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Pangu is a deity and mythical being in Chinese mythology. He is often depicted as a primitive and hairy giant with a horned head and covered in furs. In some versions, he is the first living being in the universe, and created everything from the formless chaos that predated existence. Within this chaos, a cosmic egg coalesced for about 18,000 years, with the opposed principles of Yin and Yang perfectly balanced within.<br/><br/> Pangu emerged from the egg, and began creating the world by cutting Yin and Yang with his giant axe, with the clear Yang becoming the sky while the earth was formed from the murky Yin. He stood between them and pushed up the sky to keep them separated for 18,000 years, until he eventually died. His breath became the wind and clouds; his voice became the thunder; his left eye the sun while his right eye became the moon; his head turned into the mountains and extremes of the world; his blood turned into rivers; his muscles became fertile land; his facial hair turned into the stars and Milky Way; his fur became the forests; his bones and marrow became the minerals and diamonds of the world; and the flea in his fur became the wild animals of the world.<br/><br/> Pangu is still worshipped at some shrines in contemporary China, usually alongside Taoist symbols. His most important shrine is perhaps the Pangu King Temple in Guangdong Province.
At the end of 'Fengshen Yanyi', Zheng Lu and fellow student of Due Zhenren, Chen Qi, were raised up to become the deities of Heng Ha Erjiang, celestial officers and door guardians to sacred temples of the Buddha.
Zhao Qi was a character described in the Ming Dynasty novel 'Fengshen Yanyi', a grand counselor of the Shang Dynasty and advisor to King Zhou of Shang. Like his equal and associate Shang Rong, Zhao Qi came to lament and despise the idocy, cruelty and corruption of King Zhou.<br/><br/> After Shang Rong killed himself in front of the king in defiance, Zhao Qi ultimately spoke his mind and implored the king to change his ways. Even after being threatened by King Zhou, Zhao Qi did not hold back his words. He was executed for his refusal to back down, joining Shang Rong in lamenting the fate of the Shang Dynasty and how King Zhou had shamed the memory of Cheng Tang, first king of the Shang Dynasty.<br/><br/> Similarly to Shang Rong, Zhao Qi was deified after his death, becoming the deity of Tianshe Star.
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.
Guan Yu (-220 CE), style name Yunchang, was a general serving under the warlord Liu Bei in the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China. He played a significant role in the civil war that led to the collapse of the Han Dynasty and the establishment of the state of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms period, of which Liu Bei was the first emperor.<br/><br/> As one of the best known Chinese historical figures throughout East Asia, Guan's true life stories have largely given way to fictionalised ones, most of which are found in the historical novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' or passed down the generations, in which his deeds and moral qualities have been lionised. Guan is respected as an epitome of loyalty and righteousness.<br/><br/> Guan was deified as early as the Sui Dynasty and is still worshipped by many Chinese people today, especially in southern China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and among many overseas Chinese communities. He is a figure in Chinese folk religion, popular Confucianism, Taoism, and Chinese Buddhism, and small shrines to Guan are almost ubiquitous in traditional Chinese shops and restaurants.
Qi Jiguang (November 12, 1528 – January 17, 1588), courtesy name Yuanjing, art names Nantang and Mengzhu, posthumous name Wuyi, was a Chinese military general of the Ming dynasty.<br/><br/> He is best known for leading Ming forces to defend China's east coastal regions from raids by the wokou (Japanese: wako) in the 16th century and is widely regarded as a national hero in Chinese culture.
Wokou (Japanese: Wakō; Korean: Waegu), which literally translates to 'Japanese pirates' or 'dwarf pirates', were pirates who raided the coastlines of China, Japan and Korea. Wokou came from a mixture of ethnicities.<br/><br/> The term wokou is a combination of Wo, referring to either dwarfs or the Japanese, and kou, 'bandit', making the generic term 'dwarf bandits'.
Ding Yu was a daughter of the painter Ding Yungong and a skilled painter in her own right.<br/><br/> Wang Qi was the chief author of the Sancai Tuhui, a celebrated Ming Dynasty encyclopedia published in 1609.
Qigong, qi gong, chi kung, or chi gung, literally 'Life Energy Cultivation') is a holistic system of coordinated body posture and movement, breath, and meditation used for health, spirituality, and martial arts training.<br/><br/> With roots in Chinese medicine, philosophy, and martial arts, qigong is traditionally viewed as a practice to cultivate and balance qi (chi) or what has been translated as 'life energy'.
In the waning years of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), <i>wokou</i> (Japanese pirates) raided the coastal provinces of eastern China with increasing regularity. Despite suffering defeat in Shandong in 1363, raiding parties continued, pushing even farther south along the coast to Fujian Province.<br/><br/> The scroll in its entirety shows a party of Japanese pirates landing in a coastal community, scouting and raiding local residences, the flight of refugees, and the response of Ming troops who defend the area in a pitched battle on the water.
In the waning years of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), <i>wokou</i> (Japanese pirates) raided the coastal provinces of eastern China with increasing regularity. Despite suffering defeat in Shandong in 1363, raiding parties continued, pushing even farther south along the coast to Fujian Province.<br/><br/> The scroll in its entirety shows a party of Japanese pirates landing in a coastal community, scouting and raiding local residences, the flight of refugees, and the response of Ming troops who defend the area in a pitched battle on the water.
In the waning years of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), <i>wokou</i> (Japanese pirates) raided the coastal provinces of eastern China with increasing regularity. Despite suffering defeat in Shandong in 1363, raiding parties continued, pushing even farther south along the coast to Fujian Province.<br/><br/> The scroll in its entirety shows a party of Japanese pirates landing in a coastal community, scouting and raiding local residences, the flight of refugees, and the response of Ming troops who defend the area in a pitched battle on the water.
In the waning years of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), <i>wokou</i> (Japanese pirates) raided the coastal provinces of eastern China with increasing regularity. Despite suffering defeat in Shandong in 1363, raiding parties continued, pushing even farther south along the coast to Fujian Province.<br/><br/> The scroll in its entirety shows a party of Japanese pirates landing in a coastal community, scouting and raiding local residences, the flight of refugees, and the response of Ming troops who defend the area in a pitched battle on the water.
In the waning years of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), <i>wokou</i> (Japanese pirates) raided the coastal provinces of eastern China with increasing regularity. Despite suffering defeat in Shandong in 1363, raiding parties continued, pushing even farther south along the coast to Fujian Province.<br/><br/> The scroll in its entirety shows a party of Japanese pirates landing in a coastal community, scouting and raiding local residences, the flight of refugees, and the response of Ming troops who defend the area in a pitched battle on the water.
In the waning years of the Yuan dynasty (1279-1368), <i>wokou</i> (Japanese pirates) raided the coastal provinces of eastern China with increasing regularity. Despite suffering defeat in Shandong in 1363, raiding parties continued, pushing even farther south along the coast to Fujian Province.<br/><br/> The scroll in its entirety shows a party of Japanese pirates landing in a coastal community, scouting and raiding local residences, the flight of refugees, and the response of Ming troops who defend the area in a pitched battle on the water.
Maitreya (Sanskrit), Metteyya (Pāli), Maithree (Sinhala), or Jampa (Tibetan) is a bodhisattva who in the Buddhist tradition is to appear on Earth, achieve complete enlightenment, and teach the pure dharma. According to scriptures, Maitreya will be a successor of the historic Śākyamuni Buddha. The prophecy of the arrival of Maitreya references a time when the Dharma will have been forgotten on Jambudvipa. It is found in the canonical literature of all Buddhist sects (Theravāda, Mahāyāna, Vajrayāna), and is accepted by most Buddhists as a statement about an event that will take place when the Dharma will have been forgotten on Earth.<br/><br/> Stelae (Chinese: 碑; pinyin: béi) have been the major medium of stone inscription in China since the Tang dynasty (618 - 907 CE). Chinese stelae are generally rectangular stone tablets upon which Chinese characters are carved intaglio with a funerary, commemorative, or edifying text. They can commemorate talented writers and officials, inscribe poems, portraits, or maps, and frequently contain the calligraphy of famous historical figures.
Stelae (Chinese: 碑; pinyin: béi) have been the major medium of stone inscription in China since the Tang dynasty (618 - 907 CE). Chinese stelae are generally rectangular stone tablets upon which Chinese characters are carved intaglio with a funerary, commemorative, or edifying text. They can commemorate talented writers and officials, inscribe poems, portraits, or maps, and frequently contain the calligraphy of famous historical figures.
Stelae (Chinese: 碑; pinyin: béi) have been the major medium of stone inscription in China since the Tang dynasty (618 - 907 CE). Chinese stelae are generally rectangular stone tablets upon which Chinese characters are carved intaglio with a funerary, commemorative, or edifying text. They can commemorate talented writers and officials, inscribe poems, portraits, or maps, and frequently contain the calligraphy of famous historical figures.
Stelae (Chinese: 碑; pinyin: béi) have been the major medium of stone inscription in China since the Tang dynasty (618 - 907 CE). Chinese stelae are generally rectangular stone tablets upon which Chinese characters are carved intaglio with a funerary, commemorative, or edifying text. They can commemorate talented writers and officials, inscribe poems, portraits, or maps, and frequently contain the calligraphy of famous historical figures.
Stelae (Chinese: 碑; pinyin: béi) have been the major medium of stone inscription in China since the Tang dynasty (618 - 907 CE). Chinese stelae are generally rectangular stone tablets upon which Chinese characters are carved intaglio with a funerary, commemorative, or edifying text. They can commemorate talented writers and officials, inscribe poems, portraits, or maps, and frequently contain the calligraphy of famous historical figures.
Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from ancient India who founded Buddhism. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (P. sammāsambuddha, S. samyaksaṃbuddha) of our age, 'Buddha' meaning 'awakened one' or 'enlightened one'.<br/><br/> The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE, but more recent opinion dates his death to between 486 and 483 BCE or, according to some, between 411 and 400 BCE. By tradition, Gautama is said to have been born in the small state of Kapilavastu, in what is now Nepal, and later to have taught primarily throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kośala.<br/><br/> Gautama, also known as Śākyamuni ('Sage of the Śākyas'), is the primary figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition, and first committed to writing about 400 years later.<br/><br/> He is also regarded as a god or prophet in other world religions or denominations, including Hinduism, Ahmadiyya Islam, and the Bahá'í faith.
Stelae (Chinese: 碑; pinyin: béi) have been the major medium of stone inscription in China since the Tang dynasty (618 - 907 CE). Chinese stelae are generally rectangular stone tablets upon which Chinese characters are carved intaglio with a funerary, commemorative, or edifying text. They can commemorate talented writers and officials, inscribe poems, portraits, or maps, and frequently contain the calligraphy of famous historical figures.
Stelae (Chinese: 碑; pinyin: béi) have been the major medium of stone inscription in China since the Tang dynasty (618 - 907 CE). Chinese stelae are generally rectangular stone tablets upon which Chinese characters are carved intaglio with a funerary, commemorative, or edifying text. They can commemorate talented writers and officials, inscribe poems, portraits, or maps, and frequently contain the calligraphy of famous historical figures.
Stelae (Chinese: 碑; pinyin: béi) have been the major medium of stone inscription in China since the Tang dynasty (618 - 907 CE). Chinese stelae are generally rectangular stone tablets upon which Chinese characters are carved intaglio with a funerary, commemorative, or edifying text. They can commemorate talented writers and officials, inscribe poems, portraits, or maps, and frequently contain the calligraphy of famous historical figures.
Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from ancient India who founded Buddhism. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (P. sammāsambuddha, S. samyaksaṃbuddha) of our age, 'Buddha' meaning 'awakened one' or 'enlightened one'.<br/><br/> The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE, but more recent opinion dates his death to between 486 and 483 BCE or, according to some, between 411 and 400 BCE. By tradition, Gautama is said to have been born in the small state of Kapilavastu, in what is now Nepal, and later to have taught primarily throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kośala.<br/><br/> Gautama, also known as Śākyamuni ('Sage of the Śākyas'), is the primary figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition, and first committed to writing about 400 years later.<br/><br/> He is also regarded as a god or prophet in other world religions or denominations, including Hinduism, Ahmadiyya Islam, and the Bahá'í faith.
Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from ancient India who founded Buddhism. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (P. sammāsambuddha, S. samyaksaṃbuddha) of our age, 'Buddha' meaning 'awakened one' or 'enlightened one'.<br/><br/> The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE, but more recent opinion dates his death to between 486 and 483 BCE or, according to some, between 411 and 400 BCE. By tradition, Gautama is said to have been born in the small state of Kapilavastu, in what is now Nepal, and later to have taught primarily throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kośala.<br/><br/> Gautama, also known as Śākyamuni ('Sage of the Śākyas'), is the primary figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition, and first committed to writing about 400 years later.<br/><br/> He is also regarded as a god or prophet in other world religions or denominations, including Hinduism, Ahmadiyya Islam, and the Bahá'í faith.
Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from ancient India who founded Buddhism. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (P. sammāsambuddha, S. samyaksaṃbuddha) of our age, 'Buddha' meaning 'awakened one' or 'enlightened one'.<br/><br/> The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE, but more recent opinion dates his death to between 486 and 483 BCE or, according to some, between 411 and 400 BCE. By tradition, Gautama is said to have been born in the small state of Kapilavastu, in what is now Nepal, and later to have taught primarily throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kośala.<br/><br/> Gautama, also known as Śākyamuni ('Sage of the Śākyas'), is the primary figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition, and first committed to writing about 400 years later.<br/><br/> He is also regarded as a god or prophet in other world religions or denominations, including Hinduism, Ahmadiyya Islam, and the Bahá'í faith.
Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from ancient India who founded Buddhism. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (P. sammāsambuddha, S. samyaksaṃbuddha) of our age, 'Buddha' meaning 'awakened one' or 'enlightened one'.<br/><br/> The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE, but more recent opinion dates his death to between 486 and 483 BCE or, according to some, between 411 and 400 BCE. By tradition, Gautama is said to have been born in the small state of Kapilavastu, in what is now Nepal, and later to have taught primarily throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kośala.<br/><br/> Gautama, also known as Śākyamuni ('Sage of the Śākyas'), is the primary figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition, and first committed to writing about 400 years later.<br/><br/> He is also regarded as a god or prophet in other world religions or denominations, including Hinduism, Ahmadiyya Islam, and the Bahá'í faith.
Siddhārtha Gautama (Sanskrit: सिद्धार्थ गौतम; Pali: Siddhattha Gotama) was a spiritual teacher from ancient India who founded Buddhism. In most Buddhist traditions, he is regarded as the Supreme Buddha (P. sammāsambuddha, S. samyaksaṃbuddha) of our age, 'Buddha' meaning 'awakened one' or 'enlightened one'.<br/><br/> The time of his birth and death are uncertain: most early 20th-century historians dated his lifetime as c. 563 BCE to 483 BCE, but more recent opinion dates his death to between 486 and 483 BCE or, according to some, between 411 and 400 BCE. By tradition, Gautama is said to have been born in the small state of Kapilavastu, in what is now Nepal, and later to have taught primarily throughout regions of eastern India such as Magadha and Kośala.<br/><br/> Gautama, also known as Śākyamuni ('Sage of the Śākyas'), is the primary figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life, discourses, and monastic rules are believed by Buddhists to have been summarized after his death and memorized by his followers. Various collections of teachings attributed to him were passed down by oral tradition, and first committed to writing about 400 years later.<br/><br/> He is also regarded as a god or prophet in other world religions or denominations, including Hinduism, Ahmadiyya Islam, and the Bahá'í faith.
Peng Qi, Japanese name Tenmokusho Hoki, standing in the snow in a black bearskin cloak stands ready with a rope.<br/><br/> The Water Margin (known in Chinese as Shuihu Zhuan, sometimes abbreviated to Shuihu, 水滸傳), known as Suikoden in Japanese, as well as Outlaws of the Marsh, Tale of the Marshes, All Men Are Brothers, Men of the Marshes, or The Marshes of Mount Liang in English, is a 14th century novel and one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature.<br/><br/> Attributed to Shi Nai'an and written in vernacular Chinese, the story, set in the Song Dynasty, tells of how a group of 108 outlaws gathered at Mount Liang (or Liangshan Marsh) to form a sizable army before they are eventually granted amnesty by the government and sent on campaigns to resist foreign invaders and suppress rebel forces.<br/><br/> In 1827, Japanese publisher Kagaya Kichibei commissioned Utagawa Kuniyoshi to produce a series of woodblock prints illustrating the 108 heroes of the Suikoden. The 1827-1830 series, called '108 Heroes of the Water Margin' or 'Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori', made Utagawa Kuniyoshi's famous.
The Five Emperors of the Cardinal Directions and the Centre are immortals of the Daoist pantheon. In traditional Chinese culture, qi (also chi or ch'i) is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as 'energy flow', and is often compared to Western notions of energeia or vitalism, as well as the yogic notion of prana and pranayama.
Ma Qi was a warlord in early 20th century China. A Muslim Hui, he was born in 1869 in Daohe, now part of Linxia, Gansu, China. He was senior commander in the Qinghai-Gansu region since the late Qing period, and was the father of Ma Family warlords Ma Buqing and Ma Bufang.
The Five Emperors of the Cardinal Directions and the Centre are immortals of the Daoist pantheon. In traditional Chinese culture, qi (also chi or ch'i) is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as 'energy flow', and is often compared to Western notions of energeia or vitalism, as well as the yogic notion of prana and pranayama.
The Five Emperors of the Cardinal Directions and the Centre are immortals of the Daoist pantheon. In traditional Chinese culture, qi (also chi or ch'i) is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as 'energy flow', and is often compared to Western notions of energeia or vitalism, as well as the yogic notion of prana and pranayama.
The Five Emperors of the Cardinal Directions and the Centre are immortals of the Daoist pantheon. In traditional Chinese culture, qi (also chi or ch'i) is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as 'energy flow', and is often compared to Western notions of energeia or vitalism, as well as the yogic notion of prana and pranayama.
The Five Emperors of the Cardinal Directions and the Centre are immortals of the Daoist pantheon. In traditional Chinese culture, qi (also chi or ch'i) is an active principle forming part of any living thing. Qi is frequently translated as 'energy flow', and is often compared to Western notions of energeia or vitalism, as well as the yogic notion of prana and pranayama.
The Northern Qi Dynasty (pinyin: Běi Qí Cháo) was one of the Northern dynasties of Chinese history and ruled northern China from 550 to 577.<br/><br/> The Chinese state of Northern Qi was the successor state of the Chinese/Xianbei state of Eastern Wei and was founded by Emperor Wenxuan. As Eastern Wei's paramount general Gao Huan was succeeded by his sons Gao Cheng and Gao Yang, who took the throne from Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei in 550 and established Northern Qi as its Emperor Wenxuan.<br/><br/> Although Northern Qi was plagued by violence and/or incompetent emperors (Emperor Wenxuan, Emperor Wucheng, and Gao Wei), corrupt officials, and deteriorating armies for most of its existence, it was the strongest state of the three main Chinese states (along with the Northern Zhou state and the Chen Dynasty) when it was established. Like most imperial dynasties, it gradually declined and was destroyed by the Northern Zhou in 577.
The Shanhai Yudi Quantu (山海輿地全圖) was produced in late Ming Dynasty China and shows China dominating the left side of this circular map. It is taken from the Sancai Tuhui (Shanghai, 1609) and is a remarkably accurate world map.