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Tan Lun (1520–1577), courtesy name Zili and also Yizhao, art name Erhua, was a native of Tanfang in Yihuang, Jiangxi, with ancestral roots in Changsha, Huguang (present-day Hunan). He passed the metropolitan examination in 1544, the twenty-third year of the Jiajing era, and served through the Jiajing, Longqing, and Wanli reigns, ultimately becoming Minister of War. Tan Lun was a prominent Ming commander in the campai

An eyewitness to the Jinyang uprising and author of *Da Tang Chuangye Qiju Zhu*.

Qifu Sifan (birth year unknown – 376) was a prominent chieftain of the Qifu branch of the Xianbei people, supreme military commander, and foundational architect of the Western Qin dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. The son of chieftain Qifu Qiuji, he was the father of Qifu Guoren (founding Emperor Liezu of Western Qin) and Qifu Gangui (King Gaozu). Around 355, Qifu Sifan succeeded his father as tribal leader

Empress Cao (1016–1079), native of Lingshou, Zhending (modern Hebei), was the second empress consort of Emperor Renzong of Song, the adoptive mother of Emperor Yingzong, and Grand Empress Dowager during the reign of Emperor Shenzong, posthumously honored as Empress Cisheng Guangxian. Descending from one of the most prominent military-aristocratic lineages of the early Northern Song, she was the granddaughter of found

Liu Daogui was a younger brother of Liu Yu and a general who helped his brother suppress the Huan Xuan Rebellion and lay foundations for Liu Song.

Helian Bobo (381–425), originally named Liu Bobo and bearing the epithet Qujie, was a member of the Tiefu branch of the Xiongnu and a native of Shuofang County in Shuofang Commandery (north of present-day Jingbian County, Shaanxi). He was the founding emperor of the Hu Xia state during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, with the temple name Shizu and the posthumous title Emperor Wulie. His father Liu Weichen was a leader o

The Chinese source cache identifies this person as a emperor associated with Dali. This entry preserves the source-backed identity and records the available chronology without adding unsupported claims.

Zang Xi (375 – 413 CE), courtesy name Yihe, a native of Ju County in Dongguan (present-day Ju County, Shandong), was an eminent military general and imperial consort aristocrat during the late Eastern Jin dynasty. Hailing from the distinguished Dongguan Zang lineage, he was the younger brother of Empress Wujing (Zang Aiqin, formal consort of Emperor Wu of Song) and the revered Confucian scholar Zang Tao. Though origi

Chen Huang (1637–1688), courtesy name Tianyi and art name Shengzhai, was a native of Qiantang, Zhejiang (present-day Hangzhou; alternatively Jiaxing). He was an illustrious hydraulic engineer and river conservancy master of the Qing dynasty. Rejecting the rigid civil examination curriculum in his youth, he immersed himself in geography and water conservancy, later joining the secretarial staff of Director-General of

Sima Qian (145 BCE–87 BCE?), courtesy name Zichang, was a Western Han historian, writer, and thinker from Xiayang in Zuopingyi (present-day Hancheng, Shaanxi). He succeeded his father Sima Tan as Grand Historian and was later known as the “Taishigong.” Enduring severe humiliation, he completed *Records of the Grand Historian*, China's first general history written in the biographical-annalistic format, and later gene

Yue Fei (March 24, 1103–January 27, 1142), courtesy name Pengju, was a native of Tangyin in Xiangzhou (present-day Tangyin, Henan), with ancestral roots in Dongchang (present-day Liaocheng, Shandong). He was a renowned Southern Song general who fought the Jin, as well as a military commander, strategist, calligrapher, and poet, and is remembered as a national hero. Born into a farming family, Yue entered military ser

Wei Xiaokuan (509–December 19, 580), originally named Wei Shuyu and courtesy name Xiaokuan, by which he was commonly known, was from Duling in Jingzhao (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi). He was a prominent military strategist of the Northern Wei, Western Wei, and Northern Zhou. He rose to Grand Minister of Works and Supreme Pillar of State, was created Duke of Yun, and received the posthumous name Xiang. A member of the e