1. Nie Yuanzi was a Chinese academic administrator at Peking University, known for writing a big-character poster criticising the university for being controlled by the bourgeoisie, which is considered to have been the opening shot of the Cultural Revolution.
Nie Yuanzi became a top leader of the Red Guards in Beijing, and was sentenced to 17 years in prison after the end of the Cultural Revolution.
Nie Yuanzi's eldest brother, Nie Zhen, was a founder of the Chinese Communist Party cell in the county.
Nie Yuanzi was married to Wang Qian, a senior CCP member and the ex-wife of then President Liu Shaoqi.
Nie Yuanzi received military training at the National Teachers' College in Taiyuan and joined the CCP in 1938.
In 1963, Nie Yuanzi was transferred to Peking University, a turning point of her life.
Nie Yuanzi served as Vice Chair of the Department of Economics and was appointed CCP Committee Secretary of the Department of Philosophy a year later.
On 25 May 1966, Nie Yuanzi put up a big-character poster on the campus of Peking University.
Nie Yuanzi initially supported the persecution of other academics, but later disagreed on the course the Cultural Revolution was taking and tried to quit her position in the Red Guards.
Nie Yuanzi controlled revolutionary activities at Peking University, along with her colleagues, protected by her status as a celebrated rebel.
Nie Yuanzi became widely known as one of the top five leaders of Red Guards in the capital.
Nie Yuanzi was made an alternate member of the 9th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.
Nie Yuanzi returned to Beijing in 1970 to recuperate from an illness.
In 1971, Nie Yuanzi was subjected to examination and her movements were restricted.
Nie Yuanzi moved to a factory that made apparatuses for Peking University in 1975.
Nie Yuanzi was sentenced to 17 years in prison, with apparently Deng Xiaoping insisting on a severe sentence.
Nie Yuanzi had condemned Ji during the Cultural Revolution as a "hidden counterrevolutionary".
Nie Yuanzi was critical of the post-Mao Chinese government and expressed a desire for greater freedom of opinion.