A source-linked biographical index

People in Chinese History

Follow rulers, generals, officials, scholars, writers, rebels, and families through the passages that preserve their lives.

People
23,218
Source histories
25
Chapters indexed
673

This growing index currently covers 673 of 4,099 chapters. Person records and cross-book identifications will continue to expand as the remaining chapters are reviewed.

Browse by period

Move through the dynasties

Dates reflect the period in which each person is most strongly attested, not the date of a later retrospective mention.

Ancient ChinaBefore 221 BC1,477Qin and Han221 BC-AD 2202,602Three Kingdoms and Six DynastiesAD 221-5895,307Sui and TangAD 590-9071,905Five DynastiesAD 908-9602,313Song, Liao, and JinAD 961-12793,677YuanAD 1280-13681,004MingAD 1369-1644763QingAD 1645-19123,337Dates uncertainUnplaced in time833

A place to begin

Most mentioned in the translated histories

These people have the most indexed source passages. The ordering reflects the surviving text, not a judgment of historical importance.

  1. Emperor Gaozu 高祖 Died BC 195 Ruler Qin and Han · 689 passages
  2. Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang 後唐莊宗 Died AD 926 Ruler Five Dynasties · 492 passages
  3. Che 徹 Died BC 87 Ruler Qin and Han · 345 passages
  4. Confucius 孔子 Died BC 479 Philosopher and Teacher Ancient China · 305 passages
  5. Li Siyuan 李嗣源 Died AD 933 Ruler Five Dynasties · 296 passages
  6. Zhu Quanzhong 朱全忠 Died AD 912 Ruler Five Dynasties · 284 passages
  7. Emperor Wen of Han 漢文 Died BC 157 Ruler Qin and Han · 268 passages
  8. Yelü Longxu 耶律隆緒 AD 971 - AD 1031 Ruler Song, Liao, and Jin · 264 passages
  9. Hou Jing 侯景 Attested AD 531 - AD 553 Rebel and Warlord Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · 260 passages
  10. Xiang Yu 項羽 Died BC 202 Warlord Qin and Han · 260 passages
  11. Gao Huan 高歡 Died AD 547 Ruler Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · 235 passages
  12. Xiao He 蕭何 Died BC 193 Official and Statesman Qin and Han · 218 passages

Browse by role

Courts, armies, schools, and temples

Explore how the histories describe what people did and the worlds they inhabited.

Official9,074Family Member3,448Royal Family Member3,443Military Officer3,023General2,875Ruler2,558Named Individual2,348Aristocrat2,142Administrator1,714Scholar1,515Consort1,358Statesman1,213Rebel1,210Envoy639Courtier567Writer500
Show all 64 roles
Tribal Leader459Diplomat399Warlord325Teacher302Judge267Attendant231Hermit215Historian207Bandit185Poet174Eunuch169Soldier168Clan Leader137Student135Strategist131Diviner129Servant120Astronomer113Musician109Editor101Philosopher88Merchant79Commentator77Monk68Religious Leader65Assassin63Physician47Calligrapher44Landowner43Artisan34Priest34Maid33Scientist33Astrologer32Farmer27Nun25Painter24Engineer21Healer15Spy12Mathematician11Artist10Inventor10Pharmacist10Laborer9Translator8Cartographer2Geographer2

Browse by source

Enter through a history

See every indexed person who appears in a particular dynastic history or related chronicle.

Draft History of Qing清史稿3,546History of Liao遼史2,553Book of Han漢書2,258Old History of the Five Dynasties舊五代史1,974Records of the Grand Historian史記1,571History of Yuan元史1,463Book of Liang梁書1,240New History of the Five Dynasties新五代史1,024Book of Northern Qi北齊書980Book of Later Han後漢書944Book of Southern Qi南齊書895Book of Wei魏書885History of Ming明史838Book of Song宋書796New Book of Tang新唐書751History of Jin金史709Book of Sui隋書666Book of Chen陳書615History of Song宋史554Book of Zhou周書517Old Book of Tang舊唐書470Records of the Three Kingdoms三國志241Book of Jin晉書163History of the Northern Dynasties北史96Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance資治通鑑88

Complete directory

Browse A-Z

Every person page is linked through this directory, including records with uncertain dates or sparse evidence.