List of Chinese people: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Famous Chinese or Chinese-speaking/writing people.

Note In Chinese names, the family name is typically placed first (for example, the family name of "Mao Zedong" is "Mao"). For westernized names, the family name is placed last (for example, the family name of "Maggie Cheung" is "Cheung"). The following names are listed in alphabetic order, by family names.

Rulers and politicians

Imperial times

• Aixinjueluo Puyi, the last emperor
• Cao family
  • Cao Cao
  • Cao Fang
  • Cao Huan
  • Cao Mao
  • Cao Pi
  • Cao Ren
  • Cao Rui
  • Cao Zhang
  • Cao Zhi
• Chen Youliang, founder of Dahan
• Empress Dowager Cixi, Qing dynasty de facto leader
• Dong Zhuo, Han dynasty general
• Dou Xian
• Gao Lishi, Tang, corrupt
• Guo Jia, Kingdom of Wei strategist
• Emperor Gao of Han China
• Hongwu Emperor of China
• Hong Tianguifu, king of Taiping
• Hong Xiuquan, king of Taiping
• Hua Xiong
• Huang Chenyan
• Kangxi Emperor of China, Emperor of the Qing Dynasty
• Kublai Khan
• Li Chengqian, Tang prince
• Li Tai, Tang prince
• Li Hongzhang, Qing statesman
• Li Houzhu, Southern Tang ruler and poet
• Li Si, Qin prime minister, Legalist, invented systemized script
• Li Zicheng, Ming rebel leader
• Lin Zexu, Qing official
• Liu Bei, founder of Kingdom of Shu
• Liu Biao
• Liu Chan, Kingdom of Shu emperor
• Lu Su, Kingdom of Wu advisor
• Empress Dowager Lü of Han Empire
• Ming Yuzhen, founder of Daxia
• Pang Tong
• Qianlong Emperor of China, Emperor of the Qing Dynasty
• Qin Shi Huangdi, first emperor
• Sima Guang
• Sima Lun
• Sun Ce
• Sun Jian
• Sun Quan, founder of Kingdom of Wu
• Emperor Tang Taizong of China
• Wang An-shih
• Wang Mang
• Wen Tianxiang, Song prime minister, writer
• Wei Yan
• Wu Zetian, Empress of China
• Xu Shu
• Yan Song, corrupt prime minister
• Yang Guozhong, Tang official by guanxi
• Yongle Emperor of China
• Zeng Guofan, Qing official
• Zhao Gao, Qin eunuch
• Zhang Zhao
• Zheng Chenggong
• Zhou Tai
• Zhuge Liang, Han dynasty strategist
• Zuo Zongtang, known as General Tso in the West

See also: Chinese sovereign, Table of Chinese monarchs

Warlords

• Chang Hsueh-liang
• Chang Tso-lin
• Feng Yü-hsiang
• Gongsun Kang
• Wang Jingwei
• Yuan Shikai

PRC

• Bo Xilai
• Chen Duxiu, CPC cofounder
• Chen Yun
• Deng Xiaoping family
  • Deng Xiaoping
  • Zhuo Lin
  • Deng Nan
  • Deng Pufang
• Deng Yingchao
• Gang of Four
  • Jiang Qing
  • Wang Hongwen
  • Yao Wenyuan
  • Zhang Chunqiao
• Hu Jintao
• Hu Yaobang
• Hua Guofeng
• Huang Ju
• Jia Qinglin
• Jiang Zemin
• Lei Feng
• Li Dazhao, CPC cofounder
• Kang Sheng
• Li Peng
• Li Ruihuan
• Li Xiannian, PRC president
• Lin Biao
• Liu Bocheng
• Liu Shaoqi
• Luo Gan
• Mao Zedong
• Peng Dehuai
• Peng Zhen
• Tung Chee Hwa
• Wang Fanxi, Trotskyist
• Wang Guangya, ambassador
• Wen Jiabao
• Wu Bangguo
• Wu Guanzheng
• Wu Yi, vice-premier
• Xie Fuzhi
• Yang Shangkun, PRC president
• Ye Jianying
• Zeng Qinghong
• Zhao Ziyang
• Zhou Enlai
• Zhu Rongji, PRC premier

Nationalists (Kuomintang)

• Chen Cheng
• Chen Yi (Kuomintang)
• Chiang Ching-Kuo
• Chiang Fang-liang
• Chiang Kai-shek
• Du Yuming, field commander
• H. H. Kung, banker, politician
• Hau Pei-tsun
• Huang Hsing
• Li Tsung-jen
• Lin Sen
• Liu Chih
• Lu Muzhen
• Qiu Jin, female revolutionary
• Soong family
  • Charlie Soong
  • T. V. Soong
  • Soong sisters
    • Soong Ai-ling
    • Soong Ching-ling
    • Soong May-ling
• Sun Yat-sen
• Sung Chiao-jen
• Yen Chia-kan
• Yen Hsi-shan

Republic of China

• Feng Kuo-chang
• Li Yüan-hung
• Ts'ao K'un
• Tuan Ch'i-jui
• Wey Daw-ming

See also: List of leaders of the Republic of China, Premier of the Republic of China

Current Taiwanese politicians

• John Chang
• Chang Chun
• Chen Li-an
• Chen Shui-bian
• Sisy Chen
• Chang Chau-hsiung
• Chiang Wei-kuo
• Chu Mei-feng
• Frank Hsieh
• Lee Teng-hui
• Lien Chan
• Lin Yang-kang
• Annette Lu
• Ma Ying-jeou
• Vincent Siew
• James Soong
• Su Tseng-chang
• Sun Yun-suan
• Yu Shyi-kun
• Wang Chien-shien
• Wang Jin-pyng

Dissidents

• Wuer Kaixi
• Li Lu

• Concubine Qi
• Xishi, melancholy beauty
• Yang Guifei, emperor's consort

Painters and calligraphers

• Fu Baoshi
• Liang Kai
• Qi Baishi
• Wang Xizhi, calligrapher
• Wei Shuo, female calligrapher
• Xu Peiheng
• Xu Wei
• Xue Wei, painter
• Zhao Mengfu
• Zhu Da, also known as Bada Shanren

See also: List of Chinese painters

Actors and actresses

• Jackie Chan
• Sammi Cheng
• Leslie Cheung
• Maggie Cheung
• Chow Yun-Fat
• Gong Li
• Sammo Hung
• Leon Lai
• Andy Lau
• Bruce Lee
• Tony Leung Chiu Wai
• Jet Li
• Ling Bai
• Betty Loh Ti
• Anita Mui
• Michelle Reis
• Ruan Lingyu, suicided silent-film actress
• Patrick Tam
• Sally Yeh
• Michelle Yeoh
• Yuen Biao
• Zhang Ziyi

Film-makers

• Ang Lee
• Jackie Chan
• Chen Kaige
• Samson Chiu
• Stephen Chow
• King Hu
• Ringo Lam
• Stanley Kwan
• Ng Wui
• Tsui Hark
• Wayne Wang
• Wong Kar-wai
• John Woo
• Zhang Yimou

See also: Cinema of China

Singers

• Jay Chow
• Sam Hui
• Bic Runga, Chinese–Māori singer–songwriter
• Roman Tam
• Faye Wong

See also: Cantopop

Musicians

• Ch'eng Mao-yün, violinist and composer

Comedians

• Raybon Kan, New Zealand Chinese comedian and newspaper columnist

Martial Artists

• Cheng Man-ch'ing, T'ai Chi
• Leung Sheung
• Wong Fei Hung, kung fu during the Qing dynasty
• Wu Chien-ch'üan, T'ai Chi
• Yang Ch'eng-fu, T'ai Chi
• Yip Man
• Zhang Sanfeng

• Ding Junhui, snooker player
• Fu Mingxia, diver
• He Ying, archer
• Ma Jian, basketball player
• Li Ning, gymnast
• Lin Sang, archer
• Liu Xiang, hurdler
• Sun Wen, woman footballer
• Teng Haibin, gymnast
• Wang Zhizhi, NBA basketball player
• Wu Qingyuan (Go Seigen), go player
• Xie Jun, chess player
• Xu Jun, chess player
• Yao Ming, NBA Basketball player, Houston Rockets
• Ye Jiangchuan, chess player
• Zhang Juanjuan, archer
• Zhang Zhong, chess player

See also: Category:Chinese athletes

• Cai Yuanpei, chancellor
• Chang-lin Tien, chancellor
• Winston Chang

• Zhou Zhengyi

Taiwan:

• Tsai Wan Lin
• Wang Yung-ching
• Terry Gou
• Koo Chen-fu
• John Tu and David Sun, cofounders of Kingston Technologies

Hong Kong:

• Li family
  • Li Ka-shing
  • Victor Li
  • Richard Li
• Walter Kwok
• Thomas Kwok
• Raymond Kwok
• Lee Shau Kee
• Michael Kadoorie
• Nina Wang
• Patrick Wang
• Cheng Yu-tung
• Stanley Ho
• Chen Din Hwa
• Henry Fok
• Tung Chao Yung
• Teddy Wang
• Wang Din-shin
• Gordon Wu

• Xu Xiake
• Zhang Qian
• Zheng He

• Cai Mao
• Chen Yi (communist)
• Guo Ziyi, Tang general
• Five Tiger Generals (Kingdom of Shu):
  • Guan Yu
  • Huang Zhong
  • Ma Chao
  • Zhang Fei
  • Zhao Yun
• Fu Zuoyi
• Gan Ning
• Huang Gai
• Jiang Wei, Kingdom of Shu general
• Le Jin
• Liao Hua
• Lin Biao
• Liu Huaqing
• Lu Yi
• Ma Su
• Nie Rongzhen
• Sima Yi
• Sima Zhao
• Song Zheyuan
• Sun Ce
• Wuqiu Jian
• Yuan Shao
• Xu Shouhui, Yuan dynasty rebel leader
• Zhang He
• Zhang Liao
• Zhang Xueliang
• Zhang Zizhong
• Zhou Yu
• Zhu De

See also: People of note in the PLA

• Bai Shouyi, historian
• Ban Gu, Han dynasty historian
• Cao Yu, dramatist
• Chang San-feng
• Ch'ien Mu
• Confucius, philosopher
• Cui Hao, Tang dynasty poet
• Du Mu, Tang poet, official
• Gao Qi, Ming dynasty poet
• Gao Xingjian
• Gongsun Longzi, one of the Logicians of the Warring States Period
• Guan Hanqing, Yuan dynasty playwright
• Guo Moruo, poet, historian, archaeologist
• Han Yu, founded Neo-Confucianism, essayist, poet
• Hu Shih, writer
• Jia Dao, poet
• Jin Shengtan, editor and critic
• Jinyong, novelist
• Kang Youwei
• Lao She
• Lao Zi, philosopher
• Li Ao, writer
• Li Po, poet
• Li Qiao, Tang poet
• Li Shangyin, poet
• Liang Ch'i-ch'ao
• Lin Yutang, writer
• Liu Zongyuan, poet
• Lu Hao-tung
• Lu Xun, novelist
• Luo Binwang, Tang poet
• Mao Dun, writer
• Mei Yaochen, Song dynasty poet
• Meng Haoran, Tang dynasty poet
• Mo Zi, philosopher
• Mencius, philosopher
• Ouyang Xiu, Song statesman, historian, poet
• Pai Hsien-yung, writer
• Pu Songling, Qing writer
• Qian Xuantong, phonetician
• Qian Zhongshu
• Qu You, Ming novelist
• Qu Yuan, State of Chu poet
• Shen Congwen, writer
• Sima Qian, historiographer
• Su Dongpo, poet
• Sun Tzu, philosopher
• Tao Qian, poet
• Tian Han, playwright
• Tu Wei-ming, ethicist
• Wang Yi-Ch'eng, poet
• Wang Pi, Three Kingdoms philosopher
• Wang Wei, Tang poet, painter, official
• Wang Wei (17th century poet), poet
• Wang Yangming, Ming neo-Confucianist
• Wu Cheng'en, Ming novelist, poet
• Xu Zhimo, poet
• Xun Zi, philosopher
• Zhang Ailing, woman novelist
• Zhuang Zi, philosopher

See also: List of Chinese authors, List of Chinese language poets, List of Confucianists

• Xu Shen, dictionary compiler
• Woo Tsin-hang, linguist
• Zhang Binglin, phonologist
• Y. R. Chao, phonologist and dialectologist

• Faxian, Buddhist monk, explorer
• Huangbo Xiyun, Chan Buddhism master
• I Ching (monk), Buddhist monk
• Witness Lee, Christian founder of the Local Church
• Liang Fa, Christian preacher
• Gong Shengliang, Christian preacher
• K. H. Ting, Christian leader
• Abbot Wang, Daoist priest
• Xuanzang, Buddhist monk
• Zhang Daoling, founded Daoist sect

See also: List of Taoists

• Bi Sheng, inventor of clay print-blocks
• Cai Lun, inventor of paper
• David Ho, AIDS researcher
• Charles Kao, inventor of optical fiber
• Yuan T. Lee, Nobel Laureate, Chemistry
• Liang Sicheng, architect and eldest son of Liang Ch'i-ch'ao
• I. M. Pei, architect
• Qian Sanqiang, nuclear physicist
• Tsien Hsue-shen, rocket scientist
• An Wang, computer scientist
• Wang Zhen, inventor of wooden print-blocks
• Yang Liwei, astronaut
• Zhang Heng, astronomer, mathematician, artist and literature scholar
• Zhu Shijie, mathematician
• Zu Chongzhi, mathematician and astronomer
• Li Zhengdao, Nobel Laureate, Physics
• Yang Zhenning, Nobel Laureate, Physics
• Daniel Chee Tsui, Nobel Laureate, Physics
• Wu Jianxiong, Physicist

• Ching Shih, woman pirate
• Jing Ke, assassin
• Li Shuxian, wife of Aixinjueluo Puyi
• Wan Hu, would-be astronaut
• Wang Wei (pilot), crashed PLAAF pilot
• Jack Yan, publisher and businessman
• Ying Lianzhi, newspaperist

• Cato of the Pink Panther series of films
• Charlie Chan, detective
• Fu Hsi, mythical first emperor of China
• Fu Manchu, criminal mastermind
  • parodied in the radio series Round the Horne as "Dr Chou En Ginsberg MA (failed)"
• Kai Lung, of stories by Ernest Bramah
• Kato of The Green Hornet TV series* Li Kao and Number Ten Ox, of novels by Barry Hughart
• Nüwa, mother goddess of Chinese mythology
• Xuanzang and his disciples (including Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie), of Journey to the West