Wang Hongwen (December 1935 – 3 August 1992) was a Chinese labour activist and politician who was the youngest member of the "Gang of Four".

He rose to prominence during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), after organizing the Shanghai People's Commune, to become one of the foremost members of national leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Following Mao's death in 1976, Wang was deposed in an intra-party coup, arrested and charged with "counterrevolutionary activity", then sentenced to life imprisonment in 1981.

[2]: 45 In October he put up a second poster attacking this work team and founded a rebel group named "Warriors Sworn to the Death to Carry Through with the Cultural Revolution to the End."

Following the Lin Biao incident, Wang was put in charge of the investigation into the case in the Shanghai area, reporting directly to Mao.

[citation needed] Wang was an important player during and after the death of Mao, and served as the masters of ceremonies for his funeral service on national radio on 18 September 1976.

[3] When Wang arrived, his personal guards were asked to stay outside the courtyard, and when several agents from the Central Security Bureau restrained him in the corridor, he shouted, "I'm here for the meeting, what are you doing?"