Death and state funeral of Deng Xiaoping

Death and state funeral of Deng Xiaoping
Deng Xiaoping (1904 – 1997)
Date
  • 19 February 1997, at 21:08 (BJT)
  • (death)
  • 24 February 1997
  • (cremation)
  • 25 February 1997
  • (state funeral)
LocationBeijing
ParticipantsJiang Zemin, party and state leaders, members of the Chinese Communist Party, Chinese military and civilians
External videos
video icon Official Announcement on state broadcaster CCTV

Deng Xiaoping, the Chairman of the Central Military Commission from 1981 to 1989, as well as the paramount leader of the People's Republic of China from 1978 to 1989, died on 19 February 1997, at the age of 92, in Beijing. According to Xinhua News Agency, he died at 21:08 local time, from late stage Parkinson's disease complicated by pulmonary infection. Following a private funeral at 301 Hospital and cremation at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, a state funeral for Deng was held at the Great Hall of the People on 25 February 1997. It was the first major state funeral held in China since 1976 when Mao Zedong died.

Death and national mourning

According to the Chinese state media Xinhua News Agency, Deng died in Beijing at 9:08 pm from from complications from Parkinson's disease and a lung infection.[1] Xinhua published a "Letter to the whole Party, the Army, and the People of all ethnic groups in the Country" (告全党全军全国各族人民书) on 2 am,[2] used to announce the deaths of national leaders in China.[3]

During the announcement, the official portrait of Deng Xiaoping during his leadership was shown in grayscale and coverage of funeral proceedings were accompanied by the playing of the dirge [zh] (哀乐),[4][5] an instrumental piece that has been played to mark the death of every Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader since Mao Zedong[6] and later, Jiang Zemin.[7][8]

Funeral procession

On 19 February, the Funeral Committee of Deng Xiaoping was announced. Jiang Zemin was announced as its chairman, with many other current or former high-ranking officials from the CCP as members.[9] On the day of Deng's death, the CCP released a notice that the national flags would be flown half-staff in key locations of Beijing and diplomatic missions abroad. Foreign heads of state and government were not invited to attend official mourning activities.[10]

On 24 February, Jiang, members of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee, other CCP and state Leaders, as well as former leader bid farewell to Deng's body at the 301 Hospital, where they conferred their condolences to Deng's relatives. Afterwards, they accompanied the hearse carrying Deng's remains to the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, where they gave their final farewells. Many people paid their respects.[11] The body was cremated at the cemetery,[12] with his ashes designated to be scattered at sea.[10]

On 24 February, the memorial service for Deng was held at the Great Hall of the People. The memorial began at 10 am, and was presided by Li Peng. Afterwards, Jiang Zemin gave a eulogy. After Jiang's eulogy, the Internationale was played, with the ceremony concluding afterwards.[13]

On 2 March, after the conclusion of the memorial services, Deng's ashes were carried onto a special plane, his ashes were slowly scattered along with colorful flower petals, and according to his will, his corneas were also donated.[10][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping dies". CNN. February 19, 1997. Archived from the original on 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2024-06-03.
  2. ^ 中国经济体制改革重大事件. 中国经济体制改革研究丛书 (in Chinese). 中国人民大学出版社. 2008. p. 547. ISBN 978-7-300-09862-3. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  3. ^ China. Guo wu yuan; China. 国务院. 办公厅 (1997). 中华人民共和国国务院公報 (in Chinese). 中华人民共和国国务院办公厅. p. 166. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  4. ^ 军事家邓小平: 我真正的专业是打仗. 军事家邓小平: 我真正的专业是打仗 (in Chinese). 中国青年出版社. 2004. p. 692. ISBN 978-7-5006-5432-2. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  5. ^ 伟人邓小平. 伟人邓小平 (in Chinese). 红旗出版社. 1997. p. 1130. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  6. ^ 晚年毛泽东, 1953-1976. 毛泽东系列 (in Chinese). 江西人民出版社. 1998. p. 602. ISBN 978-7-210-01865-0. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  7. ^ "永远铭刻在心 永远激励前进——举国哀悼江泽民同志纪实-新华网". 新华网 (in Chinese). 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  8. ^ "永远铭刻在心永远激励前进——举国哀悼江泽民同志纪实". politics.people.com.cn (in Chinese). 2022-12-07. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  9. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2024-06-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. ^ a b c "Deng's funeral closed to foreigners". The Orlando Sentinel. 1997-02-21. p. 59. Archived from the original on 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  11. ^ "1997年2月19日邓小平逝世". CE.CN (in Chinese). 2008-12-03. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  12. ^ "党和国家领导人同首都群众送别邓小平同志". 人民网. Archived from the original on 2009-08-13. Retrieved 2020-03-20.
  13. ^ "邓小平同志追悼大会在北京隆重举行". 人民日報. 1997-02-26. Archived from the original on 2009-08-13. Retrieved 2017-02-25.
  14. ^ "捐献角膜和遗体——邓小平的临终时刻与身后事". 新浪. 2004-08-13. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2013-11-03.