Contents
Philosophers
老子 A Legendary Philosopher
孔子 The Greatest Thinker
墨子 Pacifist Thinker and Inventor
孟子 Principal Interpreter of Confucianism
莊子 Freewheeling Taoist
荀子 \"All Humans are Born Evil’
韓非 Sage of ‘Rule by Fear’
王充 An Iconoclastic Thinker
朱熹 Foremost Neo-Confucian Thinker
黃宗羲 The Chinese Rousseau
王夫之 Enlightenment Thinker
Poets & Writers
屈原 A Great Patriotic Poet
司馬相如 The Poet Who Eloped
司馬遷 Historiography Father
曹植 The Poetical Prodigy
王勃 Brief Life, Lasting Fame
陳子昂 Tang Poetry’s Pioneer
李白 The ‘God of Poetry’
杜甫 Suffering Poetry Saint
蘇軾 A Rare, Versatile Scholar
李清照 Ci’s Finest Female Poet
陸游 The Patriot of Poetry
辛棄疾 Lyric Poet and Patriot
關漢卿 China’s Own Shakespeare
施耐庵 Author Steeped in Mystery
吳承恩 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
魯班 Legendary Master Carpenter
孫武 Winning Ways of Ancient Strategist
扁鵲 The First Physician in China
蔡倫 Paper Trail Leads to Eunuch Cai
張衡 Inventor of the Seismometer
張仲景 Plague Prompts Doctor’s Work
華佗 A Pioneering Chinese Surgeon
祖沖之 An Early Chinese Star of Astronomy
賈思勰 Scribe of Guide to Farming
酈道元 Water Writer Plumbs New Depths
孫思邈 The ‘King of Medicine’
畢昇 Inventor of the Movable Type Technology
沈括 China’s Great Scientific Mind
黃道婆 Granny’s Great Innovations
李時珍 Saint of Medicine and Scribe of Herbs
徐光啟 City’s Son Introduces European Science
詹天佑 Father of China’s Railways
Painters & Calligraphers
王羲之 Sage of Chinese Calligraphy
顧愷之 Originator of Chinese Painting
吳道子 Painter’s Death a Tall Tale
鄭燮 An Eccentric Painter
Influential Figures
管仲 Leading Reformer
項羽 A prideful, Tragic Hero
王昭君 A Beautiful Lady Helps Keep Peace
商鞅 A Great Statesman and Political Reformer
陳勝 Leader of First Peasant Rebellion
諸葛亮 A Godlike Prophet
關羽 Lord Guan Revered for His Bravery
魏征 Candid Official Earns Great Respect
鑒真 Monk Spreads the Word in Japan
包拯 Iconic Official Who’s Incorruptible
王安石 Statesman with a Gift for Writing
岳飛 A Peerless General and National Hero
文天祥 Hero Stays Loyal to the Bitter End
鄭和 Did the Admiral Discover the New World?
海瑞 Moral Official Dares to Criticize Emperor
戚繼光‘Tiger General’ Stops Japanese Pirates
徐霞客 Intrepid Explorer Keeps a Meticulous Diary
鄭成功 A National Hero Who Recaptures Taiwan
李自成 Shortsighted Military Genius
林則徐 Patriotic Official Fights the Opium Trade
龔自珍 A Reform-minded Official and Poet
李鴻章 Powerful Official Invites Controversy
嚴復 Educator Pushes for Modernization
康有為 Reformer Tries to Change China
蔡元培 Educator Supports Civil Rights Movement
陶行知 A Great Educator and Reformer
Emperors & Empresses
黃帝 Father of This Great Civilization
大禹 Taming the Long and Wild Rivers of China
秦始皇 The ‘First Emperor’ of China
劉邦 Founder of The Powerful Han Dynasty
漢武帝 Insatiable Ambition for Territorial Expansion
曹操 Speak of His Name and He Arrives
李世民 Creator of a Dynastic Golden Age
武則天 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’
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