The earliest appellation Emperor was a general designation of Three Kings and Five Emperors. Three Kings were referred to Emperor of Heaven, Emperor of Earth and Emperor of Human, the three ancient emperors in Chinese legends. Originally, Emperor was referred to Emperor of Heaven, the sovereign ruler of everything on earth. Later on, after wars occurred between many states, their rulers called themselves emperor, such as Western Emperor, Eastern Emperor, Mid Emperor, Northern Emperor, and so on, which made the Emperors in the heaven come down into the world and thus became a honorific title in the world. (There was another saying that Five Emperors were referred to the Yellow Emperor, Emperor Yan, Emperor Ciyou, etc. in the tribe age.), Read detailed information, please go to the following links.
| Xishi
Xishi (497 BC) was a legendary beauty of ancient China. She has been described as "equally charming in both heavy and light makeup", "as appealing when she frowns as when she smiles".
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| Diaochan
Diaochan, whose name is not to be found in official history books, plays an important role in the Romance Of The Three Kingdoms. Her story, which is still well-known today, tells how two allies were so blinded by a pretty woman that they became enemies, one intent on destroying the other.
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| Du Shiniang
During the reign of Emperor Wan Li of the Song Dynasty, the capital assumed an appearance of peace and prosperity. Business of brothels was brisk. The Yicui Yuan Brothel did the best because of its star courtesan Du Shiniang.
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| Wang Zhaojun
Wang Zhaojun is perhaps the best known of China's "political brides". Many tales have been told about her life.
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| Chen Yuanyuan
Chen Yuanyuan (Chinese: 陳圓圓; pinyin: Chén Yuányuán; WG: Ch'en Yüan-yüan) (1624 - 1681), born Xing Yuan (邢沅), a Ming Chinese, was a concubine of Wu Sangui, who broke into the fortress of Li Zicheng to rescue her. Her courtesy name was Wanfen (畹芬).
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| Yang Guifei
Yang Yuhuan, later to become Yang Guifei (AD 713-756), was the daughter of Yang Xuanyan, a census official in Sichuan.
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| Daoguang
The Daoguang Emperor (September 16, 1782 - February 25, 1850) was the seventh Emperor of China|emperor of the Manchu Qing dynasty, and the sixth Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1820 to 1850.
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| Gongsun Kang
Gongsun Kang (公孫康 gong1 sun1 kang1; ?-221) was a China|Chinese warlord in Liaodong and northwestern Korea.
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| Cao Cao
Cao Cao (Simplified Chinese: 曹操; Traditional Chinese: 曹操; Pinyin: Cáo Cāo) (155-220), zi Mende (Simplified Chinese: 孟德; Traditional Chinese: 孟德; Pinyin: m?ng d?), was a regional warlord who rose to become the self-appointed Imperial Secretarist under Han Xian Di and the de facto ruler of Northern China during the last years of Eastern Han Dynasty.
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| Cao Ren
Cao Ren (曹仁; style name Zixiao 子孝; 168-223) was a military commander under the third century China|Chinese warlord Cao Cao. He played a significant part in the civil wars leading to the fall of the Han Dynasty, and the establishment of the state of Wei during the Three Kingdoms.
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| Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo(董卓; stylename: Zhongying 仲颖) (139? - 192 AD) was a general in the Later Han Dynasty of ancient China.
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| Dou Xian
Dou Xian ( 50s - 92), leader of the consort clan Dou, first of which engaged in the struggle for power against eunuchs in the Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty.
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| Gongsun Du
Gongsun Du (Traditional Chinese: 公孫度, pinyin: Gōngsūn Dù; ?-204) was a general of the Late Eastern Han Dynasty. He did not get the opportunity to really get into battle until Dong Zhuo seized power from Emperor Shao (the former Prince of Hongnong).
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| An Lushan
An Lushan (Simplified Chinese characters|安禄山; Hanyu Pinyin: ān lushān) (703 - 757) was a military leader of non-Han Chinese origin during the Tang Dynasty in China.
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| Gongsun Yuan
Gongsun Yuan (公孫淵 gong1 sun1 yuan1; ?-238) was a China|Chinese warlord in Liaodong and northwestern Korea.
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| Guan Gong
Guan Gong (關公) , or Guan Di (關帝), is a Chinese god based on the historical Guan Yu, a third century military commander. He is often called the "Chinese God of War" though this title is not entirely appropriate.
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| Hong Tianguifu
Hong Tianguifu (洪天貴福 in pinyin: hong2 tian1 fu2 gui4) (1848 - 1864), also called Hong Tiangui and in Qing historical record, Hong Futian (洪福瑱 fu2 tian4), was the second and last monarch|king of the Heavenly Kingdom of Taiping. He is popular referred to the Junior Lord (幼主). Officially, like his father, he was the King of Heaven (天王). To differentiate, he is also called the Junior King of Heaven (幼天王).
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| Hong Xiuquan
Hong Xiuquan (洪秀全, Wade-Giles: Hung Hsiu-chuan, born Hong Renkun 洪仁坤, Courtesy name Huoxiu 火秀) (January 10, 1812-June 1, 1864), a Hakka China|Chinese Christian who led the Taiping Rebellion and established the Heavenly Kingdom of Taiping, in which he was known as the King of Heaven (天王/Tīan wang).
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| Yuan An
Yuan An 袁安 (styled Shaogong 邵公, d. CE 92) was a prominent scholar, administrator and statesman at the Han Dynasty courts of Emperor Zhang of Han China|Emperor Zhang and Emperor He of Han China|Emperor He. He is regarded as the founder of the powerful Yuan (family name)|Yuan clan of Ru'nan, one the leading aristocratic families of the Eastern Han.
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| Ming Yuzhen
Ming Yuzhen (旻玉珍, then 明玉珍) (1331 - summer 1366) was a peasant who established the rebel Empire of Daxia (大夏 "Great Xia") during the late Yuan Dynasty in China. He changed his surname in adulthood to mean "Brilliancy".
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| Sun Jian
Sun Jian (孫堅, pinyin: Sūn Jiān ) (156-191), courtesy name Wentai (文台), was a warlord from Jiang Dong, the southeastern part of China, later the Wu Kingdom. He was said to be descended from the legendary strategist Sun Tzu, author of 'The Art of War', and was nicknamed the Tiger of Jiang Dong (江东猛虎).
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| Sun Wu
Sun Wu was a native of the State of Qi during the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC). The family name of his ancestors, who were Qi nobles, was Tian. Sun Wu's grandfather, Tian Shu, was a high-ranking official who excelled in military affairs.
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| Wu Sangui
Wu Sangui (Chinese language|Chinese: 吳三桂; pinyin: Wú Sānguì; Wade-Giles|WG: Wu San-kuei) (1612 - October 2, 1678) was a Ming Dynasty|Ming Chinese general who opened the gates of the Great Wall of China at Shanhai Pass to let Manchu soldiers into China proper, leading to the ultimate destruction of the Ming Empire and the establishment of the Qing Dynasty|Qing Empire.
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| Xu Shouhui
Xu Shouhui (徐壽輝, in Wade-Giles Hsü Shou-hui, ? - 1360) was a rebel leader in late the Yuan Dynasty in China and proclaimed himself emperor. He was also known as Xu Zhenyi (真一 or 真逸, in WG Hsü Chen-i).
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| Li Zicheng
Li Zicheng (李自成) (September 22, 1606 - 1645), born Li Hongji (鴻基), was a rebel in late Ming China who proclaimed himself Chuang Wang (闖王), or "The Roaming King".
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| Yuan Taotu
Yuan Taotu 轅濤塗 (died c. 625 BCE, posthumous title "Xuanzhong" 宣仲) was a nobleman and diplomat of the Spring and Autumn Period|Spring and Autumn state of Chen (state)|Chen. He is regarded as the ancestor of those surnamed Yuan (surname)|Yuan (袁).
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| Yue Fei
Yue Fei (1103-1142), a national hero, was a very famous general in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) who fought against the invasion of the State of Jin.
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| Zhang He
At the end of the reign of the Han Emperor Ling, Zhang He (張郃) joined the volunteer army under Han Fu, in an attempt to suppress the Yellow turban rebellion. He was appointed as Commander and fought on several occasions.
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| Zhang Jiao
Zhang Jiao (张角) was a legendary rebel leader during the period of the Han Dynasty in China. He was said to be a sorcerer, and was a follower of Taoism.
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| Zhang Liao
Zhang Liao (張遼) (169 AD - 222 AD) was a famous general during the Three Kingdoms Period in ancient China.
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| Chang Tso-Lin
Chang Tso-Lin (WG) (Chinese language|Chinese: 張作霖, pinyin: Zhang Zuolin) (March 19, 1873 – June 4, 1928), nicknamed the "Old Marshall" or "Mukden Tiger", was a China|Chinese warlord in Manchuria in the early 20th century.
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| Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang, the minister of the State of Shu during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), was an outstanding politician and military expert who was known for his use of tactics and strategies, as is best exemplified in the following two stories.
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| Hua Xiong
Hua Xiong was an officer under Dong Zhuo during the Three Kingdoms period of China.
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| Cao Mao
Cao Mao, Chinese character|ch. 曹髦, Pinyin|py. cáo máo, wg. Ts'ao-Mao (between 240 and 242-260) was an emperor of the Kingdom of Wei. He was a grandson of Cao Pi and the Gāogùixīang Chinese nobility#gong|Gōng (高貴鄉公; "Duke of the Noble Town", Wade-Giles Kao-kuei-hsiang Kung), He was murdered in an abortive coup d'etat against Sima Zhao (司马昭).
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| Gao Lishi
Gao Lishi (高力士) (684-762) was a eunuch official during Emperor Xuanzong of Tang China's reign, reaching high ranks like Biaoqi Grand General (驃騎大將軍) and Jinkai Fu Yitong Sansi (進開府儀同三司).
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| Guo Jia
Guō Jiā (郭嘉)(170-207), courtesy name Fengxiao (奉孝), was a famous strategist and advisor for the Kingdom of Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of ancient China.
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| Huang Chenyan
Huang Chenyan was a prominent scholar in the Long Zhong commandry around the time of the later Han Dynasty. He was the father of Huang Yue Ying, wife of the esteemed Zhuge Liang. It is said that in the Battle of Yiling, Huang Chenyan helped Lu Yi (Xun) through the Stone Setinel Maze.
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| Ban Chao
Ban Chao (32-102 AD) was a famous diplomat and military figure of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD).
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| Wang Anshi
However, famous scholar-officials like Su Dongpo and Ouyang Xiu bitterly opposed these reforms on grounds of tradition.
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| Lin Zexu
Lin Zexu (August 30, 1785 - November 22, 1850) was an official loyal to the Daoguang Emperor of China, most famous for his active fight against foreign-imported opium during the Qing dynasty.
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| Li Si
Li Si (ca. 280 BC - September or October 208 BC) was the Prime Minister of the state (and later the dynasty) of Qin, between 246 BC and 208 BC. A famous Legalism_(philosophy)|Legalist, he was also a notable calligrapher. Li Si served under two kings and emperors: Qin Shi Huang, king of Qin and later First Emperor of China -- and his son, Qin Er Shi.
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| Liu Biao
Liu Biao (?-208 AD) was the governor of the Jing province in China towards the end of the Han dynasty. He was of the same family as the emperor, and thus extremely loyal to the Han cause.
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| Lu Su
Lu Su was an advisor for the kingdom of Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of ancient China, having taken over the position from Zhou Yu. Upon Zhou Yu's death, Lu Su was put in charge of Sun Quan's armies and was head advisor until his own death.
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| Marco Polo
Marco Polo (1254-1324) is probably the most famous Westerner traveled on the Silk Road. He excelled all the other travelers in his determination, his writing, and his influence.
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| Pang Tong
Pang Tong (龐統) (178-213Anno Domini|AD), courtesy name Shiyuan (士元), was an advisor to Liu Bei during the Later Han period. His Taoism|Taoist name was Young Fenghuang|Phoenix (鳯雛; Fengchu).
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| Sima Lun
Sima Lun (Simplified Chinese character|sim. ch. 司马伦, Traditional Chinese character|trad. ch. 司馬倫, py. si1 ma3 lun2, wg. Ssu-ma Lun) (before 249 exclusive - poisoned June 5,301) was titled the Prince of Zhao (state) |Zhao (pinyin: zhao4 Chinese nobility#wang|wang2, simplified Chinese: 赵王, traditional Chinese: 趙王) and the usurper of the Jin Dynasty (265-420)|Jin Dynasty from February 3 to May 30, 301. He is usually not counted in the list of Jin emperors due to his brief reign.
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| Sun Ce
Sun Ce or Sun Tse (孫策; pinyin: Sūn C?; 175-200 AD), style name Bo Fu (伯符), was born in Fuchun County of southern China in AD 175. He was the eldest son of the Han general Sun Jian and the oldest of eight children, including Sun Quan.
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| Li Hongzhang
Li Hongzhang (February 15, 1823 - November 7, 1901) was a general who ended several major rebellions, and a leading statesman of the late Chinese Qing Empire.
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| Wei Yan
Wei Yan 魏延 (?–234), courtesy name Wenchang (文長), was a distinguished officer of Kingdom of Shu.
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| Zheng Chenggong
Koxinga is the popular name of Zheng Chenggong (1624 - 1662), who was a List of famous military commanders|military leader at the end of the China|Chinese Ming Dynasty.
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| Yang Guozhong
Yang Guozhong (楊國忠 Pinyin: yang2 guo2 zhong1) (? - 756) was a official who achieved high rank due to his guanxi|relation with Emperor-Consort Yang Guifei.
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| Yan Song
Yan Song (Chinese language|Chinese: 嚴嵩; pinyin: Yán Sōng) (1481 - 1568) was a corrupt Ming Chinese prime minister who became a homeless pauper.
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| Zeng Guofan
Zēng Guófán (曾國藩; Wade-Giles|WG: Tseng Kuo-fan, Chinese courtesy name#Zi|zi: Bóhán 伯函, Chinese courtesy name#Hao|hao: Díshēng 滌生) (1811-1872) was an eminent Han Chinese official of the Manchu Qing Dynasty.
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| Zhang Qian
The Western Region, referring to today's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the areas west to it, has long established close relation and exchange with the Central Plains.
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| Zhang Zhao
Zhang Zhao (156-236 AD) was a brilliantly minded civil officer who served under the Sun family at the time of the Three Kingdoms in China. It is said that when Sun Ce died he told his brother to seek advice on internal affairs from Zhang Zhao.
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| Zhao Gao
Zhao Gao 趙高 (died end of October 207 BC) was the chief eunuch during the Qin Dynasty of China, who played an instrumental role in the downfall of the Qin Dynasty. Note that although he is referred to as a eunuch, he was not castrated - he was born with a sexual disability.
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| Xuanzang
The ancient Chinese mythological novel Xi You Ji (Journey to the West or The Monkey King) made the story of Tangseng well known in China for centuries. It was based on a true story of a famous Chinese monk, Xuanzang (602-664).
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| Zheng He
Zheng He (also known as Cheng Ho) was born in Kunyang, Yunnan (present-day Jinning County, Kunming) around 1371 AD, the fourth year of the Hongwu reign period (1371 AD) of the Ming Dynasty.
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| Zhou Tai
Zhou Tai (周泰), courtesy name Youping, was a tall, powerful man who served the kingdom of Wu in the Three Kingdoms era of China. He was a man of few words who was said to never lose his cool.
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| Zhou Yu
Zhou Yu (周瑜) (175 - 210) was a famous militarist and strategist of the Three Kingdoms of China. He was said to be a master of naval battles.
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