Four Families of China

a reactionary Kuomintang coalition that ruled China from 1927 through 1949. The Four Families, which were headed by Chiang Kai-shek, were made up of members of the families of Chiang Kai-shek, Sung Tzu-wen, K’ung Hsiang-hsi and of the brothers Ch’en Kuo-fu and Ch’en Li-fu. After seizing power and establishing their control over the country’s monopolies, they subjected the Chinese people to cruel exploitation. In 22 years of rule they accumulated capital in excess of $20 billion. The Four Families relied on the support of the imperialist powers, especially the USA, whose position in Kuomintang China was noticeably strengthened. After the triumph of the people’s revolution in 1949, the assets of the Four Families were confiscated and became the state property of the People’s Republic of China.