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
38,474
Source histories
26
Chapters indexed
882

This growing index currently covers 882 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 BC2,370Qin and Han221 BC-AD 2204,013Three Kingdoms and Six DynastiesAD 221-5897,746Sui and TangAD 590-9074,640Five DynastiesAD 908-9604,442Song, Liao, and JinAD 961-12795,754YuanAD 1280-13681,781MingAD 1369-16441,433QingAD 1645-19125,802Dates uncertainUnplaced in time493

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 Founder and Emperor of Han Qin and Han · 690 passages
  2. Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang 後唐莊宗 AD 885 - AD 926 Emperor of Later Tang Five Dynasties · 662 passages
  3. Li Siyuan 李嗣源 First attested AD 908; died AD 933 Emperor of Later Tang Five Dynasties · 527 passages
  4. Gao Huan 高歡 First attested AD 500; died AD 547 Paramount general of Eastern Wei; posthumously Emperor Shenwu of Northern Qi Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · 513 passages
  5. Zhu Quanzhong 硃全忠 c. AD 852 - AD 912 Founder Emperor of Later Liang Five Dynasties · 501 passages
  6. Hou Jing 侯景 First attested AD 500; died AD 552 rebel leader against Liang Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · 435 passages
  7. 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 · 414 passages
  8. Guo Wei 郭威 c. AD 904 - AD 954 Founding emperor of the Later Zhou dynasty Five Dynasties · 353 passages
  9. Confucius 孔子 BC 551 - BC 479 Chinese philosopher and teacher traditionally dated 551-479 BC Ancient China · 348 passages
  10. 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 · 314 passages
  11. Emperor Taizu of Liao 遼太祖 AD 872 - AD 926 Founder and first emperor of the Liao dynasty, born Yelü Abaoji Five Dynasties · 305 passages
  12. 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 · 285 passages

Browse by role

Courts, armies, schools, and temples

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

Official14,197Military Officer5,985Royal Family Member5,826Family Member5,814General5,135Ruler5,047Named Individual3,836Aristocrat3,581Administrator3,205Scholar2,265Rebel2,085Statesman1,987Consort1,970Envoy1,094Courtier990Tribal Leader834
Show all 65 roles
Warlord699Diplomat697Writer694Teacher504Judge465Attendant382Bandit351Student323Soldier314Eunuch289Historian283Hermit255Clan Leader253Strategist248Calligrapher227Poet220Diviner187Servant166Musician161Editor142Astronomer135Assassin132Merchant115Philosopher112Monk108Commentator105Religious Leader93Landowner67Artisan64Physician64Engineer55Maid50Astrologer49Priest47Farmer44Painter42Nun37Scientist36Spy28Healer26Artist25Translator25Daoist21Mathematician19Inventor16Laborer11Pharmacist11Cartographer8Geographer6

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6,085Old History of the Five Dynasties舊五代史3,808History of Liao遼史3,495Records of the Grand Historian史記2,456History of Yuan元史2,444Book of Han漢書2,319New History of the Five Dynasties新五代史2,273New Book of Tang新唐書2,236Book of Later Han後漢書1,698Book of Liang梁書1,689Book of Northern Qi北齊書1,586History of Jin金史1,466History of Ming明史1,459Book of Southern Qi南齊書1,364Book of Song宋書1,121Book of Wei魏書1,048History of Song宋史990Old Book of Tang舊唐書973Book of Chen陳書907Book of Sui隋書753Book of Zhou周書689Records of the Three Kingdoms三國志447Book of Jin晉書163History of the Southern Dynasties南史108History 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.