Famous Dead.
Of China's famous deceased, those who were involved in politics are undoubtedly the most well-known on an international scale. This article will also feature several renowned philosophers and poets who were essential in shaping Chinese society and culture.
Politics
Qin Shihuang (秦始皇), the self-proclaimed "First Emperor" of China, lived from 259-210 BC. Although known as a tyrannical leader who was responsible for the deaths of many Confucian scholars and builders constructing his various private and public works projects, he is also highly regarded as the unifier of China (221 BC). His most important contributions were the introduction of a standardized currency, a unified Chinese script, and standardized units of measurement. He is especially well-known for ordering the construction of the famous Terracotta Army near Xi'an and the very first sections of the Great Wall.
Zhuge Liang (诸葛亮), also known as Kong Ming (孔明) and nicknamed the "Hidden Dragon", was a strategist and military advisor to Liu Bei, emperor of the Shu Han dynasty during the period of the Three Kingdoms. He lived from 181-234 AD. In modern Chinese culture, his name is often still equated with intelligence and wisdom, and he is regarded by many as one of the the most capable statesmen in Chinese history.
Sun Yat-sen (孙中山), who lived from 1866-1925, was a Chinese political leader from the southern province of Guangdong. Often referred to as the "Father of Modern China", he is most well-known for his revolutionary activities which helped lead to the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China, of which he was the first provisional president. He later served as the first leader of the Kuomingtang (Chinese Nationalist Party).
Chiang Kai-shek (蒋介石), alive from 1887-1975, took over as the leader of the Kuomintang (KMT) after Sun Yat-sen's death in 1925. He became the leader of the Republic of China in 1928. When the Communist Party took over in 1949, Chiang and many other KMT officials fled - with their government - to Taiwan.
Mao Zedong (毛泽东), born in 1893, was one of the most influential political figures not only in modern Chinese, but also world, history. He was the leader of the Chinese Communist Party when it came to power in 1949 and served as Chairman of the People's Republic of China until his death in 1976. Although still highly revered by many in mainland China, he and his party were also responsible for the enormous death tolls resulting from economic, political and social plans such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.
In the 1980's, Deng Xiaoping (邓小平), Mao's successor, opened China to the world for the first time in centuries. Implementing significant economic reforms, he developed the concept of a socialist market economy, stressing that "socialism does not mean shared poverty." These reforms led to the economic boom China has experienced over the last several decades. Born in 1904, Deng served as the leader of the People's Republic of China from 1978 until his resignation in 1989. He died in 1997.
Philosophy
Confucius (孔夫子), whose birth name was Kong Qiu (孔丘), had a profound impact on Chinese culture and philosophy. He was born in 551 BC in the State of Lu (today's Shandong Province). Although he grew up in poverty, he was able to ascend the social ladder to become the Lu Justice Minister at age 53. Disappointed by the Duke of Lu's evasion of political duties for three days when he was sent horses and beautiful women by another duke, Confucius resigned from his post and began to travel around the neighboring kingdoms, looking for a leader who would agree to implement his political and moral ideas. Unfortunately, he never succeeded in this endeavor, but his teachings were passed down for generations to come. The father of Confucianism, his moral teachings (categorized by some as a type of "virtue ethics") focused on the development of personal morality and skilled moral judgment, as opposed to blindly following rules. He encouraged people to choose the ethically best course of action in a certain context, rather than acting out of self-interest alone. His perhaps most famous quote stresses the importance of reciprocity (similar to the Golden Rule): "Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself." Confucius was a great supporter of ancestor worship, respect for one's elders, and familial loyalty.
Lao Zi (老子), literally "Old Master", is believed to be the author of the Dao De Jing (道德经 - also Tao Te Ching), a Chinese classical text which is central to Taoist philosophy. He is said to have been born as Li Er (李耳) in the state of Chu in the 6th century BC, although there are numerous other stories and legends connected with his life story. One of these legends claims that he lived (in his 13th incarnation) to be 990 years old. In another he is said to have emerged from his mother's womb as a grown man. According to the records of the historian Sima Qian, he worked as the official archivist for the royal Zhou court. It was either here, or at the border on his way to the west, that Lao Zi purportedly composed the Dao De Jing (The Book of the Way of Virtue). Taoist philosophy emphasizes the unity of the universe and the Three Jewels of the Tao, namely compassion, moderation, and humility. In the Dao De Jing, one of the central concepts that Lao Zi focuses on is "wu wei" (non-action). In religious Taoism, Lao Zi is recognized as a god and is often regarded as the founder of Taoism.
Poetry
Li Bai (李白) and Du Fu (杜甫) are considered by many to be the two most famous poets in Chinese history. Both lived during the Tang Dynasty, China's "golden age" of literature and art.
Li Bai (701-762) was especially well-known for his love of liquor. In fact, he is named as one of the "Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup" (the other seven being fellow Tang poets also enamored of the beverage) in a poem by Du Fu (not one of the eight). Coming from an affluent background and having a charming personality and excellent improvisation skills, he managed to gain a post at the Hanlin Academy without ever having to take the imperial examinations. This, however, was short-lived, and he spent much of his life traveling. His poetry is well-known for its imaginativeness, romanticism, and vivid imagery and is heavily influenced by Taoism.
Du Fu (712-770), on the other hand, led a very different life. He dreamed of becoming a civil servant but despite his efforts was never able to pass the imperial exams. He experienced financial and health problems for much of his life and lived through wars and the An Lushan Rebellion, which devastated the country. Du Fu's poetry covers an extremely broad range of topics and varying degrees of formality. He is often referred to as the "poet historian" and "poet sage", as a great deal of his poetry centers around historical and philosophical (in this case Confucian) issues. Unlike Li Bai, Du Fu never experienced much fame during his lifetime. However, Du Fu has, over time, come to be regarded as one of the most influential poets in Chinese history and is often compared to the likes of Virgil and Shakespeare.