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Cao Cao (155-15 March 220 CE), courtesy name Mengde, was one of the most important warlords during the Tree Kingdoms period. The penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, Cao rose to great power in the last years of the dynasty. When the Eastern Han dynasty fell, Cao Cao was able to secure the largest and most prosperous cities of the central plains of northern China, uniting under his rule.<br/><br/> During the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what would become the state of Cao Wei, posthumously honoured with the title of 'Emperor Wu of Wei'. Though he had been very successful as the Han chancellor, his handling of the Han emperor Liu Xie was harshly criticised by many, and led to a long-running civil war, with opposition flocking to the banners of rival warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Cao was unable to quell the civil war, and he died in 220 CE before he could unite China under his rule.<br/><br/> While Cao Cao was praised as a brilliant ruler and tactical genius who respectfully treated those beneath him like they were family, later historical accounts and fictional literature such as 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' portray him as a cruel and merciless tyrant.
Zhuge Liang (CE 181-234) was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era. Often depicted wearing a robe and holding a fan made of crane feathers, Zhuge was not only an important military strategist and statesman; he was also an accomplished scholar and inventor.<br/><br/> His reputation as an intelligent and learned scholar grew even while he was living in relative seclusion, earning him the nickname Wolong (literally Crouching Dragon). Zhuge is an uncommon two-character compound family name. His name – even his surname alone – has become synonymous with intelligence and tactics in Chinese culture.
Zhuge Liang (CE 181-234) was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era. Often depicted wearing a robe and holding a fan made of crane feathers, Zhuge was not only an important military strategist and statesman; he was also an accomplished scholar and inventor.<br/><br/> His reputation as an intelligent and learned scholar grew even while he was living in relative seclusion, earning him the nickname Wolong (literally Crouching Dragon). Zhuge is an uncommon two-character compound family name. His name – even his surname alone – has become synonymous with intelligence and tactics in Chinese culture.
Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BCE), personal name Ying Zheng, was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 to 221 BCE during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BCE, and ruled until his death in 210 BC at the age of 49. Styling himself 'First Emperor' after China's unification, Qin Shi Huang is a pivotal figure in Chinese history, ushering in nearly two millennia of imperial rule.<br/><br/> After unifying China, he and his chief advisor Li Si passed a series of major economic and political reforms. He undertook gigantic projects, including the first version of the Great Wall of China, the now famous city-sized mausoleum guarded by a life-sized Terracotta Army, and a massive national road system, all at the expense of numerous lives. To ensure stability, Qin Shi Huang also outlawed and burned many books, as well as burying some scholars alive.
Wang Zhen (Wade–Giles: Wang Chen, fl. 1290 – 1333) was an official of the Yuan Dynasty (1271 – 1368 CE). He was one of the early innovators of the wooden movable type printing system.<br/><br/> His illustrated agricultural treatise was also one of the most advanced of its day, covering a wide range of equipment and technologies available in the late 13th and early 14th century.
Wang Jian (王建) (847 – July 11, 918 CE), courtesy name Guangtu (光圖), formally Emperor Gaozu of (Former) Shu ((前)蜀高祖), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Former Shu. He started his career as an army officer under the Tang Dynasty eunuch generals Yang Fuguang and Tian Lingzi, eventually seizing control of the modern Sichuan and Chongqing region, founding his state after Tang's destruction.<br/><br/> Chengdu, known formerly as Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. In the early 4th century BCE, the 9th Kaiming king of the ancient Shu moved his capital to the city's current location from today's nearby Pixian.
Wang Jian (王建) (847 – July 11, 918 CE), courtesy name Guangtu (光圖), formally Emperor Gaozu of (Former) Shu ((前)蜀高祖), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Former Shu. He started his career as an army officer under the Tang Dynasty eunuch generals Yang Fuguang and Tian Lingzi, eventually seizing control of the modern Sichuan and Chongqing region, founding his state after Tang's destruction.<br/><br/> Chengdu, known formerly as Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. In the early 4th century BCE, the 9th Kaiming king of the ancient Shu moved his capital to the city's current location from today's nearby Pixian.
Wang Jian (王建) (847 – July 11, 918 CE), courtesy name Guangtu (光圖), formally Emperor Gaozu of (Former) Shu ((前)蜀高祖), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Former Shu. He started his career as an army officer under the Tang Dynasty eunuch generals Yang Fuguang and Tian Lingzi, eventually seizing control of the modern Sichuan and Chongqing region, founding his state after Tang's destruction.<br/><br/> Chengdu, known formerly as Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. In the early 4th century BCE, the 9th Kaiming king of the ancient Shu moved his capital to the city's current location from today's nearby Pixian.
Wang Jian (王建) (847 – July 11, 918 CE), courtesy name Guangtu (光圖), formally Emperor Gaozu of (Former) Shu ((前)蜀高祖), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Former Shu. He started his career as an army officer under the Tang Dynasty eunuch generals Yang Fuguang and Tian Lingzi, eventually seizing control of the modern Sichuan and Chongqing region, founding his state after Tang's destruction.<br/><br/> Chengdu, known formerly as Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. In the early 4th century BCE, the 9th Kaiming king of the ancient Shu moved his capital to the city's current location from today's nearby Pixian.
Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BCE), personal name Ying Zheng, was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 to 221 BCE during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BCE, and ruled until his death in 210 BC at the age of 49. Styling himself 'First Emperor' after China's unification, Qin Shi Huang is a pivotal figure in Chinese history, ushering in nearly two millennia of imperial rule.<br/><br/> After unifying China, he and his chief advisor Li Si passed a series of major economic and political reforms. He undertook gigantic projects, including the first version of the Great Wall of China, the now famous city-sized mausoleum guarded by a life-sized Terracotta Army, and a massive national road system, all at the expense of numerous lives. To ensure stability, Qin Shi Huang also outlawed and burned many books, as well as burying some scholars alive.
Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BCE), personal name Ying Zheng, was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 to 221 BCE during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BCE, and ruled until his death in 210 BC at the age of 49. Styling himself 'First Emperor' after China's unification, Qin Shi Huang is a pivotal figure in Chinese history, ushering in nearly two millennia of imperial rule.<br/><br/> After unifying China, he and his chief advisor Li Si passed a series of major economic and political reforms. He undertook gigantic projects, including the first version of the Great Wall of China, the now famous city-sized mausoleum guarded by a life-sized Terracotta Army, and a massive national road system, all at the expense of numerous lives. To ensure stability, Qin Shi Huang also outlawed and burned many books, as well as burying some scholars alive.
The Nüshu script is used to write a local dialect of Chinese known as Xiangnan Tuhua (湘南土话, 'Southern Hunanese Tuhua') that is spoken by the people of the Xiao and Yongming River region of northern Jiangyong County, Hunan.<br/><br/> In addition to speaking Tuhua, most local people in Jiangyong are bilingual in the Hunan dialect of Southwestern Mandarin, which they use for communication with people from outside the area that Tuhua is spoken, as well as for some formal occasions. If Hunan Southwestern Mandarin is written, then it is always written using standard Chinese characters, and not with the Nüshu script.<br/><br/> In the sex-segregated world of traditional China, girls and women did not have the same access to literacy as boys and men, though throughout China's history, there were always women who could read and write; by late imperial times, women's poetry became a matter of considerable family pride in elite circles. It is not known when or how nüshu came into being, but, because it is clearly based in the standard Chinese script, hanzi, nüshu could not have been created before standardization of hanzi (circa 900).<br/><br/> Many of the simplifications found in nüshu have been in informal use in standard Chinese since the Song and Yuan dynasty (13th - 14th century). It seems to have reached its peak during the latter part of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911).<br/><br/> The script was suppressed by the Japanese during their invasion of China in the 1930s-40s, because they feared that the Chinese could use it to send secret messages; and also during China's Cultural Revolution (1966–76). The last original writers of the script died in the 1990s (the last one in 2004). It is no longer customary for women to learn Nüshu, and literacy in Nüshu is now limited to a few scholars who learned it from the last women who were literate in it.<br/><br/> Unlike the standard written Chinese, which is logographic (with each character representing a word or part of a word), Nüshu is phonetic, with each of its approximately 600-700 characters representing a syllable. Nüshu characters are an italic variant form of Kaishu Chinese characters. The strokes of the characters are in the form of dots, horizontals, virgules, and arcs. The script is written from top to bottom or, when horizontal, from right to left, as is traditional for Chinese. Also like standard Chinese, vertical lines are truly vertical, while lines crossing them are angled from the perpendicular. Unlike Chinese, Nüshu writers value characters written with very fine, almost threadlike, lines as a mark of fine penmanship.
The Nüshu script is used to write a local dialect of Chinese known as Xiangnan Tuhua (湘南土话, 'Southern Hunanese Tuhua') that is spoken by the people of the Xiao and Yongming River region of northern Jiangyong County, Hunan.<br/><br/> In addition to speaking Tuhua, most local people in Jiangyong are bilingual in the Hunan dialect of Southwestern Mandarin, which they use for communication with people from outside the area that Tuhua is spoken, as well as for some formal occasions. If Hunan Southwestern Mandarin is written, then it is always written using standard Chinese characters, and not with the Nüshu script.<br/><br/> In the sex-segregated world of traditional China, girls and women did not have the same access to literacy as boys and men, though throughout China's history, there were always women who could read and write; by late imperial times, women's poetry became a matter of considerable family pride in elite circles. It is not known when or how nüshu came into being, but, because it is clearly based in the standard Chinese script, hanzi, nüshu could not have been created before standardization of hanzi (circa 900).<br/><br/> Many of the simplifications found in nüshu have been in informal use in standard Chinese since the Song and Yuan dynasty (13th - 14th century). It seems to have reached its peak during the latter part of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911).<br/><br/> The script was suppressed by the Japanese during their invasion of China in the 1930s-40s, because they feared that the Chinese could use it to send secret messages; and also during China's Cultural Revolution (1966–76). The last original writers of the script died in the 1990s (the last one in 2004). It is no longer customary for women to learn Nüshu, and literacy in Nüshu is now limited to a few scholars who learned it from the last women who were literate in it.<br/><br/> Unlike the standard written Chinese, which is logographic (with each character representing a word or part of a word), Nüshu is phonetic, with each of its approximately 600-700 characters representing a syllable. Nüshu characters are an italic variant form of Kaishu Chinese characters. The strokes of the characters are in the form of dots, horizontals, virgules, and arcs. The script is written from top to bottom or, when horizontal, from right to left, as is traditional for Chinese. Also like standard Chinese, vertical lines are truly vertical, while lines crossing them are angled from the perpendicular. Unlike Chinese, Nüshu writers value characters written with very fine, almost threadlike, lines as a mark of fine penmanship.
The Nüshu script is used to write a local dialect of Chinese known as Xiangnan Tuhua (湘南土话, 'Southern Hunanese Tuhua') that is spoken by the people of the Xiao and Yongming River region of northern Jiangyong County, Hunan.<br/><br/> In addition to speaking Tuhua, most local people in Jiangyong are bilingual in the Hunan dialect of Southwestern Mandarin, which they use for communication with people from outside the area that Tuhua is spoken, as well as for some formal occasions. If Hunan Southwestern Mandarin is written, then it is always written using standard Chinese characters, and not with the Nüshu script.<br/><br/> In the sex-segregated world of traditional China, girls and women did not have the same access to literacy as boys and men, though throughout China's history, there were always women who could read and write; by late imperial times, women's poetry became a matter of considerable family pride in elite circles. It is not known when or how nüshu came into being, but, because it is clearly based in the standard Chinese script, hanzi, nüshu could not have been created before standardization of hanzi (circa 900).<br/><br/> Many of the simplifications found in nüshu have been in informal use in standard Chinese since the Song and Yuan dynasty (13th - 14th century). It seems to have reached its peak during the latter part of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911).<br/><br/> The script was suppressed by the Japanese during their invasion of China in the 1930s-40s, because they feared that the Chinese could use it to send secret messages; and also during China's Cultural Revolution (1966–76). The last original writers of the script died in the 1990s (the last one in 2004). It is no longer customary for women to learn Nüshu, and literacy in Nüshu is now limited to a few scholars who learned it from the last women who were literate in it.<br/><br/> Unlike the standard written Chinese, which is logographic (with each character representing a word or part of a word), Nüshu is phonetic, with each of its approximately 600-700 characters representing a syllable. Nüshu characters are an italic variant form of Kaishu Chinese characters. The strokes of the characters are in the form of dots, horizontals, virgules, and arcs. The script is written from top to bottom or, when horizontal, from right to left, as is traditional for Chinese. Also like standard Chinese, vertical lines are truly vertical, while lines crossing them are angled from the perpendicular. Unlike Chinese, Nüshu writers value characters written with very fine, almost threadlike, lines as a mark of fine penmanship.
The Nüshu script is used to write a local dialect of Chinese known as Xiangnan Tuhua (湘南土话, 'Southern Hunanese Tuhua') that is spoken by the people of the Xiao and Yongming River region of northern Jiangyong County, Hunan.<br/><br/> In addition to speaking Tuhua, most local people in Jiangyong are bilingual in the Hunan dialect of Southwestern Mandarin, which they use for communication with people from outside the area that Tuhua is spoken, as well as for some formal occasions. If Hunan Southwestern Mandarin is written, then it is always written using standard Chinese characters, and not with the Nüshu script.<br/><br/> In the sex-segregated world of traditional China, girls and women did not have the same access to literacy as boys and men, though throughout China's history, there were always women who could read and write; by late imperial times, women's poetry became a matter of considerable family pride in elite circles. It is not known when or how nüshu came into being, but, because it is clearly based in the standard Chinese script, hanzi, nüshu could not have been created before standardization of hanzi (circa 900).<br/><br/> Many of the simplifications found in nüshu have been in informal use in standard Chinese since the Song and Yuan dynasty (13th - 14th century). It seems to have reached its peak during the latter part of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911).<br/><br/> The script was suppressed by the Japanese during their invasion of China in the 1930s-40s, because they feared that the Chinese could use it to send secret messages; and also during China's Cultural Revolution (1966–76). The last original writers of the script died in the 1990s (the last one in 2004). It is no longer customary for women to learn Nüshu, and literacy in Nüshu is now limited to a few scholars who learned it from the last women who were literate in it.<br/><br/> Unlike the standard written Chinese, which is logographic (with each character representing a word or part of a word), Nüshu is phonetic, with each of its approximately 600-700 characters representing a syllable. Nüshu characters are an italic variant form of Kaishu Chinese characters. The strokes of the characters are in the form of dots, horizontals, virgules, and arcs. The script is written from top to bottom or, when horizontal, from right to left, as is traditional for Chinese. Also like standard Chinese, vertical lines are truly vertical, while lines crossing them are angled from the perpendicular. Unlike Chinese, Nüshu writers value characters written with very fine, almost threadlike, lines as a mark of fine penmanship.
The Nüshu script is used to write a local dialect of Chinese known as Xiangnan Tuhua (湘南土话, 'Southern Hunanese Tuhua') that is spoken by the people of the Xiao and Yongming River region of northern Jiangyong County, Hunan.<br/><br/> In addition to speaking Tuhua, most local people in Jiangyong are bilingual in the Hunan dialect of Southwestern Mandarin, which they use for communication with people from outside the area that Tuhua is spoken, as well as for some formal occasions. If Hunan Southwestern Mandarin is written, then it is always written using standard Chinese characters, and not with the Nüshu script.<br/><br/> In the sex-segregated world of traditional China, girls and women did not have the same access to literacy as boys and men, though throughout China's history, there were always women who could read and write; by late imperial times, women's poetry became a matter of considerable family pride in elite circles. It is not known when or how nüshu came into being, but, because it is clearly based in the standard Chinese script, hanzi, nüshu could not have been created before standardization of hanzi (circa 900).<br/><br/> Many of the simplifications found in nüshu have been in informal use in standard Chinese since the Song and Yuan dynasty (13th - 14th century). It seems to have reached its peak during the latter part of the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911).<br/><br/> The script was suppressed by the Japanese during their invasion of China in the 1930s-40s, because they feared that the Chinese could use it to send secret messages; and also during China's Cultural Revolution (1966–76). The last original writers of the script died in the 1990s (the last one in 2004). It is no longer customary for women to learn Nüshu, and literacy in Nüshu is now limited to a few scholars who learned it from the last women who were literate in it.<br/><br/> Unlike the standard written Chinese, which is logographic (with each character representing a word or part of a word), Nüshu is phonetic, with each of its approximately 600-700 characters representing a syllable. Nüshu characters are an italic variant form of Kaishu Chinese characters. The strokes of the characters are in the form of dots, horizontals, virgules, and arcs. The script is written from top to bottom or, when horizontal, from right to left, as is traditional for Chinese. Also like standard Chinese, vertical lines are truly vertical, while lines crossing them are angled from the perpendicular. Unlike Chinese, Nüshu writers value characters written with very fine, almost threadlike, lines as a mark of fine penmanship.
Empress Xiao Shu Rui was born in 1747, during the twenty-fifth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign, into the Manchu Hitara clan. She was the daughter of Hitara He'erjing'e, Duke En of Cheng. In 1774, Lady Hitara married the Qianlong Emperor's son Yongyan, Prince Jia, as his primary wife and consort. Yongyan and Lady Hitara had three children including Minning or Mianning (16 September 1782 - 25 February 1850), later the Daoguang Emperor. On 9 February 1796, the Qianlong Emperor abdicated the throne in favor of his son Yongyan, who became the Jiaqing Emperor. Lady Hitara was created Empress. However, she died of illness after being Empress Consort for only one year. After her death, she was given the title of Empress Xiao Shu. Then, in 1820, the title of Empress Xiao Shu Rui after the death of the Jiaqing Emperor. Later, Hitara was interred in the Changling Mausoleum.
The Consort Shu (1 June 1728– 4 July 1777), came from the Manchu Yehenara clan. Lady Yehenara was born during the sixth year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign. Lady Yehenara entered the Qing Dynasty Imperial Court when she was fourteen years old, during the sixth year of the Qianlong Emperor's reign. Upon her entrance, Lady Yehenara was given the title Worthy Lady (the sixth lowest rank among an emperor's wives). In November the same year, Lady Yehenara was elevated to an Imperial Concubine, and was given the title Shu (meaning comfort). In April during the fourteenth year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, Lady Yehenara was promoted to a consort. During the sixteenth year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, Lady Yehenara gave birth to Qianlong's tenth son, who died in infancy. Lady Yehenara died on July 4, during the forty-second year of Emperor Qianlong's reign, aged 49.
Noble Consort Shu Jia, concubine of the Qianlong Emperor (dates and background not known).
Yingzong's short reign is known for controversy over the correct rituals to be performed by the Emperor for his father. Yingzong had been adopted by Renzong and so in the ritual sense Renzong was Yingzong's father. In a more strictly biological sense, Zhao Yunrang was Yingzong's father. Some officials wished Zhao Yunrang to be given the title of 'Imperial Uncle', however Yingzong granted him the title 'Parent'.<br/><br> The Song Dynasty (960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907–960) and preceded the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), which conquered the Song in 1279. Its conventional division into the Northern Song (960–1127) and Southern Song (1127–1279) periods marks the conquest of northern China by the Jin Dynasty (1115–1234) in 1127. It also distinguishes the subsequent shift of the Song's capital city from Bianjing (modern Kaifeng) in the north to Lin'an (modern Hangzhou) in the south.
Hōnen (法然, May 13, 1133 - February 29, 1212) was the religious reformer and founder of the first independent branch of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism called Jōdo shū (浄土宗, 'The Pure Land School'). In the related Jōdo Shinshū sect, he is considered the Seventh Patriarch. Hōnen became a monk of the Tendai sect at an early age, but grew disaffected, and sought an approach to Buddhism that anyone could follow, even during the perceived Age of Dharma Decline. After discovering the writings of Chinese Buddhist, Shan-tao, he undertook the teaching of rebirth in the Pure Land of Amitabha through reciting the Buddha's name, or nembutsu.<br/><br/> Hōnen gathered a wide array of followers, but also critics. The emperor exiled Hōnen and his followers in 1207, after an incident regarding two of his disciples, in addition to persuasion by certain influential Buddhist communities. Hōnen was eventually pardoned and allowed to return to Kyoto where he stayed for a short time before his death.
Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BCE), personal name Ying Zheng, was king of the ChineQin Shi Huang (259–210 BCE), personal name Ying Zheng, was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 to 221 BCE during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BCE, and ruled until his death in 210 BCE at the age of 49. Styling himself 'First Emperor' after China's unification, Qin Shi Huang is a pivotal figure in Chinese history, ushering in nearly two millennia of imperial rule.<br/><br/> After unifying China, he and his chief advisor Li Si passed a series of major economic and political reforms. He undertook gigantic projects, including the first version of the Great Wall of China, the now famous city-sized mausoleum guarded by a life-sized Terracotta Army, and a massive national road system, all at the expense of numerous lives. To ensure stability, Qin Shi Huang also outlawed and burned many books, as well as burying some scholars alive.
Zhuge Liang (CE 181-234) was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era. Often depicted wearing a robe and holding a fan made of crane feathers, Zhuge was not only an important military strategist and statesman; he was also an accomplished scholar and inventor. His reputation as an intelligent and learned scholar grew even while he was living in relative seclusion, earning him the nickname Wolong (literally Crouching Dragon). Zhuge is an uncommon two-character compound family name. His name – even his surname alone – has become synonymous with intelligence and tactics in Chinese culture.
Liu Bei (161 – 21 June 223) was a warlord, military general and later as Emperor Zhaolie the founder of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. Despite having a later start than his rivals and lacking both the material resources and social status they commanded, Liu overcame his many defeats to carve out his own realm, which at its peak spanned modern day Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, part of Hubei and part of Gansu.<br/><br/> Yan Liben (Wade–Giles: Yen Li-pen, c. 600-673), formally Baron Wenzhen of Boling, was a Chinese painter and government official of the early Tang Dynasty. His notable works include the Thirteen Emperors Scroll and Northern Qi Scholars Collating Classic Texts. He also painted the Portraits at Lingyan Pavilion, under Emperor Taizong of Tang, commissioned in 643 to commemorate 24 of the greatest contributors to Emperor Taizong's reign, as well as 18 portraits commemorating the 18 great scholars who served Emperor Taizong when he was the Prince of Qin. Yan's paintings included painted portraits of various Chinese emperors from the Han Dynasty (202 BC-220 AD) up until the Sui Dynasty (581-618) period
Yingzong's short reign is known for controversy over the correct rituals to be performed by the Emperor for his father. Yingzong had been adopted by Renzong and so in the ritual sense Renzong was Yingzong's father. In a more strictly biological sense, Zhao Yunrang was Yingzong's father. Some officials wished Zhao Yunrang to be given the title of 'Imperial Uncle', however Yingzong granted him the title 'Parent'.<br/><br> The Song Dynasty (960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period (907–960) and preceded the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368), which conquered the Song in 1279. Its conventional division into the Northern Song (960–1127) and Southern Song (1127–1279) periods marks the conquest of northern China by the Jin Dynasty (1115–1234) in 1127. It also distinguishes the subsequent shift of the Song's capital city from Bianjing (modern Kaifeng) in the north to Lin'an (modern Hangzhou) in the south.
Wang Jian (王建) (847 – July 11, 918 CE), courtesy name Guangtu (光圖), formally Emperor Gaozu of (Former) Shu ((前)蜀高祖), was the founding emperor of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period state Former Shu. He started his career as an army officer under the Tang Dynasty eunuch generals Yang Fuguang and Tian Lingzi, eventually seizing control of the modern Sichuan and Chongqing region, founding his state after Tang's destruction.<br/><br/> Chengdu, known formerly as Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. In the early 4th century BCE, the 9th Kaiming king of the ancient Shu moved his capital to the city's current location from today's nearby Pixian.
Chin Shu-jen (1879–1941), or Jin Shuren , was governor of Xinjiang, succeeding Yang Zengxin after Yang was assassinated in 1928. Jin ruled Xinjiang for about half a decade, but his reign was characterized by corruption and suppression. Under his rule, both ethnic and religion conflicts were greatly deepened, resulting in numerous riots against his regime, which eventually led to his downfall.
Zhuge Liang (CE 181-234) was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era. Often depicted wearing a robe and holding a fan made of crane feathers, Zhuge was not only an important military strategist and statesman; he was also an accomplished scholar and inventor.<br/><br/> His reputation as an intelligent and learned scholar grew even while he was living in relative seclusion, earning him the nickname Wolong (literally Crouching Dragon). Zhuge is an uncommon two-character compound family name. His name – even his surname alone – has become synonymous with intelligence and tactics in Chinese culture.
Tang Yin (1470–1524), better known by his courtesy name Tang Bohu, was a Chinese scholar, painter, calligrapher, and poet of the Ming Dynasty period whose life story has become a part of popular lore. Even though he was born during the Ming Dynasty, many of his paintings (especially paintings of people) were illustrated with elements from Pre-Tang to Song Dynasty.<br/><br/> Great Shu (Dàshǔ) called in retrospect Former Shu Qiánshǔ) was one of the Ten Kingdoms formed during the chaotic period between the rules of the Tang dynasty and the Song dynasty. It existed between 907-925 CE.
Sadanobu's small landscapes of Kyoto and Osaka were produced very much with the Edo artist Hiroshige in mind. Indeed, he also did miniature copies of some of Hiroshige's most famous designs.<br/><br/> Kyoto was the capital of Japan from 1180 to 1868, when the capital was moved to Tokyo (previously Edo) at the beginning of the Meiji Era in 1868. Sadanobu's woodblock prints of 'Famous Places in the Capital' was thus produced towards the very end of Kyoto's position as the Japanese capital, and possibly continued into the first year or two of the Meiji Period.
Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BCE), personal name Ying Zheng, was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 to 221 BCE during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BCE, and ruled until his death in 210 BC at the age of 49. Styling himself 'First Emperor' after China's unification, Qin Shi Huang is a pivotal figure in Chinese history, ushering in nearly two millennia of imperial rule.<br/><br/> After unifying China, he and his chief advisor Li Si passed a series of major economic and political reforms. He undertook gigantic projects, including the first version of the Great Wall of China, the now famous city-sized mausoleum guarded by a life-sized Terracotta Army, and a massive national road system, all at the expense of numerous lives. To ensure stability, Qin Shi Huang also outlawed and burned many books, as well as burying some scholars alive.