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
23,893
Source histories
25
Chapters indexed
694

This growing index currently covers 694 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 BC1,590Qin and Han221 BC-AD 2202,762Three Kingdoms and Six DynastiesAD 221-5895,490Sui and TangAD 590-9071,959Five DynastiesAD 908-9602,309Song, Liao, and JinAD 961-12793,932YuanAD 1280-13681,004MingAD 1369-1644762QingAD 1645-19123,414Dates uncertainUnplaced in time671

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. Liu Bang 劉邦 c. BC 256 - BC 195 Han Founding Emperor Qin and Han · 691 passages
  2. Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang 後唐莊宗 First attested AD 907; died AD 926 Emperor of Later Tang Five Dynasties · 495 passages
  3. Emperor Wu of Han 漢武帝 BC 156 - BC 87 Seventh emperor of the Western Han dynasty, known for expansion and centralized rule Qin and Han · 413 passages
  4. Li Siyuan 李嗣源 First attested AD 911; died AD 934 Emperor Mingzong of Later Tang Five Dynasties · 327 passages
  5. Hou Jing 侯景 Attested AD 531 - AD 553 rebel leader against Liang Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · 326 passages
  6. Guo Wei 郭威 c. AD 904 - AD 954 Founding emperor of the Later Zhou dynasty Five Dynasties · 323 passages
  7. Emperor Wen of Han 漢文帝 BC 203 - BC 157 Fifth emperor of the Western Han dynasty, remembered for restrained government Qin and Han · 303 passages
  8. Zhu Quanzhong 朱全忠 c. AD 852 - AD 912 Founder Emperor of Later Liang Five Dynasties · 284 passages
  9. Emperor Shengzong of Liao 遼聖宗 AD 971 - AD 1031 Liao emperor who presided over the dynasty's long period of expansion and stability Song, Liao, and Jin · 275 passages
  10. Xiang Yu 項羽 First attested BC 232; died BC 202 Hegemon-King of Western Chu and principal rival of Liu Bang Qin and Han · 274 passages
  11. Emperor Taizu of Liao 遼太祖 First attested AD 872; died AD 926 Founder and first emperor of the Liao dynasty, born Yelü Abaoji Five Dynasties · 260 passages
  12. Emperor Wu of Liang 梁武帝 First attested AD 439; died AD 549 Emperor of Liang Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · 243 passages

Browse by role

Courts, armies, schools, and temples

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

Official9,395Royal Family Member3,720Family Member3,607Military Officer3,153General3,004Ruler2,512Named Individual2,356Aristocrat2,316Administrator1,782Scholar1,558Consort1,374Rebel1,244Statesman1,230Envoy654Courtier593Writer523
Show all 65 roles
Tribal Leader483Diplomat413Teacher323Warlord320Judge269Attendant237Hermit212Historian208Bandit185Poet175Soldier172Eunuch171Strategist151Student142Clan Leader141Diviner129Servant122Astronomer115Musician112Philosopher112Merchant103Editor102Commentator79Monk72Religious Leader66Assassin65Physician51Calligrapher47Landowner47Artisan37Astrologer34Engineer34Priest34Maid33Scientist33Farmer29Nun25Painter24Healer15Mathematician15Spy13Artist10Inventor10Pharmacist10Laborer9Translator8Cartographer7Geographer3Daoist1

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3,626History of Liao遼史2,588Book of Han漢書2,268Old History of the Five Dynasties舊五代史1,956Records of the Grand Historian史記1,740History of Yuan元史1,464Book of Liang梁書1,233New History of the Five Dynasties新五代史1,056History of Jin金史978Book of Northern Qi北齊書977Book of Later Han後漢書927Book of Wei魏書880Book of Southern Qi南齊書879Book of Chen陳書851Book of Song宋書849History of Ming明史840New Book of Tang新唐書775Book of Sui隋書699History of Song宋史553Book of Zhou周書511Old Book of Tang舊唐書468Records of the Three Kingdoms三國志240Book of Jin晉書163History of the Northern Dynasties北史93Comprehensive 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.