Historical Chinese Emperors

Portraits of historical Chinese emperors and figures in traditional attire, highlighting cultural significance and artistic styles from various dynasties.

Mongolia: Genghis Khan (r.1206-1227), 1st Khagan of the Mongol Empire, 20th century. Genghis Khan (1162-1227), born Borjigin Temujin, was the founder, Khan (ruler) and Khagan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia. After founding the Mongol Empire and being proclaimed 'Genghis Khan', he began the Mongol invasions that would ultimately result in the conquest of most of Eurasia.

Chinese Emperor Fu Hsi, wearing traditional costume, holding the 'Yin-yang' symbol. Watercolour, China, 18--.

Emperor Hongxi, 4th ruler of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1424-1425). Personal Name: Zhu Gaochi, Zhū Gāochì. Posthumous Name: Zhaodii, Zhāodì. Temple Name: Renzong, Rénzōng. Reign Name: Ming Hongxi, Ming Hóngxī. The Hongxi Emperor was the fourth emperor of the Ming dynasty in China. He succeeded his father, Yongle, in 1424. His era name means 'Vastly Bright'. As Yongle's eldest son, Zhu Gaozhi was born August 16, 1378 and was educated by prominent Confucian tutors. He often acted as regent at Nanjing or at Beijing during his father's northern military campaigns. Zhu Gaozhi, as soon as he became Emperor Hongxi in September 1424, canceled Zheng He's maritime expeditions permanently and abolished the frontier trade of tea for horses as well as missions for gold and pearls to Yunnan and Vietnam. Emperor Hongxi ordered that the capital be moved back to Nanjing from Beijing (which had been made the capital by the Yongle Emperor in 1421). However he died, probably of a heart attack, a month later in

Heungseon Daewongun (선대원군, 1820-1898) or The Daewongun (대원군), Guktaegong (국태공, ‘The Great Archduke’), also known to period western diplomats as Prince Gung, was the title of Li Ha-eung, regent of Joseon during the minority of King Gojong in the 1860s and until his death a key political figure of late Joseon Korea. Daewongun literally translates as 'prince of the great court', a title customarily granted to the father of the reigning monarch when that father did not reign himself (usually because his son had been adopted as heir of a relative who did reign). While there had been three other Daewongun during the Joseon Dynasty, so dominant a place did Yi Ha-eung have in the history of the late Joseon dynasty that the term Daewongun usually refers specifically to him. The Daewongun is remembered for the wide-ranging reforms he attempted during his regency, as well as for his vigorous enforcement of the seclusion policy, persecution of Christians, and the killing or driving off of foreign

The Qianlong Emperor (25 September 1711 - 7 February 1799) was the fifth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1736 to 7 February 1795. On 8 February, he abdicated in favor of his son, the Jiaqing Emperor - a filial act in order not to reign longer than his grandfather, the illustrious Kangxi Emperor. Despite his retirement, however, he retained ultimate power until his death in 1799. Although his early years saw the continuity of an era of prosperity in China, he held an unrelentingly conservative attitude. As a result, the Qing Dynasty's comparative decline began later in his reign.

Honda Masashige (1580-1647) was the second son of Honda Masanobu, a trusted advisor and close friend to Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. Like his father, Honda served as a samurai and retainer to Ieyasu, and subsequently Ieyasu's son, Hidetada. He would go on to serve several lords throughout his life, traveling from region to region.

Genghis Khan (1162-1227), born Borjigin Temujin, was the founder, Khan (ruler) and Khagan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia. After founding the Mongol Empire and being proclaimed 'Genghis Khan', he began the Mongol invasions that would ultimately result in the conquest of most of Eurasia. These included raids or invasions of the Kara-Khitan Khanate, Caucasus, Khwarezmid Empire, Western Xia and Jin dynasties. These campaigns were often accompanied by wholesale massacres of the civilian populations - especially in Khwarezmia. By the end of his life, the Mongol Empire occupied a substantial portion of Central Asia and China. The founder of the Mongolian State, Temujin Genghis Khan, was born in 1162, the black horse year, in Deluunboldog on the bank of river Onon, Hentei Aimag as the eldest son of Yesuhey Baatar and princess Oulun. He assumed the thr

Mongolia: Genghis Khan (r.1206-1227), 1st Khagan of the Mongol Empire, 20th century. Genghis Khan (1162-1227), born Borjigin Temujin, was the founder, Khan (ruler) and Khagan (emperor) of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of northeast Asia. After founding the Mongol Empire and being proclaimed 'Genghis Khan', he began the Mongol invasions that would ultimately result in the conquest of most of Eurasia.

Empress Wu Zetian, first empress of China, 624-705 AD, imperial concubine until marriage to Emperor Gaozong, Tang dynasty, from Album of portraits of 86 Chinese emperors, with Chinese historical notes, 18th century

Aisin-Gioro Yinli was the seventeenth son of the Qing Dynasty Kangxi Emperor. Prince Yinli was born on March 2 during the thirty-sixth year of Emperor Kangxi's reign, his mother was the Imperial Consort Chunyuqin of the Chen Clan. When Yinli's half-brother, the Yongzheng Emperor ascended to the throne, Prince Yinli was granted the title of Prince Guo and was also given the tasks of administrating the institution of scholars. During the third year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign, Prince Yinli was given a higher salary due to his honesty and diligence. In February during the sixth year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign, Yinli was promoted to a Duke. In the following years, Prince Yinli was appointed to the Grand Council (1735-1736) and given even more tasks, including escorting the Dalai Lamas back to Tibet, and to inspect the soldiers along the route. He was also a Tibetan Buddhist patron and scholar. When the Emperor fell seriously ill, Prince Yinli was given the task of supporting the new emp

This 1910 image shows a drawing of the Chinese philosopher Confucius (died 479 BC) taken from a stele in the year 1734 in Pe-Lin in Shensi (also Shaanxi) province of China.

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.

Japan: The samurai warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune, painting on silk, Chuson Temple, Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, anonymous, 19th century

Mongolia: Biligtu Khan, born Ayushiridara, temple name Zhaozong; Khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia (r.1370-1378). Bilegt Ayushridar Khan, the eldest son of Togun Temur Khan, was born in 1338, the yellow tiger year. In 1370 he became the ruler of Mongolia and the city of Karakorum on native Mongolian territory was made the capital of Mongolia. He fought successfully against the Chinese Ming dynasty and passed away in 1378, the yellow horse year.

Portrait of Scholar-official Robe. Korea, Korean, Joseon (1392-1910), 19th century. Paintings. c

Portrait of Priest Pyeongwondang. Korea, Korean, Joseon (1392-1910), 19th century. Paintings. Panel, ink and color on silk

Toghun Temur, also known as Ukhaantu Khan (May 25, 1320 - May 23, 1370), was a son of Kusala who ruled as Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, and is considered as the last Khagan of the Mongol Empire. During the latter years of his reign, the Mongols lost effective control over China to the Ming Dynasty. He was a Buddhist student of Karmapas and is considered as a previous incarnation of Tai Situpa. Toghun Temur Khan,the eldest brother of Rinchinbal, was born in 1320, the white monkey year. He assumed the throne in 1333, the black hen year, and passed away in 1370, the white dog year.

During his reign, Shenzong became interested in Wang Anshi's policies and appointed Wang as Chancellor. Wang implemented his famous reforms aimed at improving the situation for the peasantry and unemployed, which some have seen as a forerunner of the modern welfare state. These acts became the hallmark reform of Shenzong's reign. Shenzong's other notable act as emperor was his attempt to weaken the formative nation of Xi Xia by invading and expelling the Xi Xia forces from Gansu. Shenzong's army was initially quite successful at these campaigns, but during the battle for the city of Yongle, in 1082, Shenzong's forces were defeated. As a result, Xi Xia grew more powerful and subsequently continued to be a thorn in the side of the Song dynasty over the ensuing decades.<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 co

An unknown female, probably a lady of the royal court, wearing hanfu or Chinese clothing of the Ming Era, painted by an unknown court painter.

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.

Hong Taiji (28 November 1592 - 21 September 1643; reigned 1626 - 1643), was the second Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Hong Taiji was responsible for consolidating the empire that his father, Nurhaci, had founded. He laid the groundwork for the conquering of the Ming dynasty in China proper, although he died before this was accomplished. He was responsible for changing the name of his people from Jurchen to Manchu in 1635 as well as that of the dynasty from Later Jin to Qing in 1636.

Zhao Hongyi (899-956), posthumously honoured as Emperor Xuanzu, was the father of Song Emperors Taizu (r. 960-976) and Taizong (976-997).<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.

A Chinese figure wearing black silk robes with a green border, richly decorated with cloud scroll designs in gold thread. Painting by a Chinese artist, ca. 1850.

Portrait of Jishin Osho, monk from the Ritsu sect of the Saidaiji temple in Nara, Japan. painted on silk, Nanbokucho period, 14th century.

Wu Zetian (17 February 624-16 December 705), personal name Wu Zhao, often referred to as Tian Hou during the Tang Dynasty and Empress Consort Wu in later times, was the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant. She was de facto ruler of China first through her husband the Emperor Gaozong and then through her sons the Emperors Zhongzong and Ruizong from 665 to 690. She then broke all precedents when she founded her own dynasty in 690, the Zhou (briefly interrupting the Tang Dynasty), and ruled personally under the name Sacred and Divine Empress Regnant from 690 to 705. Her rise and reign has been criticized harshly by Confucian historians but has been viewed in a different light after the 1950s.

The Shang Dynasty was according to traditional sources the second Chinese dynasty, after the Xia Dynasty. They ruled in the northeastern regions of the area known as 'China proper' in the Yellow River valley. According to the chronology based upon calculations by Liu Xin, the Shang ruled between 1766 BCE and 1122 BCE, but according to the chronology based upon the Bamboo Annals, they ruled between 1556 BCE and 1046 BCE. Tang's reign is considered a good one by the Chinese. He lowered taxes and the conscription period of soldiers. His influence spread to the Yellow River, and many outlying tribes.

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 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. 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.

Empress Xiaoyizhuang, consort of the 13th Ming Emperor Longqing (r. 1567-1572).

Accoording to Daoist beliefs; the entire manifested universe is ruled by three original forces; the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing). The Three Pure Ones were brought into existence through the interaction of yin and yang. They are respectively Yuqing; 'The Jade Purity'; Shangqing; 'The Supreme Purity'; and Taiqing; 'The Grand Purity'.

Yuan Chonghuan (6 June 1584 - 22 September 1630) was a famed patriot and military commander of the Ming Dynasty who battled the Manchus in Liaoning. He was known to have excelled in artillery warfare and successfully incorporated Western tactics into the East. Yuan's military career reached its height when he defeated Nurhaci and the Manchurian army in the first Battle of Ningyuan. Nurhaci's son and successor, Huang Taiji, was defeated by him in the second Battle of Ningyuan. However, Yuan was a tragic figure, and was executed by his emperor under false charges which Huang Taiji deliberately planted against him.

Posthumous Name: Zhedi, Zhedi.<br/> Temple Name: Xizong, XÄ«zong.<br/> Reign Name: Ming Tianqi, Ming TianqÇ. The Tianqi Emperor (23 December 1605 - 30 September 1627) was emperor of the Ming Dynasty from 1620 to 1627. Born Zhu Youjiao, he was the Taichang Emperor's eldest son.

Actor Arashi Ryūzō II as Teraoka Heiemon, 1795, 4th lunar month, Katsukawa Shun'ei; Publisher: Iwatoya Kisaburō, Japanese, 1762 - 1819, 15 1/16 × 10 1/8 in. (38.3 × 25.7 cm) (image, sheet, vertical ōban), Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, Japan, 18th century, Illustrating a scene from act 7 of Chūshingura, this print shows the actor Arashi Ryūzō II in the role of Heiemon performed at Edo's Miyako Theater in the 4th month of 1795. Heiemon is a foot soldier of the late lord Enya. When he finds out that his sister Okaru has accidentally read a letter about the plot to avenge his master, he decides that he must kill Okaru to protect the secret. Moved by Heiemon's self-sacrifice and loyalty, Yuranosuke, the mastermind of the revenge plan, spares Okaru and allows Heiemon to join the vendetta. Appearing only in act 7, Heiemon is a rather minor character. Nonetheless, Kabuki fans have long loved this character of an honorable man with a humble background.

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

The Yongzheng Emperor (13 December 1678 - 8 October 1735), was the fifth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the third Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1722 to 1735. A hard-working ruler, Yongzheng's main goal was to create an effective government at minimum expense. Like his father, the Kangxi Emperor, Yongzheng used military force in order to preserve the dynasty's position. Suspected by historians to have usurped the throne, his reign was often called despotic, efficient, and vigorous. Although Yongzheng's reign was much shorter than the reigns of both his father, the Kangxi Emperor, and his son, the Qianlong Emperor, his sudden death was probably brought about by his workload. Yongzheng continued an era of continued peace and prosperity as he cracked down on corruption and waste, and reformed the financial administration.

Emperor Guangwu (13 January 5 BCE - 29 March 57 CE), born Liu Xiu, was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty, restorer of the dynasty in AD 25 and thus founder of the Later Han or Eastern Han (the restored Han Dynasty). Initially he ruled over part of China, but through the suppression and conquest of regional warlords, the whole of China was consolidated by the time of his death in 57.

Emperor Hongwu, 1st ruler of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1368-1398). Personal Name: Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yuánzhang. Posthumous Name: Gaodi, Gaodì. Temple Name: Taizu, Tàizu. Reign Name: Ming Hongwu, Ming Hóngwu. The Hongwu Emperor was the founder and first emperor (1368-98) of the Ming Dynasty of China. His era name, Hongwu, means 'vastly martial'. In the middle of the 14th century, with famine, plagues and peasant revolts sweeping across China, Zhu became a leader of an army that conquered China, ending the Yuan Dynasty and forcing the Mongols to retreat to the Mongolian steppes. With his seizure of the Yuan capital (present-day Beijing), he claimed the Mandate of Heaven and established the Ming Dynasty in 1368.

Anonymous, Taoist divinity, 1644. Cernuschi Museum, Asia Museum of Asia in the city of Paris. Taoist divinity

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.

Han Yu (768-824), born in Nanyang, Henan, China, was a precursor of Neo-Confucianism as well as an essayist and poet, during the Tang dynasty. The Indiana Companion calls him 'comparable in stature to Dante, Shakespeare or Goethe' for his influence on the Chinese literary tradition. He stood for strong central authority in politics and orthodoxy in cultural matters. He is also among China's finest prose writers, second only to Sima Qian, and first among the 'Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song'. Song Dynasty poet Su Shi praised Han Yu recording that he had written prose which 'raised the standards after eight dynasties of literary weaknesses'.

The Yongzheng Emperor (13 December 1678 - 8 October 1735), was the fifth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the third Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1722 to 1735. A hard-working ruler, Yongzheng's main goal was to create an effective government at minimum expense. Like his father, the Kangxi Emperor, Yongzheng used military force in order to preserve the dynasty's position. Suspected by historians to have usurped the throne, his reign was often called despotic, efficient, and vigorous. Although Yongzheng's reign was much shorter than the reigns of both his father, the Kangxi Emperor, and his son, the Qianlong Emperor, his sudden death was probably brought about by his workload. Yongzheng continued an era of continued peace and prosperity as he cracked down on corruption and waste, and reformed the financial administration.

The Guangxu Emperor (14 August 1871-14 November 1908), born Zaitian, was the tenth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898. He initiated the Hundred Days' Reform, but was abruptly stopped when Cixi launched a coup in 1898, after which he was put under house arrest until his death. His reign name means 'The Glorious Succession'.

The Qianlong Emperor (Chinese pinyin: Qianlong Di; Wade-Giles: Chien-lung Ti) was the sixth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the fourth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. The fourth son of the Yongzheng Emperor, he reigned officially from 11 October 1736 to 7 February 1795. On 8 February (the first day of that lunar year), he abdicated in favor of his son, the Jiaqing Emperor - a filial act in order not to reign longer than his grandfather, the illustrious Kangxi Emperor. Despite his retirement, however, he retained ultimate power until his death in 1799. Although his early years saw the continuity of an era of prosperity in China, he held an unrelentingly conservative attitude. As a result, the Qing Dynasty's comparative decline began later in his reign.

Empress Xiaoduanxian (died 1620), consort of the 14th Ming Emperor Wanli (r. 1572-1620). She had no sons.

Jayaatu Khan ( February 16, 1304 - September 2, 1332), was an Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, and is regarded as the 12th Khagan of the Mongols in Mongolia. He first ruled from October 16, 1328 to February 27, 1329, and then from September 8, 1329 to September 2, 1332. Jayaatu, also known as Tov Temur Khan, was born in 1304, the blue dragon year. He was second son of Haisan. In 1329, the yellow snake year, he assumed the throne and passed away in 1332, the black monkey year.

Fuku Sanzo, fourth patriarch of the Shingon sect, painting on silk using colour, ink and gold dust. Japanese; Kamakura period, 13th century

China: Zhuge Liang (CE 181-234) was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history (CE 220-280). Portrait from the Ming Dynasty encyclopedia Sancai Tuhui ('Illustrations from the Three Realms'), 1607-1609

Portrait of the Great Master Seosan. Artist: Unidentified Artist. Culture: Korea. Dimensions: Image: 59 7/8 x 30 5/8 in. (152.1 x 77.8 cm)Overall with mounting: 88 1/2 x 37 1/8 in. (224.8 x 94.3 cm)Overall with knobs: 88 1/2 x 40 1/8 in. (224.8 x 101.9 cm). Date: late 17th-18th century.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 m

Li Bai has generally been regarded as one of the greatest poets in China's Tang period, which is often called China's 'golden age' of poetry. Around a thousand existing poems are attributed to him, but the authenticity of many of these is uncertain. Thirty-four of his poems are included in the popular anthology 'Three Hundred Tang Poems'. Many of the Classical Chinese poets were associated with drinking wine, or more precisely, alcoholic beverages. In fact, Li Bai was part of the group of Chinese scholars during his time in Chang'an, called the 'Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup', as mentioned in a poem by fellow poet Du Fu. However, Li Bai is of special note in this respect. As Burton Watson put it, 'nearly all Chinese poets celebrate the joys of wine, but none so tirelessly and with such a note of genuine conviction as Li Bai'. This lifestyle may have given rise to the story that Li Bai drowned after falling from his boat when he tried to embrace the reflection of the moon in the Yangt

Zhezong was the son of Emperor Shenzong. He ascended the throne at age 9 under the supervision of Empress Dowager Gao. Under Empress Gao's regency she appointed conservatives such as Sima Guang as Chancellor and Sima Guang immediately halted socio-economic improvements set forth by Wang Anshi. Zhezong was powerless and it was not until Empress Dowager Gao's death in 1093 that Zhezong was able to reinstate Wang Anshi's reform and remove Sima Guang. Zhezong lowered taxes, stopped all negotiations with the Tangut Empire and resumed armed conflict which eventually forced the Xixia to enter a more peaceful stance with the Song. Overall, Zhezong's reign gave the Song dynasty a breathe of fresh air but Zhezong was not able stop fighting between conservative members in his government and the more liberal members catering to Wang Anshi's reforms. This eventually led to the northern Song's demise in the 12th century.<br/><br> The Song Dynasty (960-1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that suc

Zhu Youyuan (22 July 1476 - 13 July 1519), was the fourth son of the Chenghua Emperor (Zhu Jianshen, 1447 - 1487), the 9th emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was also known as Prince Xian of Xing and his fief was near today's Zhongxiang, in Hubei Province. He and his wife were posthumously honored by his son after he became the Jiajing Emperor in 1521.

China: Xun Kuang, also known as Xun Zi (c. 313-238 BCE), Confucian scholar of the Warring States Period (403-221 BCE)

Emperor Daigo (醐天皇 Daigo-tennō, February 6, 884 - October 23, 930) was the 60th emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession. Daigo's reign spanned the years from 897 through 930. He is named after his place of burial. Before his ascension of the Chrysanthemum Throne, his personal name was Atsuhito (敦仁親王) or Ono-tei. Atsuhito-shinnō was the eldest son of his predecessor, Emperor Uda. His mother was Fujiwara no Taneko, daughter of the Minister of the Centre, Fujiwara no Takafuji. He succeeded the throne after his father, the Emperor Uda, abdicated in 897. Daigo had 21 empresses, imperial consorts, and concubines; he had 36 imperial sons and daughters.

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.

Bai Juyi (Wade-Giles: Po Chü-i, 772-846) was a Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty. His poems mostly concern his responsibilities as governor of several small provinces. He is also renowned in Japan, where his name is read Haku Kyo'i. Bai Juyi was born in Xinzheng to a poor but scholarly family. At the age of ten he was sent away from his family to avoid a war that broke out in the north of China, and went to live with relatives in the area known as Jiangnan, more specifically Xuzhou. He passed the jinshi in 800. His official career was initially successful: he was a member of the Hanlin Academy and Reminder of the Left from 807 until 815, when he was demoted and exiled after remonstrating with the Emperor Xian Zong over the failure to catch the murderer of two high officials. His career resumed when he was made Prefect of Hangzhou (822-824) and then Suzhou (825-827). His grave is situated on Xiangshan, across the Yi River from the Longmen cave temples in the vicinity of Luoyang, Henan. B

Peking opera or Beijing opera (剧; traditional Chinese: 劇; pinyin: Jīngjù) 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 (國劇; pinyin: Guójù). It has also spread to other countries such as the United States and Japan.

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.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang ( 8 September 685-3 May 762), also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang (Tang Minghuang), personal name Li Longji, known as Wu Longji, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty. In the early half of his reign he was a diligent and astute ruler, ably assisted by capable chancellors like Yao Chong and Song Jing, and was credited with bringing Tang China to a pinnacle of culture and power. Emperor Xuanzong, however, was blamed for over-trusting Li Linfu, Yang Guozhong and An Lushan during his late reign, with Tang's golden age ending in the great Anshi Rebellion of An Lushan.

Emperor Chenghua, 9th ruler of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1464-1487). Personal Name: Zhu Jianshen. Posthumous Name: Chundi, Chundu. Temple Name: Xianzong, Xianzong. Reign Name: Ming Chenghuai, Ming Chenghua. The Chenghua Emperor was 9th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty in China, between 1464 and 1487. His era name means 'Accomplished Change'. Chenghua ascended the throne at the age of 16. During the early part of his administration, Chenghua carried out new government policies to reduce tax and strengthen the dynasty. However these did not last and by the closing years of his reign, governmental affairs once again fell into the hands of eunuchs, notably Wang Zhi. Peasant uprisings occurred throughout the country; however, they were violently suppressed. Chenghua's reign was also more autocratic than his predecessors' and freedom was sharply curtailed.

Consort He (18th century - 1836), nee Nara, was the daughter of Cheng Wen. It is not registered when she entered the Forbidden City in Beijing. Her first mention is when she gave birth to Prince Mianning's oldest son in 1808. Mianning's father, the Jiaqing Emperor, granted her the title of Secondary wife. Prince Mianning ascended the throne as the Daoguang emperor in 1820. After her husband's enthronement she was given the title of Imperial Concubine He, and in 1823 she was elevated to the rank of consort. Consort He died in the sixteenth year of Daoguang's reign and was interred in the Muling mausoleum for imperial concubines.

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.

The Eleventh Arhat, Rahula (Ragora), from a set of Sixteen Arhat (JûrokuRakan)

Empress Dowager Xiaochun, consort of the 15th Ming Emperor Taichang (r. 1620), mother of 17th Ming Emperor Chongzhen (r. 1627-1644).

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.

Jeong Mong-ju (1338 - 1392), also known by his pen name Poeun, was a prominent Korean scholar-official and diplomat during the late Goryeo period.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi (February 2, 1536 or March 26, 1537 - September 18, 1598) was a daimyo in the Sengoku period who unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle. He is noted for a number of cultural legacies, including the restriction that only members of the samurai class could bear arms. Hideyoshi is regarded as Japan's second 'great unifier'.

Emperor Hongwu, 1st ruler of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1368-1398). Personal Name: Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yuánzhang Posthumous Name: Gaodi, Gaodì Temple Name: Taizu, Tàizu Reign Name: Ming Hongwu, Ming Hóngwu. The Hongwu Emperor was the founder and first emperor (1368-98) of the Ming Dynasty of China. His era name, Hongwu, means 'vastly martial'. In the middle of the 14th century, with famine, plagues and peasant revolts sweeping across China, Zhu became a leader of an army that conquered China, ending the Yuan Dynasty and forcing the Mongols to retreat to the Mongolian steppes. With his seizure of the Yuan capital (present-day Beijing), he claimed the Mandate of Heaven and established the Ming Dynasty in 1368.

Liu Zongyuan was a Chinese writer who lived in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty. Liu was born in present-day Yongji, Shanxi. Along with Han Yu, he was a founder of the Classical Prose Movement. He was traditionally classed as one of the Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song.

Emperor Hongwu, 1st ruler of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1368-1398). Personal Name: Zhu Yuanzhang, Zhu Yuánzhang. Posthumous Name: Gaodi, Gaodì. Temple Name: Taizu, Tàizu. Reign Name: Ming Hongwu, Ming Hóngwu. The Hongwu Emperor was the founder and first emperor (1368-98) of the Ming Dynasty of China. His era name, Hongwu, means 'vastly martial'. In the middle of the 14th century, with famine, plagues and peasant revolts sweeping across China, Zhu became a leader of an army that conquered China, ending the Yuan Dynasty and forcing the Mongols to retreat to the Mongolian steppes. With his seizure of the Yuan capital (present-day Beijing), he claimed the Mandate of Heaven and established the Ming Dynasty in 1368.

Detail of Emperor Xuanzong giving audience to Zhang Guo, one of the 'Eight Immortals', in a painting by Yuan Dynasty painter Ren Renfa (1254-1327). Emperor Xuanzong of Tang ( 8 September 685-3 May 762), also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang (Tang Minghuang), personal name Li Longji, known as Wu Longji, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty. In the early half of his reign he was a diligent and astute ruler, ably assisted by capable chancellors like Yao Chong and Song Jing, and was credited with bringing Tang China to a pinnacle of culture and power. Emperor Xuanzong, however, was blamed for over-trusting Li Linfu, Yang Guozhong and An Lushan during his late reign, with Tang's golden age ending in the great Anshi Rebellion of An Lushan.

The Tongzhi Emperor (27 April 1856- 12 January 1875), born Zaichun, was the ninth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty, and the eighth Qing emperor to rule over China proper, from 1861 to 1875. His reign, which effectively lasted through his adolescence, was largely overshadowed by the rule of his mother, the Empress Dowager Cixi. Although he had little influence over court affairs, the time of his reign gave rise to what historians call the 'Tongzhi Restoration', an unsuccessful attempt to stabilize and modernize China.

Emperor Yongle, 3rd ruler of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1402-1424). Personal Name: Zhu Di, Zhū Dì. Posthumous Name: Wendi, Wéndì. Temple Name: Chengzu, Chéngzǔ; Taizong, Tàizōng. Reign Name: Ming Yongle, Ming Yǒnglè. The Yongle Emperor was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means 'Perpetual Happiness'. He became emperor by conspiring to usurp the throne which was against the Hongwu Emperor's wishes. He moved the capital from Nanjing to Beijing where it was located in the following generations, and constructed the Forbidden City there. After its dilapidation and disuse during the Yuan Dynasty and Hongwu's reign, the Yongle Emperor had the Grand Canal of China repaired and reopened in order to supply the new capital of Beijing in the north with a steady flow of goods and southern foodstuffs. He commissioned most of the exploratory sea voyages of Zheng He. During his reign the monumental Yongle Encyclopedia was completed. The Yongle Emp

Kublai (or Khubilai) Khan (pinyin: Hubulie, (September 23, 1215 - February 18, 1294) was the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in East Asia. As the second son of Tolui and Sorghaghtani Beki and a grandson of Genghis Khan, he claimed the title of Khagan of the Ikh Mongol Uls (Mongol Empire). In 1271, Kublai established the Yuan Dynasty, which at that time ruled over present-day Mongolia, Tibet, Eastern Turkestan, North China, much of Western China, and some adjacent areas, and assumed the role of Emperor of China. By 1279, the Yuan forces had successfully annihilated the last resistance of the Southern Song Dynasty, and Kublai thus became the first non-Chinese Emperor who conquered all China. He was the only Mongol khan after 1260 to win new great conquests. Kublai, the youngest brother of Mongkhe Khan, was born in 1215, the blue pig year. He assumed the throne in 1260, the white monkey year. Kublai Khan transferred the political

Kulug Khan (August 4, 1281 - January 27, 1311), was an Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, and is regarded as the seventh Khagan of the Mongols in Mongolia. Also styled Haisan Huleg Khan, the son of Darambal, the son of Chingem, he was born in 1281, the white snake year. He was enthroned in 1308,the white pig year.

Empress Xu (1362 - July 1407), formally Empress Ren Xiao Wen, birth name Xu Yihua), was the third empress of the Ming Dynasty from 1402 to 1407. Her husband was the Yongle Emperor. She was well educated, compiling bibliographies of virtuous women, an activity connected with court politics. Empress Xu is also the first person credited with transcribing a Buddhist sutra from a dream revelation. The work is entitled 'The sutra of great merit of the foremost rarity spoken by the Buddha which the Renxiao empress of the great Ming received in a dream'). In her introduction to the sutra, the empress wrote that one night after meditating and burning incense, Guanyin appeared to her as if in a dream, and took her to a holy realm where the sutra was revealed to her in order to save her from disaster. After reading the sutra three times, she was able to memorize it and recall it perfectly upon awakening and writing it down. The sutra conveys conventional Mahayana philosophies, and the mantras for

Vietnam: Portrait of Lord Nguyen Phuc Thuan (1754-1777). He is dressed in a cross-collared robe (ao giao linh ) which was commonly worn by Vietnamese aristocrats in the 16th-18th centuries. Hue, mid-18th century

Batumongke Dayan Khan (1464-1517) was a Borjigin Khagan who reunited the Mongols under Chinggisid supremacy in post-imperial Mongolia. Dayan Khan was enthroned as Great Khan of the Yuan Mongol Empire though his ancestor Toghan Temur failed to maintain pan-Mongolism of the Mongol Empire a century before. He is remembered as one of the most glorious Mongolian Emperors.

Portrait of the Chinese Emperor K'ang Hsi (1654-1722) of the Manchurian dynasty. Chinese civilization, 17th-18th century.

Emperor Zhengde, 11th ruler of the Ming Dynasty (r. 1505-1521). Personal Name: Zhu Houzhao, Zhu HouzhaoPosthumous Name: Yidi, YuduTemple Name: Wuzong, WuzongReign Name: Ming Zhengde, Ming Zhengde The Zhengde Emperor was 11th emperor of China (Ming Dynasty) between 1505-1521. Born Zhu Houzhao, he was the Hongzhi Emperor's eldest son. His era name means 'Rectification of Virtue'. Though bred to be a successful ruler, Zhengde thoroughly neglected his duties, beginning a dangerous trend that would plague future Ming emperors. The abandoning of official duties to pursue personal gratifications would slowly lead to the rise of powerful eunuchs that would dominate and eventually ruin the Ming Dynasty.

Kwannon or Kannon, the Buddhist divinity, 1752, drawing by Yoshijiro Urushibara. Japanese civilization, Edo period (1603-1868).

So Yoshitoshi (1568 - 1615 AD) was a So clan daimyo (feudal lord) of the domain of Tsushima on Tsushima Island at the of Japan's Sengoku period; and into the Edo period. His name is sometimes read as Yoshitomo. Under the influence of Konishi Yukinaga, he was baptized and accepted the name "Dario". He took part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea in the 1590s, and led a force in the Siege of Busan.

C19 Chinese MS moxibustion point chart: Regurgitation points

stylized image of Chinese wise man historical clothes - stylized image of Chinese wise man in traditional dress from ancient Chinese prints ,property released Copyright: xZoonar.com/ValeryxVoennyyx 5029748 ,model released, Symbolfoto ,property released

China (late 18th c.). Qing Dynasty, also known as the Manchu dynasty. Emperor's suit. SWITZERLAND. Bern. Bernese Historical Museum.

Consort Dun came from the Manchu Wang clan. She was the daughter of the Governor General Sige, and was born during the eleventh year of Emperor Qianlong's reign. She entered the imperial court aged 17, on October 18, during the twenty-eighth year of Qianlong's reign, and was given the title Female attendant Yong (the third lowest rank of Emperor's wives). She was 36 years younger than the Qianlong Emperor. On December 17, during the thirty-seventh year of Qianlong's reign, Lady Wang was elevated to Worthy Lady Yong (the sixth lowest rank of Emperor's wives). On October 10 the following year, Lady Wang was promoted to an Imperial Concubine, and finally, in September during the fourteenth year of Qianlong's reign, she was elevated to a Consort. During the same year, Lady Wang gave birth to Qianlong's tenth daughter, Princess He Xiao.

Avalokitesvara, Bodhisattva with a thousand arms and thousand eyes, 981, painting on silk, China. Detail. Chinese Civilisation, 6th year of the Taiping Xingguo Period, 10th century.

Emperor Xiaozong (November 27, 1127 - June 28, 1194) was the eleventh emperor of the Song Dynasty of China, and the second emperor of the Southern Song. His personal name was Zhao Shen. He reigned from 1162 to 1189.<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.

The Kangxi Emperor (1654 - 1722), fourth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigned from 1661 to 1722.

China, Shanghai, Yuyuan Garden, City God Temple of Shanghai, Doorway Painting of Temple Guardian

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.

Kitchen gods, popular print about cooking, early 20th century, China

Goryeo, also known as Koryŏ (Hangul: 려; hanja: 高麗; 918-1392), was a Korean dynasty established in 918 by King Taejo. This kingdom later gave name to the modern state of Korea. It united the Later Three Kingdoms in 936 and ruled most of the Korean peninsula until it was removed by the leader of the Joseon dynasty in 1392. The Goryeo dynasty expanded its borders to present-day Wonsan in the north-east (936-943) and the Amnok River (993) and finally almost the whole of the Korean peninsula (1374). By the 14th century Goryeo had lost much of its power under Yuan Dynasty pressure. Although King Gongmin managed to free his kingdom from the Mongol influence, the Goryeo general Yi Seonggye revolted and overthrew the last king of Goryeo, King Gongyang in 1392. Gongyang was killed in 1394.

Oichi or Oichi-no-kata (1547-1583) was a female historical figure from the late Sengoku period. She is known primarily as the mother of three daughters who married well - Yodo Dono, Ohatsu and Oeyo. Oichi was the younger sister of Oda Nobunaga, and was also the sister-in-law of Nohime, the daughter of Saito Dosan. Oichi was equally renowned for her beauty and her resolve. She was descended from the Taira and Fujiwara clans. In 1583, Shibata Katsuie was defeated by Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the Battle of Shizugatake, forcing him to retreat to his home at Kitanosho Castle. As Hideyoshi's army lay siege to the castle, Katsuie implored Oichi to flee with her daughters and seek Hideyoshi's protection. Oichi refused, insisting on dying with her husband after their daughters were sent away. The couple reportedly died in the castle's flames.

Empress Xiao Ci Gao, consort of the 1st Ming Emperor Hongwu (r. 1368-1398), mother of the 3rd Ming Emperor Yongle (r. 1402-1424).

China/Japan: 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. Hanging scroll painting, Kamakura Period (14th century). Born in Henan province of China in 602 or 603, from boyhood Xuanzang took to reading sacred books, including the Chinese Classics and the writings of the ancient sages. While residing in the city of Luoyang, he entered Buddhist monkhood at the age of thirteen. He travelled throughout China in search of sacred books of Buddhism.

Two Men, Kaizhi, Gu, 370

A Chinese deity (). Gouache.

Qigong exercise to rid the body of fatigue and exhaustion

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.

Ming Empress, possibly consort of the 11th Ming Emperor Zhengde (r. 1505-1521).

Deity; 1. PO. 20th century (1901-00-00-1950-00-00);

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