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Emperor Tianqi, 16th ruler of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1620-1627).<br/> Personal Name: Zhu Youjiao, Zhū Yóujiào.<br/> Posthumous Name: Zhedi, Zhédì.<br/> Temple Name: Xizong, Xīzōng.<br/> Reign Name: Ming Tianqi, Ming Tiānqǐ.<br/><br/> The Tianqi Emperor (23 December 1605 – 30 September 1627) was emperor of the Ming Dynasty from 1620 to 1627. Born Zhu Youjiao, he was the Taichang Emperor's eldest son. His era name means 'Heavenly Opening'.<br/><br/> Zhu Youjiao became emperor at the age of fifteen, on the death of his father who ruled less than a month. He did not pay much attention to affairs of state, and was accused of failing in his filial duties to his dead father by not continuing his father's wishes. It is possible that Zhu Youjiao suffered from a learning disability. He was illiterate and showed no interest in his studies. Zhu Youjiao died in 1627 and was succeeded by his younger brother Zhu Youjian, the Chongzhen Emperor.
The concept of the Three Kingdoms of Korea refers to the three kingdoms of Baekje, Silla and Goguryeo, which was later known as Goryeo, from which the name Korea is derived.<br/><br/> The Three Kingdoms period is defined as being from 57 BCE to 668 CE.
The concept of the Three Kingdoms of Korea refers to the three kingdoms of Baekje, Silla and Goguryeo, which was later known as Goryeo, from which the name Korea is derived.<br/><br/> The Three Kingdoms period is defined as being from 57 BCE to 668 CE.
The concept of the Three Kingdoms of Korea refers to the three kingdoms of Baekje, Silla and Goguryeo, which was later known as Goryeo, from which the name Korea is derived.<br/><br/> The Three Kingdoms period is defined as being from 57 BCE to 668 CE.
Guanyin, short for Guanshiyin, is a bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism often associated with compassion and mercy. While she is often portrayed as a woman, she is beyond gender and can be depicted as both male and female.<br/><br/> Guanyin is often referred to as the 'most widely beloved Buddhist Divinity', due to her miraculous powers and her loving compassion. She is not only worshipped in Buddhism, but also in Taoism and Chinese folk religion, with various stories and legends about her. Guanyin plays a very important role in the classic Chinese novel 'Journey to the West.'<br/><br/> She is known by various names in different nations, with the Japanese calling her Kannon/Kwannon, or more formally Kanzeon, while in Thailand she is called Kuan Im. She is extremely popular, with temples dedicated to her found throughout South and East Asia, especially in China and Chinese folk religion.
Zhao Mengfu ( Wade–Giles: Chao Meng-fu) was a prince and descendant of the Song Dynasty's imperial family, and a Chinese scholar, painter and calligrapher during the Yuan Dynasty.<br/><br/> He was married to Guan Daosheng, who was also an accomplished poet, painter and calligrapher. His rejection of the refined, gentle brushwork of his era in favour of the cruder style of the eighth century is considered to have brought about a revolution that created the modern Chinese landscape painting. He was known for his paintings of horses.
The Warring States Period was an era in ancient Chinese history following the Spring and Autumn period and concluding with the Qin wars of conquest that saw the annexation of all other contender states, which ultimately led to the Qin state's victory in 221 BCE as the first unified Chinese empire known as the Qin dynasty.<br/><br/> The Warring States Period derives its name from the Record of the Warring States, a work compiled early in the Han dynasty.
The National Palace Museum (Chinese: 國立故宮博物院; pinyin: Guólì Gùgōng Bówùyuàn) is an antique museum in Shilin, Taipei, Taiwan.<br/><br/>It is one of the national museums of the Republic of China, and has a permanent collection of more than 696,000 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, making it one of the largest in the world.<br/><br/>The collection encompasses over 8,000 years of Chinese history from the Neolithic age to the late Qing Dynasty. Most of the collection are high quality pieces collected by China's ancient emperors.
The National Palace Museum (Chinese: 國立故宮博物院; pinyin: Guólì Gùgōng Bówùyuàn) is an antique museum in Shilin, Taipei, Taiwan.<br/><br/>It is one of the national museums of the Republic of China, and has a permanent collection of more than 696,000 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, making it one of the largest in the world.<br/><br/>The collection encompasses over 8,000 years of Chinese history from the Neolithic age to the late Qing Dynasty. Most of the collection are high quality pieces collected by China's ancient emperors.
The National Palace Museum (Chinese: 國立故宮博物院; pinyin: Guólì Gùgōng Bówùyuàn) is an antique museum in Shilin, Taipei, Taiwan.<br/><br/>It is one of the national museums of the Republic of China, and has a permanent collection of more than 696,000 pieces of ancient Chinese artifacts and artworks, making it one of the largest in the world.<br/><br/>The collection encompasses over 8,000 years of Chinese history from the Neolithic age to the late Qing Dynasty. Most of the collection are high quality pieces collected by China's ancient emperors.
Nuwa, sometimes also known as Nugua, is an ancient Chinese goddess who is most famous for the creation of mankind and repairing the pillar of heaven. She is often depicted as either a woman with a serpentine lower body or even just a woman's head on a serpent's body, earning her the name 'Snake Goddess'. Nuwa and her brother/husband Fuxi forged humanity out of clay, breathing life into them.<br/><br/> After a fight between the fire god Zhurong and the sea monster Gong Gong caused the latter to smash into Buzhou Mountain, one of the pillars holding up the sky, which resulted in calamity. Great floods and much suffering affected the people, and Nuwa is said to have cut the legs off the giant turtle Ao, using them in place of the fallen pillar to end the disaster. However, she was not able to fully correct the tilted sky and earth, thus explaining why Chinese rivers generally flow to the southeast while the sun, moon and stars move towards the northwest.<br/><br/> Nuwa also plays an important role in the Ming Dynasty novel 'Fengshen Yanyi'. After King Zhou of Shang Dynasty insulted the goddess by lusting after her and writing an obscene poem on the wall of her temple. In vengeance, she sent three spirits to bewitch King Zhou, eventually causing the downfall of the Shang Dynasty.
Known by many names, Jiang Ziya was a Chinese noble and sage who played a criitical role in the overthrow of the Shang Dynasty and the establishment of the Zhou Dynasty afterwards. The last ruler of the Shang Dynasty, King Zhou of Shang, was a tyrannical and depraved man corrupted by his possessed concubine Su Daji. After having dutifully served in the Shang court for twenty years, he found King Zhou's reign insufferable, and feigned madness to be excused from court life.<br/><br/> He was eventually found and recruited by King Wen of Zhou, reportedly at the age of seventy-two, after Jiang Ziya agreed to serve him. Given the title of Jiang Taigong Wang ('The Great Duke's Hope') and appointed as prime minister, he served King Wen's son, King Wu, after the former died. Once the people of Shang Dynasty had had enough of King Zhou's tyrannical rule and rose up against him, Jiang Ziya led an army to overthrow him, defeating the Shang army at the Battle of Muye in 1043 BCE. The Shang Dynasty fell, and the Zhou Dynasty rose in its place to rule over all of China.<br/><br/> He is also a prominent character in the Ming Dynasty classic novel 'Fengshen Yanyi', where he has mystical powers and is considered the archrival of Su Daji. After King Zhou's death, Su Daji was captured as she attempted to flee and executed on the order of Jiang Ziya himself. He is considered by some as the most famous Prime Minister in Chinese history, and one of the world's greatest strategists.