An Ziwen

An Ziwen (; 25 September 1909 – 25 June 1980), born as An Zhihan (安之瀚), was a Chinese politician and member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. He served as minister of the CCP Central Committee Organization Department, the Central People's Government Minister of Personnel, deputy secretary of the Central Discipline Inspection Commission, the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, among other roles. He authored the book "Revolutionary successors training is a strategic task of the party".

Biography An was born in September 1909 in Zizhou County, Shaanxi province. In 1925, he joined the Chinese Communist Youth League, and in 1927 was inducted into the Chinese Communist Party. He participated in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War.

In 1949, An was appointed as head of the Personnel Ministry, and was elected as a CPPCC Standing Committee member. He served as vice minister of the Central Organization Department, and was appointed as the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and deputy secretary. In 1956, at the Eighth CCP National Congress, he was elected as head of the CCP Central Organization Department.

In his role as vice minister of the Central Organization Department, An played a major role in the Gao Gang Affair. Gao Gang, by then a Politburo member and close associate of Mao Zedong, shared with An Mao's consideration to divide the central leadership into a first and second line. Without direct instruction, An privately composed a list of candidates for Politburo positions. Mao obtained the list. Gao was later shown the list by Mao's secretary. Gao noted that Bo Yibo, a close associate of his rival Liu Shaoqi, was included on the list of candidates. Lin Biao, a close associate of Gao, was excluded. Gao suspected that Liu had backed An in compiling the list. Liu later denied the accusation. An was criticized by Mao for compiling the list and submitted a written self-criticism. Mao warned other party members to drop the issue.

In summer 1953, Rao Shushi, the director of the Central Organization Department and An's boss, learned of the list. Rao, who did not have a good relationship with An, was seriously offended and looked to use the issue to entangle An politically. Liu Shaoqi advised Rao to drop the issue as per Mao's order, but was ignored. Later that year, Gao Gang toured southern China and met with many provincial leaders. Gao attacked Liu during many of the meetings, using the An list as a key part of his arguments. Mao was upset upon learning of Gao's attacks on Liu. Mao confronted Gao after a Central Secretariat meeting in December 1953. Mao asked if Gao had leaked the contents of the list in conversations with other party officials. Gao denied the accusation, to Mao's dismay. In 1954, the spreading of the list and rumors associated with it was listed of Gao's "ten big crimes" by Zhou Enlai, and was a critical justification for the purge of Rao. In particular, An focused on Dulles's statement at an October 28, 1958 press conference that peaceful evolution was "absolutely possible in a few hundred years, but perhaps just a matter of a few decades."

Wife Liu Jingxiong (刘竞雄), daughter of Chinese politician and official Liu Shaobai

Children An Li (安黎), former vice mayor of Shanmen, eldest daughter of An Ziwen An Min (安民), former Vice Minister of Ministry of Foreign Trade and Ministry of Commerce An Guo (安国)

Brothers An Zhiwen (安志文), third brother of An ziwen and alternate delegate of 12th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party

Nephew An Jiaoju (安鲛驹), general of Chinese People's Armed Police Force (PAP)