Editing Jiang Qing (section)

== Death and burial ==

=== Internment and illness ===
Following her arrest, Jiang Qing was held at [[Qincheng Prison]], where she occupied herself with activities such as reading newspapers, listening to radio broadcasts, watching television, knitting, studying books, and writing. Her daughter, Li Na, visited her [[fortnight]]ly.<ref name=":20">{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-02-21 |title=江青自殺前最後20字留言 透露一生最愛 |url=https://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20160221002691-260409?chdtv |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=China Times |language=zh-Hant}}</ref> She was treated well, unlike how she treated her enemies during the Cultural Revolution.{{Sfn|Terrill|1999|p=348}} The sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 1983.<ref name="zheng_2010" /> The [[Supreme People's Court]] determined that both Jiang and her chief associate, Zhang, had demonstrated "sufficient repentance" during their two-year [[Reprieve (death sentence)|reprieve]], leading to their death sentences being commuted. However, senior Chinese officials stated that Jiang has not shown genuine remorse and remains as defiant as the day she was removed from a crowded courtroom, shouting, "Long Live the Revolution."<ref>{{Cite web |date=1983-01-25 |title=Mao&#039;s widow spared |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/01/25/Maos-widow-spared/6435412318800/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref>

In 1984, Jiang was granted medical parole and relocated to a discreet residence arranged by the authorities. In December 1988, on the occasion of Mao Zedong's 95th birth anniversary, Jiang requested approval to hold a family gathering, but her petition was denied. Distressed, she attempted suicide by ingesting 50 [[sleeping pills]] she had secretly saved. The attempt failed. She was later sent back to Qincheng Prison in 1989 when her [[medical parole]] concluded.<ref name=":20" /> Jiang Qing believed that [[Deng Xiaoping]] should be held responsible for the [[1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre|student movement]] (better known as the Tiananmen Square protests), as he tolerated Western ideologies. She also condemned the subsequent massacre that followed the protests, emphasising that Mao Zedong had never ordered the army to massacre crowds.{{Sfn|Terrill|1999|p=351}} While in custody, Jiang was diagnosed with [[throat cancer]], and doctors advised surgery. She refused, asserting that losing her voice was unacceptable.<ref name=":20" />

=== Suicide ===
On 15 March 1991, Jiang Qing was transferred to the [[Beijing Police Hospital]] from her residence at Jiuxianqiao due to a high fever. By 18 March, her fever had subsided. She was then moved to a ward within the hospital compound, which included a bedroom, bathroom, and living room.{{Sfn|Terrill|1999|p=352|pp=}} On 10 May 1991, she tore apart her memoir manuscript in front of others and expressed a wish to return to her home. Two days later, on 12 May, her daughter and son-in-law came to visit her in the hospital after learning about her condition, but Jiang declined to meet them. On 14 May 1991, Jiang Qing committed suicide. At 3:30&nbsp;a.m., a nurse entered her room and found her hanging above the bathtub, having died.{{Sfn|Terrill|1999|p=353|pp=}} The [[suicide note]] read,{{Sfn|Terrill|1999|p=353}}
{{Blockquote|text=Today the revolution has been stolen by the revisionist clique of [[Deng Xiaoping|Deng]], [[Peng Zhen]], and [[Yang Shangkun]]. Chairman Mao exterminated [[Liu Shaoqi]], but not Deng, and the result of this omission is that unending evils have been unleashed on the Chinese people and nation. Chairman, your student and fighter is coming to see you!{{efn|{{lang-zh|s=现在被邓小平、彭真、杨尚昆一伙反革命修正主义吞并了领导权。主席除刘未除邓，后患无穷，国祸民殃。主席，你的学生和战友来见你了！}}}}}}

That afternoon, Li Na, went to the hospital to sign the death certificate and agreed that no funeral or memorial service would be held. On 18 May, Jiang Qing's remains were cremated. Neither Li Na nor any of Jiang Qing's other relatives attended the cremation. Jiang Qing's ashes were entrusted to Li Na, who kept them at her home.{{Sfn|Terrill|1999|p=354|pp=}} The Chinese government confirmed that she had hanged herself on 4 June, withholding the announcement for two weeks to avoid its impact before the second anniversary of the [[1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre|1989 Tiananmen protests]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1991-06-04 |title=China confirms suicide of Mao's widow |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/06/04/China-confirms-suicide-of-Maos-widow/4868676008000/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1991-06-03 |title=Madame Mao reported a suicide in Beijing |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/06/03/Madame-Mao-reported-a-suicide-in-Beijing/6439675921600/ |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=[[United Press International|UPI]] |language=en}}</ref>

However, He Diankui, a former staff of Qincheng Prison, later claimed that "Jiang Qing never left Qincheng Prison until her death." He suggested that she died in the prison from taking sleeping pills, which refuted the official report regarding her death.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2016-05-14 |title=【江青忌日】木匠女兒變第一夫人 文革任毛打手 25年前自殺亡 |url=https://www.hk01.com/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/20955/%E6%B1%9F%E9%9D%92%E5%BF%8C%E6%97%A5-%E6%9C%A8%E5%8C%A0%E5%A5%B3%E5%85%92%E8%AE%8A%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%80%E5%A4%AB%E4%BA%BA-%E6%96%87%E9%9D%A9%E4%BB%BB%E6%AF%9B%E6%89%93%E6%89%8B-25%E5%B9%B4%E5%89%8D%E8%87%AA%E6%AE%BA%E4%BA%A1#google_vignette |access-date=2024-11-29 |website=[[HK01]] |language=zh-hant |archive-date=28 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028031323/https://www.hk01.com/%E4%B8%AD%E5%9C%8B/20955/%E6%B1%9F%E9%9D%92%E5%BF%8C%E6%97%A5-%E6%9C%A8%E5%8C%A0%E5%A5%B3%E5%85%92%E8%AE%8A%E7%AC%AC%E4%B8%80%E5%A4%AB%E4%BA%BA-%E6%96%87%E9%9D%A9%E4%BB%BB%E6%AF%9B%E6%89%93%E6%89%8B-25%E5%B9%B4%E5%89%8D%E8%87%AA%E6%AE%BA%E4%BA%A1#google_vignette |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Burial ===
While imprisoned, Jiang Qing expressed in her will a desire to be buried in her hometown of [[Zhucheng]], Shandong. In 1996, Yan Changgui, Jiang Qing's former secretary, visited Zhucheng, where the city's Party Secretary asked him to convey to Li Na that Jiang Qing could be buried there, pending her consent. However, after the [[16th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party|16th National Congress of the CCP]], [[Jiang Zemin]] suggested to Li Na that Zhucheng might not be a secure burial site. Instead, Li Na inquired about the possibility of burial in Beijing, which Jiang Zemin approved. Li Na arranged the burial at her own expense. In March 2002, Jiang Qing's ashes were interred at the [[Beijing Futian Cemetery|Futian Cemetery]] in Beijing's [[Western Hills]] scenic area. The tombstone reads: "The Grave of Mother Li Yunhe, 1914–1991, respectfully erected by [[Li Na (daughter of Mao Zedong)|her daughter]], son-in-law, and grandson."<ref name="duowei">{{cite web |date=12 January 2009 |title=Duowei: Jiang Qing's gravesite |url=http://history.dwnews.com/news/2013-01-31/59108437.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205134851/http://history.dwnews.com/news/2013-01-31/59108437.html |archive-date=5 February 2013 |access-date=13 December 2012 |publisher=Dwnews.com |language=zh}}</ref>