Cultural Figures in East Asia

Depictions of historical figures from East Asia, including emperors and scholars, in traditional garb with vibrant colors and intricate details.

Emperor Saga 786Äì842 52nd emperor of Japan from 809-823

China

Emperor Shomu (Shomu-tenno, 701 - May 2, 756) was the 45th emperor of Japan according to the traditional order of succession. This emperor is traditionally venerated at a memorial Shinto shrine (misasagi) at Nara.

Portrait of Priest Samyeongdang. Korea, Korean, Joseon dynasty (1392-1910), late 19th century. Paintings. Panel, ink and color on hemp

Emperor Saga 786Äì842 52nd emperor of Japan from 809-823

Korea: Yi Je-hyeon, also Yi Jehyeon (1288 - 1367), Goryeo Kingdom (918 - 1392) politician, Neo-Confucian scholar, philosopher and writer. He was a part of the Gyeongju Yi clan

Japan: 'Amaterasu-omikami with Guardians Myojin and Taga Myojin', woodblock print from the Edo Period, unknown artist, 18th century

Khatun (Persian; Turkish: Hatun) is a female title of nobility and equivalent to male 'khan' prominently used in the First Turkish Empire and in the subsequent Mongol Empire. It is equivalent to queen or empress.

Emperor Wanli, 14th ruler of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1572-1620). Personal Name: Zhu Yijun, Zhū Yìjūn. Posthumous Name: Xiandi, Xiǎndì. Temple Name: Shenzong, Shénzōng. Reign Name: Ming Wanli, Ming Wànlì. The Wanli Emperor was emperor of China (Ming Dynasty) between 1572 and 1620. His era name means 'Ten Thousand Calendars'. The Wanli emperors reign is representative of the decline of the Ming. He was an unmotivated and avaricious ruler whose reign was plagued with fiscal woes, military pressures, and angry bureaucrats. During the closing years of Wanli's reign, the Manchu began to conduct raids on the northern border of the Ming Empire. Their depredations ultimately led to the overthrow of the Ming Dynasty in 1644. It was said that the fall of the Ming Dynasty was not a result of the Chongzhen Emperor's rule but instead due to Wanli's gross mismanagement. The Wanli Emperor died in 1620 and was buried in Dingling located on the outskirts of Beijing.

Laozi (Lao Tzu, c. 6th century BCE) was a mystic philosopher of ancient China. His association with the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) has led him to be traditionally considered the founder of Taoism (also spelled 'Daoism'). He is also revered as a deity in most religious forms of the Taoist religion, which often refers to Laozi as Taishang Laojun, or 'One of the Three Pure Ones'. Laozi translated literally from Chinese means 'old master' or 'old one', and is generally considered honorific.

Yao Shang, Chinese sage, wearing traditional costume and holding a medicine container (). Watercolour, China, 18--.

A Chinese figure wearing light brown silk robes with a dark brown border. Painting by a Chinese artist, ca. 1850.

BuddhistGuardian

Genghis Khaan Tapestry 1162 to 1227 Ulan Batar Mongolia

Empress Xiao Hui Zhang was of the Mongol Borjigit clan. When in 1653 Shunzhi's first Empress was demoted she was promoted to Consort. One year later she became officially Shunzhi's second Empress. When the Kangxi Emperor ascended the throne, Hui Zhang was made Dowager Empress, although she was not the biological mother of the new emperor. Empress Hui Zhang died in 1717 in the Imperial Palace, aged 76.

Saladin (Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi) 1137-93. After a contemporary miniature c1180. Sultan of Egypt and Syria, leader of Muslim armies against the Crusaders.

Aisin-Gioro Min Ning, Emperor Xuanzong of the Qing Dynasty

Portrait of Yoritomo, Shogun General 1147-1199 Japanese Art National Museum, Tokyo

Confucianism has in its pantheon the specialized gods worshipped bby the 'literati.' The chief deity is Wen Ch'ang, the god of literature (middle figure clothed in blue and holding a scepter in his right hand). Behind him stand two youthful attendants, the servant and the groom who always accompany him on his journeys. In front of Wen Ch'any are his two inseparable companions: K'iuei Hsing (at right and pictured with face of demon and holding writing brush in his right hand and a 'tou' in his left) and Chu I ('Mr. Redcoat' and he is the god of Good Luck for those taking examinations).

Seated portrait of Emperor Ming Shenzong - Ming Dynasty, China

Li Cunxu (885-926)was King of Jin, Tang (908-923) and later became Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (923-926). Li Cunxu was successful in overthrowing the Later Liang Dynasty in 923 and proclaimed himself emperor of the Later Tang Dynasty, which he referred to as the 'Restored Tang'. As a part of restoring the Tang, the capital was moved back to the old Tang eastern capital of Luoyang. As with all of the Five Dynasties, this was a short-lived regime lasting only thirteen years. Li Cunxu himself lived only three years after the founding of the dynasty, before being killed during an officers rebellion.

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.

A Chinese figure, seated, with bamboo staff,wearing green robes with blue border and black hat. Painting by a Chinese artist, ca. 1850.

Portrait of the Great Master Yeongwoldang Eungjin - Korean Art, 1700s

Mongolian Buddhism: The Bogd Khan was simultaneously religious and secular head of the Mongolian state until the 1920s. Ikh Huree, as Ulan Bator was then known, was the seat of the preeminent living Buddha of Mongolia (the Jebtsundamba Khutuktu, also known as the Bogdo Gegen and later as Bogd Khan), who ranked third in the Lamaist-Buddhist ecclesiastical hierarchy, after the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama.

The Daoguang Emperor (16 September 1782 - 26 February 1850) was the eighth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the sixth Qing emperor to rule over China properly, reigning from 1820 to 1850. His reign was marked by "external disaster and internal rebellion," that is, by the First Opium War, and the beginning of the Taiping Rebellion which nearly brought down the dynasty

Empress Xiaoyuan, consort of the 7th Ming Emperor Jingtai (r. 1449-1457).

Padmasambhava, (Sanskrit Padmakara; Tibetan Pemajungne; Chinese Lianhuashang) or 'Lotus Born', was a guru from Oddiyana (modern Swat) who is said to have transmitted Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet and neighbouring countries in the 8th century. In those lands he is better known as Guru Rinpoche ('Precious Guru') or Lopon Rinpoche, or, simply, Padum in Tibet, where followers of the Nyingma school regard him as the second Buddha. His Pureland Paradise is Zangdok Palri (the Copper-coloured Mountain). He is further considered an emanation of Buddha Amitabha and traditionally even venerated as a second Buddha. He was born into a Brahmin family of Northwest India.

Esen Taishi (died 1455) was a powerful Oirat Khagan of the Forty and the Four of Mongolia in the 15th century. He is best-known for capturing the Zhengtong Emperor in 1450 after the Battle of Tumu Fortress and reuniting briefly the Mongols. The Western Mongols reached their peak under his rule. Esentaish Khan was born in 1407, the red pig year. In the middle of the 17th century he united Oirats with Mongols and in 1452, the black monkey year, he became Khan of all Mongolia. He was a great commander who carried out the most proficient struggle against the Ming dynasty. But the had no imperial lineage and therefore he was overthrown by the nobility.

The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors (Sanhuang wudi; Wade-Giles: San-huang wu-ti) are a blend of mythological rulers and cultural heroes from ancient China dating loosely from the period from c.3500-2000 BCE. This represents the earliest period of recorded Chinese history and is regarded as largely mythological. In chronological terms it precedes the Xia Dynasty (c.2070-1600 BCE). There are several variations as to who constitute the various Three Sovereigns and Seven Emperors. According to the Diwang Xishi or Record of Imperial Lineages, also called the 'Sovereign Series' in English, the Three Sovereigns were, in chronological sequence: Fuxi, Shennong and Huangdi. The same source lists the Five Emperors, again chronologically, as: Shaohao, Zhuanxu, Gaoxin, Yao and Shun.

Born in Henan province of China in 602 or 603, from boyhood he took to reading sacred books, including the Chinese Classics and the writings of the ancient sages. While residing in the city of Luoyang, Xuanzang entered Buddhist monkhood at the age of thirteen. Due to the political and social unrest caused by the fall of the Sui dynasty, he went to Chengdu in Sichuan (Szechuan), where he was ordained at the age of twenty. From Xingdu, he travelled throughout China in search of sacred books of Buddhism. At length, he came to Chang'an, then under the peaceful rule of Emperor Taizong of Tang. Here Xuanzang developed the desire to visit India. He knew about Faxian's visit to India and, like him, was concerned about the incomplete and misinterpreted nature of the Buddhist scriptures that reached China. He became famous for his seventeen year overland journey to India, which is recorded in detail in his autobiography and a biography, and which provided the inspiration for the epic novel Journ

Peking opera or Beijing opera (; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: Jingjù) is a form of traditional Chinese theatre which combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance, and acrobatics. It arose in the late 18th century and became fully developed and recognized by the mid-19th century. The form was extremely popular in the Qing dynasty court and has come to be regarded as one of the cultural treasures of China. Major performance troupes are based in Beijing and Tianjin in the north, and Shanghai in the south. The art form is also preserved in Taiwan, where it is known as Guoju (; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.

Tokugawa Ieyasu (January 31, 1543 - June 1, 1616) was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but remained in power until his death in 1616. Ieyasu was posthumously enshrined at Nikkō Tōshō-gū with the name Tōshō Daigongen.

Qing Imperial court portraits of senior Manchu military officers, known as Bannermen, mid-18th century. From the time China was brought under the rule of the Qing dynasty (1644 - 1683), the banner soldiers became more professional and bureaucratised. Once the Manchus took over governing, they could no longer satisfy the material needs of soldiers by garnishing and distributing booty; instead, a salary system was instituted, ranks standardised, and the Bannermen became a sort of hereditary military caste, though with a strong ethnic inflection. Banner soldiers took up permanent positions, either as defenders of the capital, Beijing, where roughly half of them lived with their families, or in the provinces, where 18 garrisons were established. The largest banner garrisons throughout most of the Qing dynasty were at Beijing, followed by Xi'an and Hangzhou. Sizable banner populations were also placed in Manchuria and at strategic points along the Great Wall, the Yangtze River and Grand Can

Painting of Confucius, China

Empress Xiao Hui Zhang was of the Mongol Borjigit clan. When in 1653 Shunzhi's first Empress was demoted she was promoted to Consort. One year later she became officially Shunzhi's second Empress. When the Kangxi Emperor ascended the throne, Hui Zhang was made Dowager Empress, although she was not the biological mother of the new emperor. Empress Hui Zhang died in 1717 in the Imperial Palace, aged 76.

Cai Shen can also be referred to as Zhao Gongming (Chao Kung-ming) or Bi Gan (Pi-kan). Though Cai Shen began as a Chinese folk hero, later deified and venerated by local followers and admirers, Taoism and Pure Land Buddhism also came to venerate him as a god. Cai Shen's name is often invoked during the Chinese New Year celebrations. He is often depicted riding a black tiger and holding a golden rod. He may also be depicted armed with any one of several iron weapons.

portrait,woman,kimono,japanese culture,geisha

Portrait of the Great Master Seosan late 17th-18th century Unidentified artist This painting depicts the eminent monk Cheongheodang Hyujeong (1520-1604), better known by his posthumous title, Seosan Daesa , or Great Master Seosan. In addition to his role as a leader of Seon Buddhism (Chan in Chinese; Zen in Japanese), Seosan Daesa was also renowned for helping lead an army of Buddhist monks against invading Japanese forces to recover the capital (present-day Seoul) in the late sixteenth century. In a period when Buddhism was officially suppressed by the government in favor of Neo-Confucianism as ruling ideology, the religion continued to develop and, at times, to prosper. Seon Buddhism, which emphasized meditation, was among the sects that flourished.Idealized portraits of revered monks, especially patriarchs or founders of doctrinal schools, were enshrined in Buddhist temples. As is typical of such portraits from the Joseon period, the monk sits on a wood chair in three-quar

Buyantu Khan, also known as Emperor Renzong of Yuan (April 9, 1285 - March 1, 1320), born Ayurbarwada, was an Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, and is regarded as the eighth Khagan of the Mongols in Mongolia. Ayurbarwada was the first Mongolian emperor who actively supported and promoted Han Chinese culture. He was mentored by Confucian academic Li Meng, succeeded peacefully to the throne and reversed his older brother Khayisan's policies. More important, Ayurbarwada reinstituted the civil service examination system in the Yuan. Ayurbarbada Buyantu Khan, the third son of Darambal, was born in 1285, the blue hen year. He acceded to the throne in 1012 and died in 1002, the white monkey year.

Qin Shi Huang in a 19th century portrait, with Korean colophons, in an album portraying famous historical figures. It's a copy of an 1609 Chinese portrait

Empress Xiaoyuan, consort of the 7th Ming Emperor Jingtai (r. 1449-1457).

Honen (, May 13, 1133 - February 29, 1212) was the religious reformer and founder of the first independent branch of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism called Jodo shu (, 'The Pure Land School'). In the related Jodo Shinshu sect, he is considered the Seventh Patriarch. Honen 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. Honen gathered a wide array of followers, but also critics. The emperor exiled Honen and his followers in 1207, after an incident regarding two of his disciples, in addition to persuasion by certain influential Buddhist communities. Honen was eventually pardoned and allowed to return to Kyoto where he stayed for a short time before his death.

Empress Xiaojiesu, consort of the 12th Ming Emperor Jiajing (r. 1521-1567).

Amitabha and two deities, detail from the Paradise of Amitabha Buddha, the Light without limits, the fourth of five Buddhas of Contemplation, 1795, colour on silk, from the temple of Suguk-Sa, South Korea. Korean Civilisation, Joseon dynasty, 18th century.

Barsbolad (Basbolud) Jinong (1490-1519) was the Mongol Khan of post-imperial Mongolia. Barsbolad (Basbolud) Jinong was the third son of Dayan Khan, who appointed his grandson (the eldest son of Dayan Khan's second son), Bodi Alagh Khan as his successor. After the death of Dayan Khan, Barsbolad (Basbolud) Jinong proclaimed himself as the great khan, claiming that Bodi Alagh Khan was too young and too inexperienced to maintain the large Mongol empire, and he was able to rally support from some of the Mongol populace who feared that after a century of fighting, the unification and prosperity finally achieved by Dayan Khan was to be lost and a more experienced leader was needed.

Hwang Hui (1363 - 1452) politician of the Goryeo dynasty and Joseon Dynasty, who came from the Jangsu Hwang clan and served as prime minister of the Joseon Dynasty from 1431 to 1449. Hwang Hui was an official of Goryeo Dynasty. Hwang Hui was appointed as a prime minister in 1431 and served until 1449.

Xuanzang (Hsuan-tsang, c. 602 - 664) was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who travelled to India seeking Buddhist knowledge during the early Tang Dynasty. Born in Henan province of China in 602 or 603, from boyhood he took to reading sacred books, including the Chinese Classics and the writings of the ancient sages. While residing in the city of Luoyang, Xuanzang entered Buddhist monkhood at the age of thirteen. Due to the political and social unrest caused by the fall of the Sui dynasty, he went to Chengdu in Sichuan (Szechuan), where he was ordained at the age of twenty. From Xingdu, he travelled throughout China in search of sacred books of Buddhism. At length, he came to Chang'an, then under the peaceful rule of Emperor Taizong of Tang. Here Xuanzang developed the desire to visit India. He knew about Faxian's visit to India and, like him, was concerned about the incomplete and misinterpreted nature of the Buddhist scriptures that reached China. He b

The Middle Heaven Great Emperor of the North Pole Star of Purple Subtlety assists the Jade Emperor in administering the longitudes and latitudes of Heaven and Earth, the sun, the moon and stars, as well as the climate of the four seasons. He is honored as the 'Master of all stars, assistant sovereign of the three realms, correspondent with the Original Vital Breath and inferior only to Great Heaven'. In Daoist ritual, as well as the Three Pure Ones, the Four Heavenly Ministers are also worshipped. Each of the Four Heavenly Ministers has his own divine birthday: The Great Jade Emperor on the 9th of the first lunar month, the Middle Heaven Great Emperor of the North Pole Star of Purple Subtlety on the the 27th of the tenth month, the Great Heavenly Emperor of the Highest Palace of Polaris on the 2nd of the second month, and the Imperial Earth Goddess on the 18th of the third month. Many Daoists go to temples to burn incense on these days.

Guanshiyin or Avalokitesvara is the bodhisattva associated with compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists, usually as a female. The name Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin which means 'Observing the Sounds (or Cries) of the World'. Some Buddhists believe that when one of their adherents departs from this world, they are placed by Guanyin in the heart of a lotus then sent home to the western pure land of Sukhāvatī. It is generally accepted (in the Chinese community) that Guanyin originated as the Sanskrit Avalokiteśvara, which is her male form. Commonly known in English as the Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin is also revered in Daoism as an Immortal.In Japan, Guanyin is called Kannon.

Emperor Taizong of Tang (January 23, 599 - July 10, 649), personal name Li Shimin, was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649. He is ceremonially regarded as a co-founder of the dynasty along with Emperor Gaozu. He is typically considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest, emperors in Chinese history. Throughout the rest of Chinese history, Emperor Taizong's reign was regarded as the exemplary model against which all other emperors were measured, and his era was considered a golden age of Chinese history and required study for future crown princes. During his reign, Tang China flourished economically and militarily. For more than a century after his death, Tang China enjoyed peace and prosperity. During Taizong's reign, Tang was the largest and the strongest nation in the world. It covered most of the territory of present-day China, Vietnam, Mongolia and much of Central Asia as far as eastern Kazakhstan. It laid the foundation for Xuanzong's reig

A Chinese deity (). Gouache.

A Deputy Governor of Kamboja as depicted in Journal of an Embassy to the Courts of Siam and Cochin-China, exhibiting a view of the actual State of these Kingdoms by John Crawfurd (1783-1868), London, 1828. During the late 18th and early 19th century eastern Cambodia was subject to Vietnamese suzerainty. Vietnamese emperor, Minh Mang attempted unsuccessfully to force the Cambodians to adopt Vietnamese customs, mores and dress.

The Astana Graves (Chinese: , Pinyin: Asitanà Gumù) are a series of underground tombs located 6km from the ancient city of Gaochang, and 42km from Turpan, in Xinjiang, China. The tombs were used by the inhabitants of Gaochang, both commoners and locals, for about 600 years from 200 CE - 800 CE. The complex covers 10 square kilometres and contains over 1,000 tombs. Different plots for separate castes and families are marked by gravel dividers. Due to the arid environment many important artifacts have been well preserved at the tombs, including natural mummies. A typical tomb is entered by a 10 metre sloping staircase. The tombs are not very large, usually only 2 metres high. Some tombs also have murals inside. The deceased were laid on a small raised platform in the back of the tomb, surrounded by possessions and even food. Their faces were covered by cloths, some of which have distinct Persian motifs. A small funeral brick was placed next to each body, on which was written the pe

Jeong Yakyong / Jung Yak-Yong (1762 - 1836), known as 'Dasan' (mountain of tea), was one of the greatest Korean thinkers in the later Joseon dynasty period, wrote highly influential books about philosophy, science and theories of government, held significant administrative positions, and was noted as a poet.

Emperor Go-Mizunoo (11596 1680) 108th emperor of Japan, reigned 1611 to 1629

Fujiwara no Kamatari as a Shinto Deity after 1350 Japan The court minister Fujiwara no Kamatari (614-669), was the first of his illustrious clan to dominate Japanese court life (which the family continued to do through the twelfth century). After his death, he came to be venerated as a Shinto deity at Danzan Shrine in Tonomine, near Nara. Seen here in official garb, he is attended by his sonsone a high-ranking Buddhist monk and the other Kamatari’s successor at court. Their kami nature is indicated by three hanging golden mirrorssymbolic objects in Shinto.. Fujiwara no Kamatari as a Shinto Deity 44847

The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (Bozikeli Qian Fo Dong) are complex of Buddhist cave grottos dating from the 5th to the 9th centuries. There are 77 rock-cut caves at the site. Some ceilings are painted with a large Buddha surrounded by other figures, including Indians, Persians and Europeans. The quality of the murals vary with some being artistically naive while others are masterpieces of religious art.

A man or deity. Watercolour attributed to a Chinese painter.

Korea: Empress Myeongseong (1851 - 1895), known informally as Queen Min, was the first official wife of Gojong of Korea, the twenty-sixth king of Joseon and the first emperor of the Korean Empire. Official portrait, 20th century

The revenge of the Forty-seven Ronin (Shi-ju-shichi-shi), also known as the Forty-seven Samurai, the Aki vendetta, or the Genroku Aki incident (Genroku aki jiken) took place in Japan at the start of the 18th century. One noted Japanese scholar described the tale as the country's 'national legend'. It recounts the most famous case involving the samurai code of honor, bushidi. The story tells of a group of samurai who were left leaderless (becoming ronin) after their daimyo (feudal lord) Asano Naganori was forced to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official named Kira Yoshinaka, whose title was Ki zuke no suke. The ronin avenged their master's honor after patiently waiting and planning for two years to kill Kira. In turn, the ronin were themselves ordered to commit seppuku for committing the crime of murder. With much embellishment, this true story was popularized in Japanese culture as emblematic of the loyalty, sacrifice, persistence, and honor that all good peopl

Confucius (551-479 BC). Chinese thinker and social philosopher of the Spring and Autumn Period.

Zi Sunliang, a Chinese goddess, with two babies () bathing in front of her. Watercolour, China, 18--.

Scenes of Service from a small album known as 'Chinese Drawings: Court and Society', showing contemporaneous style and fashion at the Qing Court. The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912. Qing rulers were of the Jurchen Aisin Gioro clan, a nomadic tribe that originated northeast of the Great Wall in contemporary Northeastern China. Over the course of its reign, the Qing became highly integrated with Chinese culture, learning Chinese and participating in rituals. The imperial examinations continued and Han civil servants administered the empire alongside Manchu ones.

Illustration of Empress Chao Yang

Tokugawa Ietsugu (August 8, 1709-June 19, 1716) was the seventh shogun of the Tokugawa Dynasty, who ruled from 1713 until his death in 1716. He was the son of Tokugawa Ienobu, thus making him the grandson of Tokugawa Tsunashige, daimyo of Kofu, great-grandson of Tokugawa Iemitsu, great-great grandson of Tokugawa Hidetada, and finally the great-great-great grandson of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Selim II writing a letter after the death of Suleyman, 16th century miniature from ms H.1339 p 41A, Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul, Turkey

Illustration of Usurper Empress Wu Hou

The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors (Sanhuang wudi; Wade-Giles: San-huang wu-ti) are a blend of mythological rulers and cultural heroes from ancient China dating loosely from the period from c.3500-2000 BCE. This represents the earliest period of recorded Chinese history and is regarded as largely mythological. In chronological terms it precedes the Xia Dynasty (c.2070-1600 BCE). There are several variations as to who constitute the various Three Sovereigns and Seven Emperors. According to the Diwang Xishi or Record of Imperial Lineages, also called the 'Sovereign Series' in English, the Three Sovereigns were, in chronological sequence: Fuxi, Shennong and Huangdi. The same source lists the Five Emperors, again chronologically, as: Shaohao, Zhuanxu, Gaoxin, Yao and Shun.

China: Empress Cao (1016-1079), consort of Emperor Renzong, 4th ruler of the Song Dynasty (r.1022-1063). Hanging scroll painting, c. 1022-1063. Empress Cao, also known as Cisheng Guangxiang, was the consort of Emperor Renzong. She ascended to the rank of empress after Renzong deposed his first empress, Empress Guo. Well respected by state officials, she helped to govern the realm when the emperor was ill. Similarly, when her adoptive son, Emperor Yingzong, ascended to the throne and was severely ill, she briefly served as regent in his stead.

Emperor Taizong is remembered as a hardworking and diligent emperor. His most notable achievement was the reunification of China through the conquest of Northern Han. He paid great attention to the welfare of his people and made his empire more prosperous. He adopted the policies previously enacted by Emperor Shizong of the Later Zhou Dynasty, which include increasing agricultural production, broadening the imperial examination system, compiling encyclopedias, expanding the civil service and further limiting the power of regional military governors.<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 Son

Japan: 'Ikotoi, Ainu chieftain of Akkeshi', Kakizaki Hakyo (1764-1826), 1790

China: Portrait of Guan Yu (-220 CE) from the 'Sancai Tuhui' by Wang Qi and Wang Siyi, c. 1607-1609

The Seventh Arhat, Kalika (Karika) from a set of Sixteen Arhat (JûrokuRakan)

Empress Xiao Yi Ren (1609 - 24 August 1689), personal name Tunggiya. Xiao Yi Ren was the third Empress Consort of the Kangxi Emperor. She was of the Tunggiya clan, and was the daughter of the Minister of Internal Defence, Tong Guowei. Also, she was the niece of the Empress Xiao Kang Zhang. At first, Tunggiya was given the title Noble Consort Tong. When Empress Xiao Zhao Ren died, Lady Tunggiya became head of the Imperial Household. During the twentieth year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, Tunggiya was given the title Imperial Noble Consort. During the twenty-second year of Emperor Kangxi's reign (1683), the Imperial Noble Consort Tong gave birth to a daughter, whom died within a month. In 1689, Tunggiya became seriously ill and Emperor Kangxi promoted her to the rank of Empress Consort. She died one day later. Tungiya was given the posthumous title of Empress Xiao Yi Ren after her death, and she was interred in the Jing Ling Mausoleum.

Peranakan Chinese and Baba-Nyonya are terms used for the descendants of late 15th and 16th-century Chinese immigrants to the Malay-Indonesian archipelago of Nusantara during the Colonial era. Members of this community in Malaysia identify themselves as 'Nyonya-Baba' or 'Baba-Nyonya'. Nyonya is the term for the females and Baba for males. It applies especially to the ethnic Chinese populations of the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of Java and other locations, who adopted partially or in full Malay-Indonesian customs to become partially assimilated into the local communities. While the term Peranakan is most commonly used among the ethnic Chinese for those of Chinese descent also known as Straits Chinese, it may also be applied to the Baba-Yaya community in Phuket and other provinces of southern Thailand.

Sansin, the Spirit of the Mountain, colours on silk. Korean civilization, Choson period, 18th century.

Divine beings with various names and attributes

Dhritarashtra, GAURDIAN KING OF THE EAST (originally Bon deity), WALL FRESCO to protect gompa (monastery) entrance, LAMAYURU - LADAKH

Qu Yuan (Chinese: ; pinyin: Qu Yuán; Wade-Giles: Ch'ü Yüan) (339 BCE - 278 BCE) was a Chinese poet who lived during the Warring States Period in ancient China. He is famous for his contributions to the poetry collection known as the Chu-ci (also known as Songs of the South or Songs of Chu). The Chuci together with the Shi Jing are the two great collections of ancient Chinese verse. Historical details about Qu Yuan's life are few, and his authorship of many Chu-ci poems have been questioned at length. However, he is widely accepted to have written Li Sao, the most well-known of the Chu-ci poems, and possibly several others in the collection, as well. The first known reference to Qu Yuan appears in a poem written in 174 BCE by Jia Yi, an official from Luoyang who was slandered by jealous officials and banished to Changsha by Emperor Wen of Han. While traveling, he wrote a poem describing the similar fate of a previous 'Qu Yuan'. Eighty years later, the first known biography of Qu Yuan'

This painting, by an unknown Burmese artist, is from a watercolour sketch album dating from c.1897 that includes illustrations of Buddhist monks, the Buddha, monasteries, cremations and domestic scenes. Legend attributes the first Buddhist doctrine in Burma to 228 BCE when Sohn Uttar Sthavira, one of the royal monks to Emperor Ashoka the Great of India, came to the country with other monks and sacred texts. However, the era of Buddhism truly began in the 11th century after King Anawrahta of Pagan (Bagan) was converted to Theravada Buddhism. Today, 89% of the population of Burma is Theravada Buddhist.

Lu Yu (733-804) is respected as the Sage of Tea for his contribution to Chinese tea culture. He is best known for his monumental book 'The Classic of Tea', the first definitive work on cultivating, making and drinking tea.

Willow-branch Guanyin. Date: 17th century. Origin: China. Period: Ming dynasty. Ink and color on paper. Museum: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

Tang Emperor Taizong's visit to hell: Li Shimin travels through hell's bureaucracy and meets The Dragon King of the Eastern Sea (central figure, holding his head in his right hand). Emperor Taizong of Tang (January 23, 599 - July 10, 649), personal name Li Shimin, was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649. He is ceremonially regarded as a co-founder of the dynasty along with Emperor Gaozu. He is typically considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest, emperors in Chinese history. Throughout the rest of Chinese history, Emperor Taizong's reign was regarded as the exemplary model against which all other emperors were measured, and his era was considered a golden age of Chinese history and required study for future crown princes. During his reign, Tang China flourished economically and militarily. For more than a century after his death, Tang China enjoyed peace and prosperity. During Taizong's reign, Tang was the largest and the strongest nation in

This picture of Nichiren Daishonin was painted in the 14th-15th Century, and is kept at the Nichiren Head Temple, Kuon-ji, in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. It is considered the most accurate picture of Nichiren extant. Nichiren (February 16, 1222 October 13, 1282) was a Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period (1185-1333) in Japan. Nichiren taught devotion to the Lotus Sutra, entitled Myoho-Renge-Kyo in Japanese, as the exclusive means to attain enlightenment and the chanting of Namu-Myoho-Renge-Kyo as the essential practice of the teaching. Various schools with diverging interpretations of Nichiren's teachings comprise Nichiren Buddhism.

The philosophy of Confucius emphasises personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. These values gained prominence in China during the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD). Confucius' thoughts have been developed into a system of philosophy known as Confucianism. It was introduced to Europe by the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci, who was the first to Latinise the name as 'Confucius'. His teachings may be found in the Analects of Confucius, a collection of brief aphoristic fragments, which was compiled many years after his death.

The Kangxi Emperor at the age of 45, painted in 1699. Emperor Kangxi (4 May 1654 -20 December 1722) was the fourth ruler of the Qing Dynasty and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1661 to 1722. Kangxi's reign of 61 years makes him the longest-reigning Chinese emperor in history (although his grandson, the Qianlong Emperor, had the longest period of de facto power) and one of the longest-reigning rulers in the world. However, having ascended to the throne at the age of seven, he was not the effective ruler until later, with that role temporarily fulfilled for six years by four regents and his grandmother, the Grand Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang.

Gojong the Emperor Gwangmu 1852 - 21 January 1919) was the twenty-sixth king of the Korean Joseon Dynasty and the first emperor of the Korean Empire.

Xa-La, Tonkin, Indochina a municipal authority in ceremonial attire (ordinary audience costume) , Léon Busy in Indochina (French - Xa-la , Tonkin , Indochine Une autorité communale en tenue de cérémonie ( costume d' audience ordinaire )). Political figure, costume, shoe, portrait, architectural inscription, hairstyle , headgear, man, Personality, clothing, human beings, registration , information, Indochina, Tonkin, Mandarins: mayor of village in ceremonial clothes

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 dwarf from the Ottoman court, miniature from Foggie: Different styles of dress of the Turks, manuscript, Turkey 17th Century.

Manjusri. Origin: China. Period: Yuan or Ming dynasty. Date: 1279-1644. Hanging scroll mounted on panel; ink and color on paper. Museum: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

Horyu-ji (Temple of the Flourishing Law) is a Buddhist temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, Japan. Its full name is Horyu Gakumonji, or Learning Temple of the Flourishing Law, the complex serving both as a seminary and a monastery. In 1993, Horyu-ji was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the name Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area. The Japanese government lists several of its structures, sculptures and artifacts as National Treasures. The kondo, or great hall of the temple, dating in part to the 7th century, is famous for its 7th century Buddhist murals. Unfortunately, on January 26, 1949, a fire in the kondo caused very severe damage to the murals, many of which were destroyed. The murals of the kondo comprise fifty walls; four larger walls, eight mid-sized walls and thirty-eight small wall areas inside the building. The original murals were removed after the fire incident in 1949 and are kept in storage. Twenty small wall paintings that escaped the fire remain in pla

Taiwan, Tainan district, Tainan, Hsin Ji Gong Taoist temple, during a Taoist ceremony called Kao Kung, Chinese opera company Hsiou-Jen performing on stage

The monk Jajang (590 - 658 AD) was called upon by the Silla Court to join the Palace but he did everything in order to refuse the proposal. From the time of Silla Kingdom (57 BCE - 668)

Thubten Gyatso was the 13th Dalai Lama of Tibet. During 1878 he was recognized as the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. He was escorted to Lhasa and given his pre-novice vows by the Panchen Lama, Tenpai Wangchuk, and named 'Ngawang Lobsang Thupten Gyatso Jigdral Chokley Namgyal'. During 1879 he was enthroned at the Potala Palace, but did not assume political power until 1895, after he had reached his majority. Thubten Gyatso was an intelligent reformer who proved himself a skillful politician when Tibet became a pawn in The Great Game between the Russian Empire and the British Empire. He was responsible for countering the British expedition to Tibet, restoring discipline in monastic life, and increasing the number of lay officials to avoid excessive power being placed in the hands of the monks.

Dalai Lama of Tibet

Qing Imperial court portraits of senior Manchu military officers, known as Bannermen, mid-18th century. From the time China was brought under the rule of the Qing dynasty (1644 - 1683), the banner soldiers became more professional and bureaucratised. Once the Manchus took over governing, they could no longer satisfy the material needs of soldiers by garnishing and distributing booty; instead, a salary system was instituted, ranks standardised, and the Bannermen became a sort of hereditary military caste, though with a strong ethnic inflection. Banner soldiers took up permanent positions, either as defenders of the capital, Beijing, where roughly half of them lived with their families, or in the provinces, where 18 garrisons were established. The largest banner garrisons throughout most of the Qing dynasty were at Beijing, followed by Xi'an and Hangzhou. Sizable banner populations were also placed in Manchuria and at strategic points along the Great Wall, the Yangtze River and Grand Can

Dangun Wanggeom (or Tangun) was the legendary founder of Gojoseon (Gochoson or Old Choson), the first Korean state which ruled northern Korea in the second half of the first millennium BCE

Huế originally rose to prominence as the capital of the Nguyễn Lords, a feudal dynasty which dominated much of southern Vietnam from the 17th to the 19th century. In 1775 when Trịnh Sm captured it, it was known as Phú Xun. In 1802, Nguyễn Phúc Ánh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Huế the national capital. Huế was the national capital until 1945, when Emperor Bảo Đại abdicated and a communist government was established in Hà Nội (Hanoi), in the north. While Bảo Đại was briefly proclaimed 'Head of State' with the help of the returning French colonialists in 1949 (although without recognition from the communists and the full acceptance of the Vietnamese people), his new capital was Sài Gòn (Saigon), in the south.

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