Archive for category Notable Figures
Cao Cao
Posted by sharon in Notable Figures on September 1, 2010
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.
Qin Shi Huang
Posted by sharon in Notable Figures on July 13, 2010
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
Posted by sharon in Notable Figures on June 1, 2010
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.
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