Yao Wenyuan was a Chinese politician and a prominent member of the Chinese Communist Party. He was born on October 20, 1931, and became known for his role during the Cultural Revolution, a period of significant social and political upheaval in China from 1966 to 1976. Yao was one of the "Gang of Four," a group that sought to maintain the revolutionary fervor of the time. As a key figure in the Cultural Revolution, Yao was involved in promoting radical policies and was influential in the arts and education. After the fall of the Gang of Four in 1976, he was arrested and later sentenced to life imprisonment for his actions during this tumultuous period in Chinese history.