List of premiers of China

This is a list of the Premiers of China from 1911-1912 during the Qing Dynasty.

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 during Qing Dynasty. 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:

• List of premiers of the Republic of China (Presidents of Executive Yuan) (since 1912)
• List of premiers of the People's Republic of China (Premiers of State Council) (since 1949)

List of 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.

List of Prime Ministers of Qing Imperial Government 

T#	I#	Name		Portrait	Took office	Left office	Party
		Romanized	Hanzi
1	1	Yikuang, Prince Qing (1838–1917)	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 (1859–1916)	袁世凱 / 袁世凯		2 November 1911	10 March 1912	Beiyang clique

List of Premiers of the ROC (since 1912)

Main article: List of premiers of the Republic of China

List of Premiers of the Republic of China 

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 (1862–1938)	唐紹儀 / 唐绍仪		13 March 1912	27 June 1912	Beiyang clique
2	2	Lou Tseng-tsiang (1871–1949)	陸徵祥 / 陸征祥		29 June 1912	22 September 1912	Beiyang clique
3	3	Zhao Bingjun (1859–1914)	趙秉鈞 / 赵秉钧		25 September 1912	1 May 1913	Beiyang clique
-	-	Duan Qirui (1865–1936) (acting)	段祺瑞		1 May 1913	31 July 1913	Beiyang clique
4	4	Xiong Xiling (1870–1937)	熊希龄		31 July 1913	12 February 1914	Beiyang clique
-	-	Sun Baoqi (1867–1931) (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 (1855–1939)	徐世昌		1 May 1914	22 December 1915	Beiyang clique
-	-	Lou Tseng-tsiang (1871–1949) (acting)	陸徵祥 / 陸征祥		22 December 1915	22 March 1916	Hongxian Government
2	2	Xu Shichang (1855–1939) (2nd term)	徐世昌		22 March 1916	23 April 1916	Beiyang clique
3	3	Duan Qirui (1865–1936)	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 (1865–1936)	段祺瑞		29 June 1916	23 May 1917	Progressive
-	-	Wu Tingfang (1842–1922) (acting)	伍廷芳		23 May 1917	28 May 1917	Progressive
2	2	Li Jingxi (1859–1925)	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 (1854–1923)	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 (1865–1936) (2nd term)	段祺瑞		14 July 1917	22 November 1917	Zhili clique
-	-	Wang Daxie (1860–1929) (acting)	汪大燮		22 November 1917	30 November 1917	Zhili clique
-	-	Wang Shizhen (1861–1930) (acting)	王士珍		30 November 1917	20 February 1918	Zhili clique
-	-	Qian Nengxun (1869–1924) (acting)	錢能訓 / 钱能训		20 February 1918	23 March 1918	Zhili clique
5	-	Duan Qirui (1865–1936) (3rd term)	段祺瑞		23 March 1918	10 October 1918	Zhili clique
-	-	Qian Nengxun (1869–1924) (acting)	錢能訓 / 钱能训		10 October 1918	13 June 1919	Zhili clique
-	-	Gong Xinzhan (1871–1943) (acting)	龔心湛 / 龚心湛		13 June 1919	24 September 1919	Anfu Club
-	-	Jin Yunpeng (1877–1951) (acting)	靳雲鵬 / 靳云鹏		24 September 1919	5 November 1919	Anfu Club
6	3	Jin Yunpeng (1877–1951)	靳雲鵬 / 靳云鹏		5 November 1919	14 May 1920	Anfu Club
7	4	Sa Zhenbing (1859–1952)	薩鎮冰 / 萨镇冰		14 May 1920	9 August 1920	Anfu Club
8	-	Jin Yunpeng (1877–1951)	靳雲鵬 / 靳云鹏		9 August 1920	18 December 1921	Anfu Club
-	-	Yan Huiqing (1877–1950) (acting)	顏惠慶 / 颜惠庆		18 December 1921	24 December 1921	Anfu Club
9	5	Liang Shiyi (1869–1933)	梁士詒 / 梁士诒		24 December 1921	25 January 1922	Communications Clique
-	-	Yan Huiqing (1877–1950) (acting)	顏惠慶 / 颜惠庆		25 January 1922	8 April 1922	Anfu Club
-	-	Zhou Ziqi (1871–1923) (acting)	周自齊 / 周自齐		8 April 1922	11 June 1922	Anfu Club
10	6	Yan Huiqing (1877–1950)	顏惠慶 / 颜惠庆		11 June 1922	5 August 1922	Anfu Club
-	-	Wang Chonghui (1881–1958) (acting)	王寵惠 / 王宠惠		5 August 1922	29 November 1922	None
-	-	Wang Daxie (1859–1929) (acting)	汪大燮		29 November 1922	11 December 1922	Zhili clique
-	-	Wang Zhengting (1882–1961) (acting)	王正廷		11 December 1922	4 January 1923	None
11	7	Zhang Shaozeng (1879–1928)	張紹曾 / 张绍曾		4 January 1923	9 September 1923	Beiyang clique
12	8	Gao Lingwei (1868–1939)	高凌霨		9 September 1923	12 January 1924	None
13	9	Sun Baoqi (1867–1931)	孫寶琦 / 孙宝琦		12 January 1924	2 July 1924	Beiyang clique
-	-	Koo Vi-kyuin (V.K. Wellington Koo) (1887–1985) (acting)	顧維鈞 / 顾维钧		2 July 1924	14 September 1924	None
14	10	Yan Huiqing (1877–1950)	顏惠慶 / 颜惠庆		14 September 1924	31 October 1924	Anfu Club
-	-	Huang Fu (1883–1936)	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 (1873–1964)	許世英 / 许世英		26 December 1925	4 March 1926	None
-	-	Jia Deyao (1880–1940) (acting)	賈德耀 / 贾德耀		4 March 1926	20 April 1926	None
-	-	Hu Weide (1863–1933) (acting)	胡惟德		20 April 1926	13 May 1926	None
16	-	Yan Huiqing (1877–1950) (2nd term)	顏惠慶 / 颜惠庆		13 May 1926	22 June 1926	None
-	-	Du Xigui (1875–1933) (acting)	杜錫珪 / 杜锡珪		22 June 1926	1 October 1926	None
-	-	Koo Vi-kyuin (V.K. Wellington Koo) (1887–1985) (acting)	顧維鈞 / 顾维钧		1 October 1926	18 June 1927	None
		Pan Fu (1883–1936) (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 (1880–1930)	譚延闓 / 谭延闿		25 October 1928	22 September 1930	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
2	2	Soong Tse-ven (T. V. Soong) (1894–1971)	宋子文		25 September 1930	4 December 1930	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
3	3	Chiang Kai-shek (1887–1975)	蔣介石 / 蒋介石		4 December 1930	15 December 1931	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
4	4	Chen Mingshu (1889–1965)	陳銘樞 / 陈铭枢		15 December 1931	1 January 1932	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
5	5	Sun Fo (1891–1973)	孫科 / 孙科		1 January 1932	28 January 1932	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
6	6	Wang Jingwei (1883–1944)	汪兆銘 / 汪兆铭		28 January 1932	1 December 1935	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
7	-	Chiang Kai-shek (1887–1975) (2nd term)	蔣介石 / 蒋介石		7 December 1935	1 January 1938	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
8	7	Kung Hsiang-hsi (H. H. Kung) (1881–1967)	孔祥熙		1 January 1938	11 December 1939	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
9	-	Chiang Kai-shek (1887–1975) (3rd term)	蔣介石 / 蒋介石		11 December 1939	31 May 1945	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
10	-	Soong Tse-ven (T. V. Soong) (1894–1971) (2nd term)	宋子文		31 May 1945	1 March 1947	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
11	-	Chiang Kai-shek (1887–1975) (4th term)	蔣介石 / 蒋介石		1 March 1947	18 April 1947	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
12	8	Chang Ch'ün (1889–1990)	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 (1889–1971)	翁文灝 / 翁文灏		24 May 1948	26 November 1948	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
14	-	Sun Fo (1891–1973) (2nd term)	孫科 / 孙科		26 November 1948	12 March 1949	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
15	10	He Yingqin (1890–1987)	何應欽 / 何应钦		12 March 1949	3 June 1949	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
16	11	Yan Xishan (1883–1960)	閻錫山 / 阎锡山		3 June 1949	7 March 1950	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
17	12	Chen Cheng (1897–1965)	陳誠 / 陈诚		7 March 1950	7 June 1954	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
18	13	Yu Hung-Chun (1897–1960)	俞鴻鈞 / 俞鸿钧		7 June 1954	30 June 1958	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
19	-	Chen Cheng (1897–1965) (2nd term)	陳誠 / 陈诚		30 June 1958	15 December 1963	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
20	14	Yen Chia-kan (1905–1993)	嚴家淦 / 严家淦		15 December 1963	29 May 1972	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
21	15	Chiang Ching-kuo (1910–1988)	蔣經國 / 蒋经国		29 May 1972	28 May 1978	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
22	16	Sun Yun-suan (1913–2006)	孫運璿 / 孙运璇		30 May 1978	20 May 1984	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
23	17	Yu Kuo-hwa (1914–2000)	俞國華 / 俞国华		20 May 1984	21 May 1989	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
24	18	Lee Huan (1917–2010)	李煥 / 李焕		21 May 1989	30 May 1990	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
25	19	Hau Pei-tsun (1919–)	郝柏村		30 May 1990	10 February 1993	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
26	20	Lien Chan (1936–)	連戰 / 连战		10 February 1993	1 September 1997	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
27	21	Siew Wan-chang (Vincent Siew) (1939–)	蕭萬長 / 萧万长		1 September 1997	20 May 2000	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
28	22	Tang Fei (1933–)	唐飛 / 唐飞		20 May 2000	6 October 2000	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
29	23	Chang Chun-hsiung (1938–)	張俊雄 / 张俊雄		6 October 2000	1 February 2002	Democratic Progressive
30	24	Yu Shyi-kun (1948–)	游錫堃 / 游锡堃		1 February 2002	1 February 2005	Democratic Progressive
31	25	Hsieh Chang-ting (Frank Hsieh) (1946–)	謝長廷 / 谢长廷		1 February 2005	25 January 2006	Democratic Progressive
32	26	Su Tseng-chang (1947–)	蘇貞昌 / 苏贞昌		25 January 2006	21 May 2007	Democratic Progressive
33	-	Chang Chun-hsiung (1938–) (2nd term)	張俊雄 / 张俊雄		21 May 2007	20 May 2008	Democratic Progressive
34	27	Liu Chao-shiuan (1943–)	劉兆玄 / 刘兆玄		20 May 2008	10 September 2009	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
35	28	Wu Den-yih (1948–)	吳敦義 / 吴敦义		10 September 2009	6 February 2012	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)
36	29	Sean Chen (1948–)	陳冲 / 陈冲		6 February 2012	Incumbent	Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party)

List of Premiers of the PRC (since 1949)

Main article: List of premiers of the People's Republic of China

The Premiership of PRC was created since the establishment of the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949.

List of Premiers of the People's Republic of China 

Generations of leadership

      First generation       Second generation       Third generation       Fourth generation

№	Portrait	Premiers	Term	Term of office		Days
1		Zhou Enlai 周恩来（周恩來） (1898–1976) Beijing At-large	CP	1 October 1949 (acting)	15 September 1954	1810
			1	15 September 1954	18 April 1959	1676
			2	18 April 1959	21 December 1964	2074
			3	21 December 1964	4 January 1975	3666
			4	4 January 1975	8 January 1976†	369
			Geneva Conference in 1954, Asian-African Conference, 1972 Nixon visit to China, Great Leap Forward, Cultural Revolution †Died in office (cancer)			Total 9595
2		Hua Guofeng 华国锋（華國鋒） (1921–2008) Hunan At-large	4 (cont)	4 February 1976 (acting)	7 April 1976	63
				7 April 1976	5 March 1978	697
			5	5 March 1978	10 September 1980*	920
			Two Whatevers, Tiananmen Incident, Downfall of the Gang of Four, Sino-Vietnamese War, One Child Policy * Ousted			Total 1680
3		Zhao Ziyang 赵紫阳（趙紫陽） (1919–2005) Beijing At-large	5 (cont)	10 September 1980 (acting)	6 June 1983	999
			6	6 June 1983	24 November 1987§	1632
			Chinese economic reform, Sino-British Joint Declaration, Joint Declaration on the Question of Macau, Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 § Resigned			Total 2631
4		Li Peng 李鹏（李鵬） (1928–) Beijing At-large	6 (cont)	24 November 1987 (acting)	25 March 1988	122
			7	25 March 1988	15 March 1993	1816
			8	15 March 1993	17 March 1998	1828
			Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, Three Gorges Dam, Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong			Total 3766
5		Zhu Rongji 朱镕基（朱鎔基） (1928–) Hunan At-large	9	17 March 1998	16 March 2003	1825
			Transfer of sovereignty over Macau, accession to the WTO			Total 1825
6		Wen Jiabao 温家宝（溫家寶） (1942–) Gansu At-large	10	16 March 2003	16 March 2008	1827
			11	16 March 2008	Incumbent (term expires 2013)	1440
			SARs outbreak, Anti-Secession Law, H5N1 avian flu outbreak, 2008 Sichuan earthquake			Total 3267

See also

• List of Chinese leaders
• Chancellor of China
• Paramount Leader

References

• China Online Encyclopedia