To understand a country is to understand its people. And to understand China, you have to look at its history, a huge and daunting topic. Thousands of years, dynasty after dynasty, hundreds of emperors and politicians ...
In this series, we will take you on a tour through the long history of China to discover the movers and shakers — from ancient emperors who may just be legend to the men and women who penned poems thousands of years ago that are still recited by children today, from the Buddhist monk who provided the inspiration to the epic novel "Journey to the West" to the persons who shaped China's modern education system. Written by Zhang Ciyun, the founding Editor-in-Chief of Shanghai Daily, this series recalls the life story of 88 important figures, who left their personal marks in philosophy, art and literature, religion, science and technology and political movements.
About the Author
Born in Shanghai in 1949, ZHANG Ciyun (Peter) is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Shanghai Daily, a leading regional English-language daily newspaper on the Chinese mainland. He is also a prolific translator and writer.
Mr. Zhang graduated from Jilin Normal University in China, majoring in English language, and later from Stanford University in the United States with a master’s degree in journalism.
Starting from 1980, he had worked in several news agencies in China and helped bring into existence four English-language newspapers, including China Daily and Shanghai Daily.
Philosophers
老子 A Legendary Philosopher
孔子 The Greatest Thinker
墨子 Pacifist Thinker and Inventor
孟子 Principal Interpreter of Confucianism
庄子 Freewheeling Taoist
荀子 "All Humans are Born Evil’
韩非 Sage of ‘Rule by Fear’
王充 An Iconoclastic Thinker
朱熹 Foremost Neo-Confucian Thinker
黄宗羲 The Chinese Rousseau
王夫之 Enlightenment Thinker
Poets & Writers
屈原 A Great Patriotic Poet
司马相如 The Poet Who Eloped
司马迁 Historiography Father
曹植 The Poetical Prodigy
王勃 Brief Life, Lasting Fame
陈子昂 Tang Poetry’s Pioneer
李白 The ‘God of Poetry’
杜甫 Suffering Poetry Saint
苏轼 A Rare, Versatile Scholar
李清照 Ci’s Finest Female Poet
陆游 The Patriot of Poetry
辛弃疾 Lyric Poet and Patriot
关汉卿 China’s Own Shakespeare
施耐庵 Author Steeped in Mystery
吴承恩 Man behind Monkey King
曹雪芹 The Author of a Great Classic
Buddhists
玄奘 A Great Buddhist Monk
惠能 Rustic Patriarch
Scientists & Craftsmen
鲁班 Legendary Master Carpenter
孙武 Winning Ways of Ancient Strategist
扁鹊 The First Physician in China
蔡伦 Paper Trail Leads to Eunuch Cai
张衡 Inventor of the Seismometer
张仲景 Plague Prompts Doctor’s Work
华佗 A Pioneering Chinese Surgeon
祖冲之 An Early Chinese Star of Astronomy
贾思勰 Scribe of Guide to Farming
郦道元 Water Writer Plumbs New Depths
孙思邈 The ‘King of Medicine’
毕昇 Inventor of the Movable Type Technology
沈括 China’s Great Scientific Mind
黄道婆 Granny’s Great Innovations
李时珍 Saint of Medicine and Scribe of Herbs
徐光启 City’s Son Introduces European Science
詹天佑 Father of China’s Railways
Painters & Calligraphers
王羲之 Sage of Chinese Calligraphy
顾恺之 Originator of Chinese Painting
吴道子 Painter’s Death a Tall Tale
郑燮 An Eccentric Painter
Influential Figures
管仲 Leading Reformer
项羽 A prideful, Tragic Hero
王昭君 A Beautiful Lady Helps Keep Peace
商鞅 A Great Statesman and Political Reformer
陈胜 Leader of First Peasant Rebellion
诸葛亮 A Godlike Prophet
关羽 Lord Guan Revered for His Bravery
魏征 Candid Official Earns Great Respect
鉴真 Monk Spreads the Word in Japan
包拯 Iconic Official Who’s Incorruptible
王安石 Statesman with a Gift for Writing
岳飞 A Peerless General and National Hero
文天祥 Hero Stays Loyal to the Bitter End
郑和 Did the Admiral Discover the New World?
海瑞 Moral Official Dares to Criticize Emperor
戚继光‘Tiger General’ Stops Japanese Pirates
徐霞客 Intrepid Explorer Keeps a Meticulous Diary
郑成功 A National Hero Who Recaptures Taiwan
李自成 Shortsighted Military Genius
林则徐 Patriotic Official Fights the Opium Trade
龚自珍 A Reform-minded Official and Poet
李鸿章 Powerful Official Invites Controversy
严复 Educator Pushes for Modernization
康有为 Reformer Tries to Change China
蔡元培 Educator Supports Civil Rights Movement
陶行知 A Great Educator and Reformer
Emperors & Empresses
黄帝 Father of This Great Civilization
大禹 Taming the Long and Wild Rivers of China
秦始皇 The ‘First Emperor’ of China
刘邦 Founder of The Powerful Han Dynasty
汉武帝 Insatiable Ambition for Territorial Expansion
曹操 Speak of His Name and He Arrives
李世民 Creator of a Dynastic Golden Age
武则天 The Only Empress Regnant in China’s History
成吉思汗 Founder of the World’s Largest Empire
朱元璋 From a Beggar to an Emperor
康熙 Longest Reign Brings Prosperity
慈禧太后 Mysterious ‘Queen Without a Crown’
