / 俞鸿钧 | 
|
7 June 1954 | 30 June 1958 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 19 | - | Chen Cheng (2nd term) |
陳誠 / 陈诚 |
|
30 June 1958 | 15 December 1963 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 20 | 14 | Yen Chia-kan | 嚴家淦 / 严家淦 | File:Yen Chia-kan.jpg | 15 December 1963 | 29 May 1972 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 21 | 15 | Chiang Ching-kuo | 蔣經國 / 蒋经国 | File:Chiang Ching kuo.jpg | 29 May 1972 | 28 May 1978 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 22 | 16 | Sun Yun-suan | 孫運璿 / 孙运璇 | File:Sun Yun-suan.jpg | 30 May 1978 | 20 May 1984 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 23 | 17 | Yu Kuo-hwa | 俞國華 / 俞国华 | 20 May 1984 | 21 May 1989 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) | |
| 24 | 18 | Lee Huan | 李煥 / 李焕 | 21 May 1989 | 30 May 1990 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) | |
| 25 | 19 | Hau Pei-tsun | 郝柏村 | 30 May 1990 | 10 February 1993 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) | |
| 26 | 20 | Lien Chan | 連戰 / 连战 | 
|
10 February 1993 | 1 September 1997 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 27 | 21 | Vincent Siew | 蕭萬長 / 萧万长 | 
|
1 September 1997 | 20 May 2000 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 28 | 22 | Tang Fei | 唐飛 / 唐飞 | 20 May 2000 | 6 October 2000 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) | |
| 29 | 23 | Chang Chun-hsiung | 張俊雄 / 张俊雄 | 
|
6 October 2000 | 1 February 2002 | Democratic Progressive |
| 30 | 24 | Yu Shyi-kun | 游錫堃 / 游锡堃 | 
|
1 February 2002 | 1 February 2005 | Democratic Progressive |
| 31 | 25 | Frank Hsieh Chang-ting | 謝長廷 / 谢长廷 | 
|
1 February 2005 | 25 January 2006 | Democratic Progressive |
| 32 | 26 | Su Tseng-chang | 蘇貞昌 / 苏贞昌 | 
|
25 January 2006 | 21 May 2007 | Democratic Progressive |
| 33 | - | Chang Chun-hsiung (2nd term) |
張俊雄 / 张俊雄 |
|
21 May 2007 | 20 May 2008 | Democratic Progressive |
| 34 | 27 | Liu Chao-shiuan | 劉兆玄 / 刘兆玄 | 
|
20 May 2008 | 10 September 2009 | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
| 35 | 28 | Wu Den-yih | 吳敦義 / 吴敦义 | 
|
10 September 2009 | Present | Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party) |
Premiers of State Council of the People's Republic of China (1949-present)
The Premiership of PRC was created since the establishment of the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949.
First generation Second generation Third generation Fourth generation
| T# | I# | Name | Portrait | Took office | Left office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Romanized | Hanzi | ||||||
| 1 | 1 | Zhou Enlai | 周恩來 / 周恩来 | 
|
1 October 1949 (acting) |
September 1954 | Communist Party of China |
| September 1954 (1st term) |
April 1959 | ||||||
| 2 | April 1959 (2nd term) |
21 December 1964 | |||||
| 3 | 21 December 1964 (3rd term) |
4 January 1975 | |||||
| 4 | 4 January 1975 (4th term) |
8 January 1976 | |||||
| 2 | Hua Guofeng | 華國鋒 / 华国锋 | 
|
4 February 1976 (acting) |
7 April 1976 | Communist Party of China | |
| 7 April 1976 | February, 1978 | ||||||
| 5 | February, 1978 | 10 September 1980 | |||||
| 3 | Zhao Ziyang | 趙紫陽 / 赵紫阳 | 
|
10 September 1980 (acting) |
1983 | Communist Party of China | |
| 6 | 1983 | 24 November 1987 | |||||
| 4 | Li Peng | 李鵬 / 李鹏 | 
|
24 November 1987 (acting) |
25 March 1988 | Communist Party of China | |
| 7 | 25 March 1988 (1st term) |
1993 | |||||
| 8 | 1993 (2nd term) |
17 March 1998 | |||||
| 9 | 5 | Zhu Rongji | 朱鎔基 / 朱镕基 | 
|
17 March 1998 | 16 March 2003 | Communist Party of China |
| 10 | 6 | Wen Jiabao | 溫家寶 / 温家宝 | 
|
16 March 2003 (1st term) |
5 March 2008 | Communist Party of China |
| 11 | 5 March 2008 (2nd term) |
Incumbent (term expires 2013) | |||||
See also
References
- China Online Encyclopedia