Ancient Chinese Culture » Person in History

Cao Cao

sharon — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 14:17:10 +0000

Cao Cao (155～220), also called the Emperor of Weiwu, is a famous statesman, strategist, poet during the period of Eastern Han Dynasty (25~220). In his lifetime, he unified the northern China and also contributed to the foundation of the kingdom of Wei (220-265).

He showed an aptitude for study when he was very young. He was well versed in both literature and martial arts and is almost omnipotent. Praised as the most successful ruler at that time, he played an important role in unifying the North China, resuming the economical production, stabilizing the social order, the development of agriculture, etc. 　　

Cao Cao is not only a brilliant ruler, but also a great poet. Based on the content, his poetry can be divided into three categories: the disturbances during the period of the late Han Dynasty (202BC~220), his wishes of unifying China and his stubborn enterprising spirit. One of his most famous poems is Tortoise Lives Long.

Cao Cao is always a controversial historic character, which makes him more sincere. However, no one could deny that he is an outstanding statesman, strategist and poet.

the Twelve Beauties of Jinling – Qin Keqing

sharon — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:07:36 +0000

Qin Keqing is one of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling (refers to the twelve excellent ladies) in the book of The Dream of Red Mansions. She is one of the most significant character and her real identity and early death are also amongst the most mysterious in the book.

Qin Keqing is the adopted daughter of Qin Bangye and wife of Jia Rong. However, she also has an affair with her father-in-law. She is described as one of the most beautiful and most lamentable women in this book.

She was more of a delusory figure than a real person in this book. In the chapter five, Jia Baoyu dreamed that he was led by fairy Jing Huan (Qin Keqing) to a fantasyland. The fairy gave him some books, which told the girls’ fate in the book of The Dream of Red Mansions. Therefore, this dream also had already revealed the dynasty of the whole family.

Regarding her identity, some hold that Qin Keqing is not an ordinary person due to the extraordinary ornaments she has. For example, she has a mirror which was once used by Emperor Wu Zetian (The first female Emperor in ancient China). Some believe that she was originally a princess.

Her death has also remained a mystery. Some believe that she was died of illness, but others hold that she was hanged. However, nobody knows the real answer.

In this book, there is a special meaning about her name of Qin Keqing. The name has the same pronunciation of the ancient Chinese phrase “qing ke qing, fei chang qing”, which suggests her love affairs are quite different from those of common people.

Fragrant Concubine – Xiangfei

sharon — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:58:03 +0000

Fragrant Concubine (1734~1788), also called “Xiangfei” or “Rongfei” in Chinese history, is the only Uighur maiden among the forty Empresses of Emperor of Qianlong (1711~1799).

In 1759, Xiangfei’s family helped the Qing troops put down a rebellion between ethnic groups. They were called to the Palace to confer a title. In order to show their gratitude, Xiangfei’s family chose Xiangfei to serve the Emperor of Qianlong. She was soon fully favored by the Emperor. Later, she was conferred the highest-ranking imperial concubine by the emperor.

However, she was more of a legendary figure than a real person in the Chinese history. It was said that her body emitted fragrant aura since she was born. Even the butterflies would come around her due to the fragrance. However, why Xiangfei’s body emitted fragrant aura is still a mystery. Some hold that it was caused by the special tea Xiangfei often drank. Some others argue that the distinctive environment of her childhood was the answer.

The fragrant concubine’s burial ground is also a mystery. Which place is her last resting place, Xinjiang province, Taoranting (the weeds heap) of Beijing, or the Royal Garden Tomb of Qing Dynasty? No one knows.

Related posts:
Wu Zetian- the Only Female Emperor in Chinese History

Dragon Lady-Empress Dowager Cixi

the Twelve Beauties of Jinling – Qin Keqing

Qin Shi Huang

sharon — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:55:01 +0000

Qin Shi Huang, (259BC ~ 210BC)，named Ying Zheng, was the first emperor of a unified China in Chinese history.

In 246 BC, at the age of 13, Ying Zheng ascended the throne of the State of Qin. During the period of 230BC to 221BC, Qin conquered all the other six states and unified the entire China. The Qin Dynasty (221BC ~ 206BC) was born, and had been the first centralized feudal monarchy country. Ying Zheng proclaimed himself Qin Shi Huang, which means the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty.

Qin Shi Huang is one of the greatest rulers in Chinese history. After the unification, he standardized the written script, the currency, weights and establishing a unified system of measures and weights. He also carried out a series of major economic and political reforms, such as building a massive national road system.

He did a lot to consolidate the regime and keep the stability of the society. He ordered to continue rebuilding the Great Wall to ward off invasion from the ethnic minority. In order to prohibit all heterodox thinking, he even gave the orders of the burning of booking and burying of scholars from the states other than the State of Qin.

Since the Qin Dynasty was built, Qin Shi Huang had been dreamed to be the emperor even after his death. So, the famous life-sized Terracotta Army had been built to guard his tomb. It is also known as the biggest military museums under the ground.

Shangguan Wan’er – First Female Premier in Chinese History

sharon — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:59:17 +0000

Shangguan Wan’er was one of the most famous female in ancient China. She was the granddaughter of Shangguan Yi, a famous poet in the Tang Dynasty and the premier to Emperor Gaozong of Tang. She was also a writer, poet, and female politician of the Tang Dynasty, as well as an imperial concubine of Emperor Zhongzong.

She became the personal secretary of Wu Zetian, the first and the only female monarch in Chinese history, when she was 14. Later, she became the de facto Premier of the female monarch. For several decades, the destiny of the Tang Empire was in the hands of the two extraordinary women.

However, failed in the politics struggle, in 710 AD., she was killed by Li Longji, a grandson of Wu Zetian, in a palace coup. Her colorful life came to a tragic end at the age of 46.

Nevertheless, no one would deny her talents and after her death, Li ordered her poems to be compiled into a 20-volume anthology after her death.